Chapters of this special issue identify three characteristics of persuasive text that can be useful in inviting conceptual change. These are: (1) the comprehensibility, clarity, and credibility of the text; (2) the importance of explicitly addressing the readers' prior beliefs; and (3) affective and motivational factors. (SLD)

Reviews five books in early childhood education: (1) "Teaching Social Studies to the Young Child: A Research and Resource Guide"; (2) "Special Children: Meeting the Challenge in the Primary School"; (3) "Educational Provision for Our Youngest Children: European Perspectives"; (4) "Topic Work in the Early Years:…

Examines three issues from study by Jaffe et al.: predictive nature of face-to-face play, the psychological present moment for infants, and the representation of the pragmatics of dialogue. Emphasizes value of the study for future work in social interaction. (DLH)

Learner-centered principles espoused by the American Psychological Association (APA) built on research of the last three decades suggest that learning does not simply entail coordinated cognitive processes. These 12 principles portray factors associated with learning as essential parts of the portrayal of learners as active creators of their own…