The community college has become the institution of higher education which implements the American "open class" ideology, providing an opportunity for students to learn and advance themselves socially and occupationally. Evaluative research concerning compensatory education programs in the community college indicates that such programs have not…

This paper reviews nine studies which report conflicting results in assessing the relationship between children's role-taking ability and communication skills. The studies included satisfy three criteria: (1) role-taking and communication efficiency are measured independently; (2) tasks used to measure the two skills are significantly different in…

This study examines the degree to which young children are influenced by the familiarity of an adult participant in their pretend play with toys which vary in resemblance to highly prototypical objects (e.g., cup-like cups or doll-like dolls). A group of 29 children, mean age 21 months, was divided into two experimental groups balanced by sex; 15…

The role of language in conservation tasks and the development of the concept of conservation of quantity in young children are investigated in this study. A total of 50 children, aged 3.0 to 4.7 years, were divided into three groups according to age with a large number clustered around age 4.0 years. Children were randomly assigned to one of two…

The purpose of this study was to design a prototype written test of cognitive development based on the model of Piaget. Although the results were not consistent with Piaget's theory, test development was only partially successful. Specifically, validation of the scales was excellent or poor depending on the perspective. Analysis of the item…

The guide was developed as part of Project Prepare, a demonstration program designed to teach disadvantaged parents adult basic education skills and to show these parents how and what to teach their preschool children. It contains activities, advice, and resources for parents. All materials pertain to creative play for preschoolers that develop…

This booklet provides an annotated list of 48 research reports related to mathematics teaching and learning of primary school children, and a bibliographic listing of 102 additional papers dealing with these topics. Each bibliography is organized into five major divisions: (1) growth and development of children, (2) development of mathematical…

In this study concerning individualized instruction, forth fifth graders who had been taught language arts by an individualized instructional system since first grade were the experimental group. The control groups were of the same socioeconomic status and racial composition but had been taught by traditional methods of instruction. To assess…

Seven historical purposes have been proclaimed in American education since the turn of the century. The four familiar purposes are the American "quadrivium." They lead in different directions: one leads to academic discipline, one to social efficiency, a third to individual development, and the fourth to vocational competence. The three more…

Theoretical issues of concern to teachers in early childhood education are discussed in this collection of four papers titled: "Some Generic Principles of Teaching", "Psychological Development and Education in Early Childhood", "Teachers as Consumers of Educational Information", and "Notes on the Distinction between Education and Excitement". The…

This paper presents a review of the literature concerning the infant Apgar scoring system and its relationship to later mental and motor development. Since 1952, the Apgar scoring system has provided a viable means of assessing the infant's immediate postnatal condition. Researchers have demonstrated that while the 1-minute Apgar score is a useful…

This book lists procedures, materials, special problems, and variations for playing 54 games designed to help children use their thinking abilities in play. The games presented were designed primarily for use in school with children aged 5-9. They give practice in such skills as planning, drawing inferences, seeing things from other points of…

It is hypothesized that free, spontaneous interaction cannot be easily attained in language courses which are rigid and mechanical. For this reason, the author urges the development of instructional materials which facilitate a smooth and natural transition from "skill-getting" to "skill-using." Discussion of Jerome Bruner's theory of language…

To replicate the findings of a previous experiment in which it was shown that the systematic presentation of rules and feedback on conservation and conservation-related problems can be employed to teach young children the traditional (Piagetian) liquid quantity problem rapidly, an analysis was made of the role of two others variables: (1) use of…

Review of reversal learning data obtained from Ss of various developmental phases suggested that overtraining increases perseveration in pre-school children, and decrease perseveration in older (e.g., 1st grade) children. The present experiment tested this apparent trend. Children of two age groups (X = 4 yrs., 4 mos., vs. X = 6 yrs., 5 mos.)…