A discussion of the effect of an immersion program on the majority language child. Research is reviewed on the "threshold hypothesis" and "the developmental interdependence hypothesis." Recent studies of the cognitive and academic effects of bilingualism are critically examined in the light of these hypotheses. A bibliography…

Interviews and classroom observations were used to evaluate the Solutions unit of the MATAL Elementary Science Curriculum Project. Both techniques were found to contribute insightful information about the reasoning strategies and learning difficulties of the students. (BW)

The purpose of this consultation project was assisting faculty to become better able to adapt their instructions to developmental and learning characteristics of their students. The article describes three psychological theories, three operational structures, and three sources of gain that were key to the project. (Author/JEL)

Presents guidelines for constructing tests which accurately measure a student's cognitive skills and performance in a particular course. The advantages and disadvantages of two types of test items are listed (selected response and constructed response items). Both poor and good examples are given and general rules for test item writing are…

Four types of proportionality problems were administered to: (1) secondary school students who were enrolled in Project Physics, and (2) students not enrolled in physics. Both samples were randomly selected. Groups were not found to differ significantly in problem solving ability but both revealed that the ability to solve certain problems was…

Debates as to the appropriateness of using the Karplus Islands Puzzle as an instrument to assess formal-operational thought. (CP)

Flexibility and creativity are essential skills for aiding learning-disabled students. In addition, specialized knowledge of specific learning disabilities is essential and will enhance the overall skills of the counselor. The counselor's personal warmth, empathy, and understanding will enhance relationships with the students as well as their…

Reports longitudinal data on the link between the affective quality of the mother-child relationship and school-relevant cognitive performance. Sixty-seven mothers and their children participated in the first (preschool) phase of the study; 47 mothers were included in a follow-up when children were 12 years old. (Author/BN)

Discusses a study which compared differences in ratio construction made by high school freshman and junior students. Reports that more freshmen than juniors selected solutions involving one variable, whereas juniors chose solutions that coordinated two variables in a mathematical or verbal rule. Reviews implications in problem solving and concept…

Analysis of the free speech of one- to three-year-olds (N=21) found that measures of mean length of utterance (MLU) are positively related to age, are reliable, and can predict grammatical development, although there are identifiable points in the developmental evolution of MLU and MLU-like indices beyond which their reliability and validity have…

After participating in a 4-week demonstration project focusing on enriching skills in cognition, memory, convergent and divergent thinking, creativity, and problem solving, 68 potentially gifted 4- and 5- year-olds (many from culturally-diverse and/or low socioeconomic backgrounds) made significant gains in their ability to reason with figures and…

Control group students (receiving descriptive, non-inquiry science) and experimental group students (using Science Curriculum Improvement Study-SCIS "Interaction and Systems" materials) were later combined in grade 4 for instruction with SCIS "Subsystems and Variables" materials. Results show similar difficulties in learning…

Uses structural equation modeling to combine traditional ideas from repeated-measures ANOVA with some traditional ideas from longitudinal factor analysis. The model describes a latent growth curve model that permits the estimation of parameters representing individual and group dynamics. (Author/RH)

The article examines rehabilitation of the behavior disordered head injured with an emphasis on eventual community reintegration. Discussed are behavioral issues, cognitive issues, a program model of a rural behavioral unit, behavior management, the role of counseling, community reentry, cognitive management, vocational issues, and reentry…

Examined the effects of Piagetian-like tasks' characteristics on the performance of those tasks by different age group students. Indicates the method of task presentation had an effect only on young students' performance, while numerical content had an effect on the majority of students in all grades. (Author/CW)