Contexts in which mentally retarded children learn may be counter-productive in that they reinforce excessively dependent learning strategies. Research on nonhandicapped children suggests that contexts which allow children to initiate as well as respond promote independent learning, suggesting ways to structure learning opportunities for mildly…

Maintains that infants two years of age and younger do direct social behavior toward one another. Adults play an important role in young children's social development. Developing strategies and planning peer experiences for infants become a teacher's responsibility. Recognizing differential influence of varying toys may be useful for such…

Contends that developing an interest in a particular topic is the first step in getting students ready to read in the social studies. Maintains the teacher must find ways of using what children already know and couple this with their experiential background to fulfill the need for establishing familiarity before reading. (TRS)

Maintains that only people prepared through an arts education can truly receive and understand the benefits of civilization. Argues that we may counteract the undesirable effects of an easy, "instant response" society by focusing our collective and cooperative energies on education about the arts. (TRS)

A study comparing the use of the Silent Way technique in an experimental setting with its use in a real classroom setting suggests that results of experimental research cannot necessarily be transferred directly to the classroom. Student compositions based on ten Silent Way worksheets and an editing task are appended. (MSE)

Instructional strategies targeted for differentiating between German verb synonyms have involved: (1) extended paraphrases or definitions in German and/or English; (2) reference to stylistic and/or contextual differences; and (3) the use of syntactic and/or semantic features. Application of these strategies is shown with the…

Proposes a language teaching methodology based on experience and theory in second language instruction and applied linguistics and characterized by practicality in the classroom. (MSE)

Discusses the development of inquiry skills as a legitimate goal for education and possible ways of using technology to support the inquiry process in classrooms. Three elements of inquiry are examined--how inquiry can be motivated, the centrality of questioning, and metacognitive aspects--and examples of classroom projects are given. (EM)

Tests the validity of a teaching strategy designed to help students learn to think historically. The method offers a rationale for understanding why historians may arrive at differing conclusions. Results of the study (n = 39) indicate a significant improvement in the experimental group concept of history. (TRS)

Extends and replicates the 1948 Soviet study by Istomina that examined the age at which children use deliberate strategies to aid recall and the effect that task context has on remembering. Subjects were 3- to 7-year-old children. Istomina's results were not replicated in this study. (HOD)

Using a series of alternating sort/recall trials, this study explored whether elementary school children's experience with categorically related items would facilitate their subsequent organization and recall of low-associated items. (Author/DR)

Reports the results of a high-speed search task administered to overactive and distractible (hyperactives), normoactive and distractible, and normoactive and attentive (controls) children. Instructions emphasized speed, accuracy, or both speed and accuracy. Indicates that controls and distractibles conformed to the fast guess model, which relates…

Although cooperative learning evidences the greatest potential for engendering student learning, it is used no more than 20 percent of the time in most classrooms. This article reviews research on cooperative, competitive, and individualistic structures used by teachers and discusses the implications for changing teacher preparation practices. (MT)

Considers the implications of research on intentional learning processes for the role of the second language teacher. It is recommended that teachers take on the task of helping their students refine their competence as learners. Techniques for classroom practice are suggested. (MSE)

Presents: (1) a list of ideas for teaching problem-solving; (2) a review of a problem-solving book used in medical education; and (3) a discussion of an approach called problem-based learning. (DH)