A questionnaire survey of reading instruction status in six New England states was part of the New England Educational Assessment Project, representing a joint effort of the six New England State Departments of Education. Questionnaires were mailed to all reading consultants; elementary principals; and kindergarten, first-, and fourth-grade…

This report describes and evaluates a sequential Learning to Learn Program (L.L.P.) for four- and five-year-old children. The long-term plan was for these children to be kept in a continuous sequential program through the first grade. Since another aspect of this project is a systematic attempt to learn how differing lengths of exposure to the…

The purpose of this study was to collect data from which the cognitive processes of the prekindergarten child could be analyzed. The study population consisted of 53 subjects, 3-1/2-4-1/2 years old. Kindergarten Evaluation of Learning Potential (KELP) was used to obtain data. The learning theory on which KELP is based postulates associative,…

Analyzed sound systems of six phonologically disordered children and assessed relative phonological knowledge of target sounds. After-treatment results indicated that error sounds of which the children had the most knowledge were easiest to learn. Treatment beginning with the most difficult sounds resulted in more widespread changes in the…

Birthdates and educational histories of special education students (N=291) were analyzed to determine how school entrance age affected placement in special education programs. Analyses were significant for learning disabled and emotionally disturbed, but not mildly mentally retarded students, suggesting that parents and educators must insist on…

Noting that all parents want the best school experience for their children, this booklet, presented in both English and Spanish, offers parents specific strategies to provide their children a good foundation for beginning reading. The guide first answers the question, "How Can I Help My Child Be Ready To Read and Ready To Learn?" with emergent…

The first of the National Education Goals states that by the year 2000 all children in America will start school ready to learn. Pressed by demands for greater accountability and enhanced educational performance, states are developing standards and creating new criteria and approaches for assessing achievement. Calls to assess young children are…

Noting that states are expanding their spending on preschool initiatives to improve at-risk childrens chances to achieve school success, this policy brief explores three key factors that policymakers need to consider in designing school readiness initiatives. The first is the research and the need to link recent cross-disciplinary discoveries…

The literature of foreign language research is reviewed for its applications of the expressions "learner-centered instruction" and "communicative approach." It is proposed that the emphasis in these approaches is misplaced and produces resistance rather than willingness by the students. (MSE)

Experimental results indicated that verbal intelligence was the best predictor of childrens' overall performance on a paired-associate learning task. Teachers' ratings provided a surprising degree of predictive efficiency for abstract recall which was redundant with verbal intelligence. (Author/JAC)

Discusses assumptions and pressures underlying academic redshirting for kindergartners. Examines teachers' and parents' beliefs about kindergarten readiness. Summarizes research on the effects of the academic and social domains of delaying children's entry into school. Offers suggestions for early childhood educators about how to help families in…

Research on the construct of teachability is reviewed. Teachability refers to a teacher's views of students' amenability to instruction and their likelihood of success in school. A critique of the sparse research indicates disagreement about whether the concept is an absolute student condition. (SLD)

Presents a developmental framework for cultural competence training with children. Recommends that social workers synchronize training with children's developmental levels and cultural learning readiness in cognitive, affective, and behavioral areas. Translates multicultural practice theory into concrete skills and methods that social workers can…

This qualitative study evaluated the cognitive style construct field-dependent/independent as a selection criteria for student subjects for formative evaluation of instructional material. Four college students interacting with a computer-assisted instruction package were observed, and data on subject readiness, researcher/subject interactions,…

Presents a study of Irish primary and secondary schoolchildren learning Irish as a second language. Discusses intelligence abilities, attainment in Irish, personality traits, and attitude toward learning foreign languages. Concludes personality measures were not strongly related to cognitive measures, but attitude may play a role. Reports no…