MEASUREMENT SCALES WERE DEVELOPED FOR USE IN DESCRIBING AND EVALUATING SKILLS WHICH BLIND CHILDREN DEVELOP FOR EXPLORING AND COMPREHENDING THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AND ATTAINING REASONABLE SELF-DEPENDENCE. STUDY FEASIBILITY EXCLUDED SOME OF THE BASIC LIVING SKILLS, LEAVING ONLY THOSE RELATED TO THE BLIND CHILD'S ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY. THE ITEMS USED…

Describes a study which explored developmental changes in preschoolers' knowledge of the writing system. The children were asked to write four utterances without knowing the purpose of the request and without additional explanations. The purpose was to determine how early children's graphic responses in decontextualized situations have features of…

Although the concept of learning readiness has been recognized for over a century, the term readiness did not appear until the 1920s. Readiness efforts must be considered in terms of their effect on the quality of life for young children, and continued evaluation of activities must take place in these terms. (JN)

The first section of this paper deals with the question of whether Piaget is a developmental or a learning theorist; the second section relates Piaget's research findings and developmental theory to a sequence of curriculum units in mathematics. It is suggested that Piaget makes no distinction between learning and development of cognitive…

A proposed study of the differences in the way children perceive, approach, and behave in problem-solving situations is described. The behavioral measure to be used is "glancing," which has been related to outerdirectedness. Children will be given two sets of two puzzles to put together. On the basis of the number of glances and the situation in…

Research results reported in this special issue show that egocentricity and staging, both central ideas in the Piaget-Kohlberg account of human development, are myths. The appearance of egocentricity and staging can be accounted for by a subtle combination of ethnocentricity and the effects of inappropriate methodologies. (RM)

Tells how undergraduate student volunteers tested children, ages 3 to 10 years old, to reveal their development in language, conservation of volume and weight, and moral judgment. These videotaped sessions were then used in class to illustrate important concepts. (JDH)

Notes that ample evidence exists that standardized tests may not adequately reflect student achievement and may be harmful to the educational process and student development, especially for young children. Presents developmentally appropriate alternatives that are available for use in the classroom and on district and state levels. (Author)

The nations put forward here are that assessment and forward planning are interdependent. Continuous assessment is an essential feature of informal education and it is the basis of day-to-day planning. A cumulative record of childrens growth throughout their school life is also needed. (Author/AM)

Asserts that for healthy development, people need to feel safe and to trust, but that there is danger in the world and there are some who ought not to be trusted. Discusses elementary school counselor's role in helping children decide whom to trust and how they inspire trust in others, thereby helping them make fewer errors in trusting. (NB)

How Piaget's theory of developmental stages affects the musical ability of children at different ages is important for the music educator to understand. The following developmental stages are discussed: sensorimotor period, preoperations period, concrete operations period, formal operations period, and creative stage. (RM)

The instructional computer program LOGO enables children to construct their own programs. This article presents an evaluation of LOGO and use of computers in education. The author discusses reasons why computer science belongs in high school rather than elementary school. (DF)

This book provides a comprehensive clinical-developmental framework for understanding and treating behavior problems in early childhood. Examining the developmental tasks and transitions that young children face in cognitive, social, and family contexts, the book helps readers distinguish between typical, age-appropriate behaviors and those that…

Task performance experiments concerning properties of mathematical groups with 10 and 11 year-old children are discussed including transfer effects, effects of structural relations, individual differences, and memory (both short and long term). (JG)

Three preschool children exhibiting autistic behaviors were taught developmentally appropriate (DA) and age appropriate (AA) pretend play activities. Although DA activities were consistently acquired, activities in the AA category were, in most cases, not acquired and were less likely to be generalized to other activities or toys. (Author/JDD)