Asserts that the key to assisting those trying to negotiate the "survival" dimensions of their first years as teachers or center directors is immediate responsiveness to concerns and needs. Recommends on-site mentors to support first-year teachers/administrators in reflective practice and to serve as sounding board, colleague, coach, and…

This study used a pluralistic model to examine the procedures used by two preschoolers to achieve written productions using invented orthographies. The model allows children's procedural variations to be taken into consideration by understanding the hierarchy of different processing modes available to children in completing the task and…

Compares concepts defining Kohlbergian stages of moral development with those associated with orders of hierarchical complexity determined with a generalized content-independent stage-scoring system. Finds that Kohlberg's sequence generally matches that identified with the scoring system and that contract and authority concepts match the concepts…

Investigates the supervisor complexity model (SCM) using the Psychotherapy Supervisor Development Scale (PSDS) to ascertain development over a 15-week supervision practicum for 12 doctoral students. A set of retrospective interview questions produced responses used to investigate the viability of the 4 proposed discrete developmental stages in the…

Since learning processes are regarded as social processes, age influences them because age affects the way the individual is involved in social processes. Children are involved in exploring the world, youth in identity construction; adults pursue life goals and older adults seek depth and harmony. (JOW)

The High/Scope approach to early childhood education promotes the belief that active learning is fundamental to the development of human potential and occurs most effectively in settings that provide developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. Describes five ingredients of active learning (materials, manipulation, choice, language from…

This article reports the first year results of a pilot study of 21 developmental milestones achieved by 82 visually impaired children in New York City. Some delays in visual-motor activities were found, as well as differences in the sequence of acquiring skills. Children with additional handicaps acquired milestones at a slower rate. (Author/DB)

Looks at three-year-old children's writing samples as a basis to discuss developmental stages in writing. Samples are categorized as scribbling, horizontal scribbling, discrete units, letters, or correct spelling. Practical applications of these stages are presented for teachers. (PCB)

This study of the drawings produced by 34 autistic and 33 normal children (age 68-211 months) at the same developmental level found no intergroup differences on fragmentation of geometric design drawings, but significant differences in geometric design overlap and human figure overlap and fragmentation. (JDD)

England's National Curriculum is felt to exhibit confusion about whether Level 1 is a grade or a stage and whether young disabled students begin at Level 1 or Level O. It is proposed that all children start school on Level 1; when they accomplish the statements of attainment, they have completed Level 1. (JDD)

The article reviews the literature on two questions: what is the normal course of creative development, and do peak periods exist during which people are most open to efforts to foster creative abilities. Six specific periods are identified as peak periods of creative growth. (DB)

Describes the evolution of adolescence as a developmental stage and several psychological approaches to adolescent development. The discussion covers the need for adolescent literature to address physical, social, and emotional issues, and the need for librarians and teachers to be aware of the available literature. (29 references) (CLB)

A study of 80 children, aged 7, 10, 13, and 16, found that gender was not an important variable in speech breathing, but age was. The youngest group exhibited such things as larger lung, rib cage, and abdominal volume initiations and terminations for breath groups and fewer syllables per breath group. (Author/JDD)

Summarizes relevant aspects of the theory of field dependence. Topics discussed include stages of information processing, developmental issues and implications, and future directions for research. (RJC)

This article discusses trends in the literature related to phases or stages in the professional life of teachers. It then presents the results of a study involving 160 secondary teachers in Switzerland. Findings suggest that four modal sequences are applicable to the professional life cycle of teachers. (IAH)