Examines the differences in how Black and White viewers process messages based on the race of television characters representing five occupations. Notes that findings from male college students suggest that Black viewers have better recall of Black occupational characters than White characters on television. Reveals evidence that both Black and…

In this interview, Mary M. Frasier, the founder and director of the Torrance Center for Creative Studies, discusses attitudes that create barriers to including disadvantaged or minority students in gifted programs. The need for administrators to be truly committed to finding gifted children from underrepresented groups is stressed. (CR)

This article discusses how to recognize young gifted children (ages 5-8), gifted education, and issues for teachers. Educators are urged to enable students to make their thinking visible, allow autonomy in learning, allow for imagination and time for deep level thinking, challenge able children, and help children to be self-critical. (Contains 4…

Examines social practices of ethnic identity among 60 students in 2 groups, Puerto Rican migrants' descendants (PRMD) and Puerto Ricans, following face-to-face experiences in Puerto Rico. Results indicate PRMD base ethnic identity on motivational (thinking, feeling) criteria; islanders on behavior. Reveals contrast- and resentment-based social…

To identify classroom behaviors that differentiate primary-level students with learning disabilities (LD) from their nondisabled peers, two scales of 83 items each were devised and piloted. Two subscales and 18 individual items were found to discriminate students later classified as LD and those referred but not subsequently classified as LD.…

This paper presents a cognitive style termed "dysfluency-fluency," illustrates the style with two case studies, and contrasts the dysfluent cognitive style with specific reading disability. Assessment procedures are outlined, and a rationale for considering dysfluency-fluency as a style distinguished from reflectivity-impulsivity is…

A state (California) database of 78,603 individuals with mental retardation receiving state services was examined to determine relations between behavior problems, residential placement patterns, and other characteristics, and the likelihood of being dually diagnosed. Extrapunitive maladaptive behaviors, cognitive abilities, and social skills were…

Presents a definition and a brief explanation of the anatomy and physiology of dyslexia. Provides some background about the difficulties of diagnosis. Addresses the following topics: (1) dyslexics' success at the undergraduate level; (2) symptoms that instructors and advisors should look for; and (3) appropriate tactics for working with dyslexics.…

This article identifies issues for students with learning disabilities at the secondary level (e.g., underpreparedness, definition, and overidentification) and the postsecondary level (e.g., admission and academic adjustments, service delivery, training and research needs). It calls for policy formulation, research, and administrative planning for…

Discusses the legal, professional, and ethical duties of teachers who suspect the maltreatment or neglect of children. Presents statistical evidence that indicates that teachers are not fulfilling their duties with respect to detecting and reporting suspected abuse. Considers the implications for educational policy as it affects teachers. (JS)

Difficulty in distinguishing mildly handicapped students from low-achieving children at risk for school failure resulting from socioeconomic and other factors is resulting in an apparent overidentification of students as handicapped. Strategies for improving the education of at-risk students, such as early childhood education programs, smaller…

The study of four highly original preschool children found that the children had high levels of inner imagination, extremely varied expressive creative behavior with each having a "specialty area" as a creative focus, and different levels of social competence. Results support D. Shmukler's model for organizing elements of creativity in preschool…

F. M. Lord's flexilevel, computerized adaptive testing (CAT) procedure was compared to an item-response theory-based CAT procedure that uses Bayesian ability estimation with various standard errors of estimates used for terminating the test. Ability estimates of flexilevel CATs were as accurate as were those of Bayesian CATs. (TJH)

Asserts that elementary and middle school counselors are concerned about how to prevent substance abuse among students and how to identify substance abuse when it occurs. Discusses facts about various drugs, their effects, and evidence of abuse. Includes discussions of alcohol, stimulants, inhalants, cocaine, psychedelics, depressants, narcotics,…

Fifty-seven children, aged 23-28 months, were assessed using the Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development, mean length of utterance, and Minnesota Child Development Inventory (MCDI). The MCDI Expressive Language scale was found to be a valid predictor of expressive language. The MCDI Comprehension-Conceptual scale appeared to assess both…