This study, with 48 students (including 16 eighth graders with learning disabilities (LD), 16 age level peers, and 16 reading level peers), found that all groups, but especially LD students, benefited from experimenter activation of prior knowledge on reading comprehension tasks testing inferential reading ability. Experimenter activation of prior…

Thirty adults with mild mental retardation and 50 first-year psychology students were surveyed regarding their sexual knowledge, experience, feelings, and needs. Subjects with mental retardation had less knowledge, more negative attitudes toward sexual issues, and less experience in intimacy and sexual intercourse, but more experience in…

Study of teachers' professional knowledge and development examined seven new instructors at a Canadian community college. The paper discusses a range of levels at which teachers' professional knowledge can be discerned, emphasizing the importance of listening to teachers' voices without limiting that listening to personal, practical, or…

This article discusses the importance of studying interest and reviews research on the association between interest and prior knowledge to conclude that there is a substantial linear relationship between the two. A model of the interest-knowledge relationship is updated, and the similarity between interest and curiosity is explored. (SLD)

Specific student assessment tasks performed by educational administrators and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for these tasks were studied in a questionnaire completed by 1,685 administrators. Although superintendents and principals performed tasks at different levels and frequencies, the skills they needed were quite similar. (SLD)

Reconsiders interpretive and theory versions of children's theory of mind. Shows that many college students provide interpretive explanations on theory of mind tasks and that young children rely on background experientially-based knowledge to interpret such tasks. Argues that a logical-causal theory of human action based on mental states is a…

Focuses on the way Oliver Stone's "JFK" was incorporated into a 20th century U.S. history course and examines the film's effect on student learning and critical thinking. Explains that the comments on the film result from a study on student learning that involved 46 students who agreed to participate in questionnaires and interviews.…

Provides a strategy, from the book entitled "Strategies for Teaching K-4 General Music," that addresses Standard 6A of the National Standards for Music Education. Explains that students will identify characteristics that enables them to make decisions about the form of the composition in listening examples longer than classroom songs.…

Presents a conceptualization for the competence of child care directors based on knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Describes the Illinois Director Credential, earned through validation of accomplishments in five competency components: general education, early childhood/school-age knowledge and skills, management knowledge and skills, experience,…

Clinical interviews with nine fifth graders revealed that experiences play a pivotal role in their understanding of pests. They lack well-developed schema and language to discuss pest management. A foundation of core biological concepts was necessary for understanding pests and pest management. (Conatains 34 references.) (SK)

Compared child care knowledge of United Kingdom 14- to 16- year-olds with and without learning difficulties. Found that knowledge of basic parenting and child care depended on type of school attended, reading ability of special school students, and provision of health education by the special school nurse. Found no associations between knowledge…

Examined correspondence between second-graders' use and knowledge of anger display rules. Found that children's responses were moderately related across two contexts. Following live interactions, compared to hypothetical vignettes, children reported feeling and expressing less anger, intending to hide their anger more, and dissembling their anger…

Three experiments tested whether it is possible to teach college students who are not trained investigators to comprehend information regarding knowledge of conservation problems and mathematical equivalence conveyed through children's hand gestures. Findings suggest that instructing adults to attend to gesture enhances their assessment of…

Interviews with eight preservice elementary teachers regarding benchmarks related to agricultural technology for food and fiber showed that those from rural areas had more complex understanding of the trade-offs in technology use; urban residents were more concerned with ethical dilemmas. Pesticide pollution was most understood, genetic…

Demonstrates how talking with children can provide an awareness of the "funds of knowledge" they bring to school. Examines the talk of a young girl from a culturally diverse background to gain insight into her cultural scientific knowledge; explores an adult's ability to collaborate with the student in pursuit of the topic; and offers…