An exploratory study examined the premise that pets provide developmental benefits for young children. Four hypotheses were derived from prior research: (1) children who have a bond with a dog or cat show more maturity in their cognitive, moral, and emotional development than children who do not have such pets; (2) children who have a more…

This study compared the influence of two play environments on young children's make-believe object transformation behaviors. One environment contained traditional realistic play props; the other contained nonrealistic objects. Subjects were 32 Caucasian children, 17 boys and 15 girls, between 40 and 73 months of age, from working- or middle-class…

According to the cognitive development theory of Lev Vygotsky, learning is formed, and thinking is transformed as a result of participation in purposeful activity with others. Through joint activity, social problem solving is learned and eventually internalized into intrapsychological processes. This paper describes an experimental teacher…

The eight papers presented at the conference stress the importance of self-produced locomotion for the normal development of cognitive processes, particularly spatial understanding. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Childhood Motor Impairments: Clinical Overview and Scope of the Problem" (Ross Hays); "Locomotion and Psychological…

There is a widespread perception that urban public school education has failed: a perception that has attracted the concerned attention of businessmen and government officials. The crux of the problem is our nation's failure to do enough for children early enough to make a lasting difference in their lives. Too little too late seems to be the…

This report summarizes and describes the findings for a number of studies which assess the effects of "Tactics for Thinking," a program designed to teach and reinforce 22 tactics (strategies) for enhancing specific cognitive operations (thinking skills) that aid in the processing, retention, and extension of content-specific information.…

Designed to contribute toward providing opportunities for young children to enlist their own powerful intelligence in the construction of their understanding of reading and writing, this book is a collection of six studies presented at the International Reading Association's Eleventh World Congress. An introductory chapter, "Discovering…

Intended for college instructors interested in promoting and developing intellectual abilities in their students, this publication details the Perry and Toulmin models of cognitive development. The first section explains the Perry model of dualistic students, who are comfortable in a framework of absolute knowledge and unquestionable right and…

This paper analyzes the rationale for the project approach to educational programming from the cognitive-developmental perspective. It is argued that in many ways, the project approach reflects the cognitive-developmental view; that it is a convergence of Piaget's constructivism and Dewey's progressivism. Like any approach, the project approach is…

A sequence of four central essays on the topic of "experts" illustrates how students can develop the critical tools necessary to handle the flood of information that exists in a complex, expert-dominated world. The first essay begins with communication of shared knowledge and examination of assumptions. Students are asked to share with…

This study tested the hypothesis that social competence of mother-infant play reflects both secure mother-infant attachment and more advanced cognitive development. Subjects were 58 toddlers between 16 and 19 months of age and their mothers. Two general methods were used: observation and maternal report. Standardized developmental assessments were…

A collaborative research study was designed to facilitate, at the local school level, a mathematics teacher's development of a "constructivist" pedagogy. This paper discusses the nature and influence of the teacher's professional beliefs on his attempts to create a classroom learning environment congruent with the principles of a constructivist…

With respect to the ultimate goal for limited English proficient students, it would appear that the policy of transitional bilingual education in the United States is explicitly non-bilingual, incorporating a minimalist form of bilingualism for the period students are in the programs, and viewing the first language as only instrumental insofar as…

A 3-year longitudinal study assessed cognitive changes among rural children 3 to 5 years old and validated the construct validity of the Nebraska Wisconsin Cognitive Assessment Battery (NEWCAB). Multistage area sampling techniques were used with a repeated measures, control group design. Participants in the sample were 40 3-year-olds, 57…

This document presents the curriculum for a pilot program for nontraditional students, held concurrently with a 13-week Medical Assistant Program, designed as a bridge into academic life. It notes that the program and its cognitive group counseling methodology are designed to strengthen the personal identity of students and to help them develop…