Documents a seven-year-old child's early activities as a writer from the perspective of (1) intentionality, (2) conditions and production, (3) learning strategies, (4) composing patterns in other semiotic activities, (5) availability, and (6) literacy community, and attempts to analyze those activities through narrative, explication and argument.…

Presents a concentration improvement guide for students. Offers a procedure for effective presentation of the guide--reading and discussing the guide in small groups, followed by whole class discussion of reactions. (ARH)

Responding to criticism that teaching thinking places a misguided emphasis on process at the expense of curricular content, this article contends that teachers should focus on how to relate both content and process for meaningful learning, because the value of any knowledge or skill depends on its context. (TE)

Discusses the possibility that a writer's audience may be more malleable than it is normally assumed to be and describes how one researcher worked with several advanced college writers to learn more about the dynamics of their composing processes. Suggests that the use of these writing strategies may benefit both teachers and students. (JD)

A major focus in reading difficulty is lack of automaticity in decoding, which overloads the attentional system, leads to the use of small, meaningless visual processing units such as the individual letter, places heavy demands on short-term memory, and interferes with comprehension. Techniques for diagnosis and remediation are noted. (Author/JW)

Discusses Adler's holistic approach to the individual in the socio-cultural context as a means to better understand the Indian behavioral learning style and the implications of such a style for classroom practice. Lists general characteristics of Indian student learning styles and teaching strategies that may be effective. (JHZ)

Suggests criteria to be used in selecting problem-solving activities and criteria to be considered in choosing media, exercises, and problems for the development of problem-solving skills. Provides perspectives on developing creativity and includes a chart on how thinking and attitude components relate. Also lists related reference materials. (ML)

Principles arising from aspects of Vygotsky's ideas for the development of self regulation and from cognitive social learning theory are discussed. It is suggested that present methods of teaching mathematics are not adequate and that the use of instructional technology is needed to overcome the shortcomings. (JAZ)

The psychological and educational needs of the growing population of adult students are considered, as well as the availability of necessary library services and materials for this group. The concept of andragogy (i.e., the teaching of adults), is discussed, the literature is reviewed, and a philosophical base is established. (Author/EM)

Institutionalized moderately and severely retarded men (N=48) and 20 non-institutionalized moderately retarded men and women were provided training in either the cognitive strategy of verbal self instruction or modelling/imitation. For both groups of subjects the verbal self-instruction training resulted in significantly greater improvement in the…

Describes a project that tested two computer-assisted language lessons, one designed to emulate drill and practice, and the other to utilize concepts of clarifying educational environments, microworlds, games, and autotelic environments. The project suggests that allowing students control over their learning and some choice in procedures enhances…

Examines two metaphors of teaching and learning--dominant metaphor of transmission, and competing metaphor of dialogue--and their impact on improvement of teaching and learning (ITL). It is suggested there is a shift from the dominant to the competing metaphor and implications on future ITL research and practice are considered. (MBR)

Discusses methods by which a teacher of English as a second language in a foreign country can teach himself/herself the language of that country. Such methods include keeping a diary, studying grammar, using the mass media, and engaging native speakers in conversation whenever possible. (SED)

Examines how test anxiety affects children in certain evaluation situations and focuses on developing more valid and effective measurement procedures in school achievement testings. Third and fourth graders were divided into three anxiety groups and tested under time and no time pressures. Anxiety level, time pressure, and sex affected…

Summarizes strategies and recommendations included in various prominent instructional theories (behaviorism, Gagne and Briggs' events of instruction, component display theory, cognitive research, and Keller's motivational-design) to provide guidelines for designing the practice component of instruction. (MBR)