Presents a theoretical framework for analyzing students' social, emotional, and motivational interpretations and demonstrates the application of the framework in two studies involving 8 12-year-old boys and 14 12-year-old boys in which such interpretations were analyzed in a cognitive apprenticeship-based technologically rich learning environment.…

Suggests that when teachers use student self-assessment to learn more about the contexts of student writing, they can respond more effectively. Argues that teachers need to (1) develop and use a variety of context-gathering tools; (2) actively solicit information about the contexts informing the production of student texts; and (3) use this…

Discusses methodological difficulties in assessing resilience in maltreated children, including distinguishing between resilience and factors promoting or reducing resilience, choosing sources of measures, determining how many measures to use, selecting scoring criteria, determining when to measure resilience, and examining the stability of…

History teachers and their 11th-grade students rated the relative importance of sections of instructional text on which teachers would be giving a test. Multilevel analysis revealed only a moderate correspondence between teachers in importance ratings. This suggested there were large differences between task demands of individual teachers,…

A study explored maternal response to the diagnosis of mental retardation in children using a focus group of six mothers. Findings identified four themes: differences between antenatal and postnatal diagnosis; a cycle of bereavement; issues relating to causation; and examples of poor interpersonal skills from medical personnel. (Contains…

Discusses the concerns of learning center managers in relation to job stress factors. Reports that respondents to a survey identify "inadequate support by supervisor" as the most severe stressor; "Fellow workers not doing their job" ranked second highest. (Contains 22 references.) (NB)

Explores attitudes of mainstream teachers toward the inclusion of children with special needs in the ordinary school. Reveals that teachers who have been implementing inclusive programs, having active experience with inclusion, possess more positive attitudes. Shows the importance of professional development in forming positive attitudes. (CMK)

There is no shortage of opinion about school violence. This article taps the expertise of youths themselves. Conversations were held with 95 high school students, both one week and one year following the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Two sets of responses are compared and questions are raised for educators as to how to…

This research developed and validated a new measure of undergraduate student cynicism--the Cynical Attitudes Toward College Scale (CATCS). Two empirical studies were aimed at validating the CATCS, showing that it can differentiate student groups exhibiting different kinds and levels of cynicism and illustrating how it can predict students' future…

Examines the challenges facing one group of secondary school English teachers in Australia as they conducted their first online discussions with a group of Year 11 students. Provides a map to help other teachers steer a clear course towards productive use of online discussion for text-response purposes. (SG)

Explains that a portfolio is a collection of student work that reflects the course content and is assembled by the student in a folder or binder over a specified period of time. Discusses how to use portfolios, the benefits of using portfolios as assessment tools, and potential concerns teachers need to address. (CMK)

Contends that young children show surprising awareness of other's feelings. Provides background research concerning children's understanding; addresses levels of understanding of perception, emotions, desires, and beliefs; advises how parents and teachers can support children's development of understanding; and notes the powerful role and…

Examines methods for recording personal accounts, personal narratives, teachers' stories, and narrative interviews for the purpose of understanding how teachers make sense of problems in their lives and work. Reflects on how the ethics of caring helps resolve concerns for the presence of teacher's voices in the interpreting and writing of…

Presents a teaching dilemma in which parents of a gifted child want a more teacher-directed, structured education for their child. Describes a fictional parent-teacher conference and raises questions about how the teacher, a believer in developmentally appropriate practice, should proceed, especially with regard to NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct.…

Reports on the efforts of one developmental education program to seek faculty input regarding the provision of services. Provides a look at faculty questionnaire results, and presents recommendations for expanding the use of the program, including publicity, courses and adjunct seminars, workshops, and classroom presentations, group and individual…