Discusses whether the mathematics achievement of at-risk fifth-grade students using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) differs from that of at-risk students using other methods of instruction. Found that boys using CAI made greater gains than boys using paper and pencil activities, and that at-risk girls made gains in math skills regardless of…

Focuses on how teachers can help young children become better listeners. Shows how building listening skills is dependent upon a positive classroom communication environment. Gives specific goals and activities for the classroom, and for parent involvement and practice at home. Teacher listening behavior, as well as child listening behavior, is…

Critiques the assimilation strategy and the hero-heroine-ritual approach to multicultural education, and offers a third model, the Cultural, Experiential, Skill Building (CES) approach, as an alternative for teacher training. Effects of the CES model on potential teachers and the implications for teacher training are addressed. (GR)

This paper views effective communication as an essential component of appropriate social behavior, provides definitions and conceptualizations of social skills and social competence within academic contexts, and describes social skills assessment and intervention procedures for school-age children and youth with and without disabilities.…

Anatomically detailed dolls have become a most popular clinical tool in the validation of child sexual abuse allegations. However, widespread use of these dolls is not supported by empirical literature. Issues associated with the standardization of the dolls, norms for their use in validation interviews, and training of doll users need to be…

Ways to promote generalization of social skills of students with learning disabilities (LD) are considered. Approaches include: sequential modification, introducing naturally maintaining contingencies, training sufficient exemplars, training across settings, training loosely, using indiscriminable contingencies, programming common stimuli, and…

Reports on a study of young children's abilities to discriminate between two chords played as the accompaniment of a melody and played alone with no melody. Finds that age, type of stimulus, and the interaction of these two variables affected children's performance significantly. (CFR)

Peer coaching as an approach to faculty development is introduced. A 1.5-year formative assessment of one family physician's teaching practices and beliefs describes the process as a mechanism for improving clinical teaching skills. (SLD)

The relationship between collaborative learning and some major theoretical and empirical approaches to fostering critical thinking are examined. Three frameworks for combining collaborative learning and critical thinking are suggested: use of mental models, creation of discourse communities, and creation of disciplinary discourse communities. (MSE)

Reviews data on the skill level and readiness for independence of adolescents who are placed in the substitute care system in Washington State. Findings suggest that many of these youth do well in terms of skill learning and performance, and are prepared for independence upon emancipation. Nevertheless, remedial training is suggested to better…

Responsibility, self-care, supportive environment, and employment were analyzed as significant indicators of readiness for independent living for adolescents in foster care. Results indicated that school performance, mental health problems, hours worked per week, total number of placements, contact with father, ethnicity, and caretaker perceptions…

A model illustrates how humans interact with information and construct representations using short- and long-term memory. It shows that learners' prior knowledge and effective instructional materials have a significant effect on how competence is translated into good performance. (SK)

Interviews with 11 policymakers, 49 teachers, and 125 adult learners in Alberta explored their socioeconomic characteristics and political culture. Results showed the predominance of the therapeutic model, in which social problems are considered pathologies or deficits and treatment involves adapting learners to the economic requirements of…

This article describes a six-week course for design students called "Needs Awareness and Design" which stresses the development of creative thinking skills. Brainstorming is recommended for identifying many ideas, and synectics is stressed for actual problem solving. (DB)

Two students (ages 18 and 20) with moderate mental retardation were taught to use a pocket calculator to make purchases. Progressive time delay and general case programing methods were used. Results indicated that the purchasing behaviors generalized to two untrained community sites and to untrained items and were maintained four weeks after…