Five reader and nonreader male students (ages 6 to 10) were tested using the procedures developed by J. Downing and P. Oliver to investigate the development of the concept of the word. Results indicate significant effects for reading levels, age, stimuli, and a significant interaction between reading level and stimulus class. (Author/PN)

This paper is concerned with one aspect of intellectual functioning, logico-mathematical concepts, and with development of representational space in opportunity class children (those characterized mainly by cultural deprivation, intellectual retardation at the Educable Mentally Retarded-borderline levels, and specific learning disabilities) who…

An investigation of selected research projects which focus on intellectual development is presented. The treatment begins with a description of psychological-oriented studies and illustrates the many ways in which studying a second language in school settings contributes to the cognitive development of the learner. (Author/RM)

Cultural, ecological, and educational variables in relation to magical thinking, perceptual flexibility, and logical reasoning seem to be crucial in development of children's judgments and explanations in conservation tasks. (Author)

Moral competence is more difficult to attain than scientific competence. Since language comprehension plays a central role in conceptual development, and moral language is difficult to learn, there is a common deficiency in moral conceptual development. This suggests a theory of non-spontaneous solutions to moral problems. (Author/MS)

This book describes children's mathematical thinking to guide and support teachers in their reflection upon student thinking and teaching and learning. It is organized into five parts: (1) reasoning, student thinking, and invented strategies independent of the mathematics content domain which addresses the role of discourse in helping students…

This book deals addresses how the development of the human capacity for mathematical cognition occurs through educational experience. Chapters include: (1) "The Development of Math Competence in the Preschool and Early School Years: Cognitive Foundations and Instructional Strategies " (Sharon Griffin); (2) "Perspectives on Mathematics Strategy…

This paper presents some findings on students and authority in the mathematics classroom. It is shown that students create a web of authorities that extends not only to their teachers but also to their fellow students. While it is not asserted that relationships based on authority should be abolished, it is shown that such relationships can…

These analyses form part of a three-year project looking at mathematical thinking as a socially organized activity. We revisit data from a University Calculus class using tools from two theoretical perspectives, used increasingly in mathematics education research: (1) semiotic mediation; and (2) discursive practices. We highlight how different…

I, a teacher-researcher, present my fifth graders with an interesting but incorrect student-constructed proposal first seen in 1996. The students used the patterns they had detected while solving the chessboard task to formulate counterarguments. The five types of counterarguments which emerged offer insights into the children's understanding of…

This report explores first year undergraduate mechanical engineering and mathematics students' conceptions of the derivative and the contribution that membership of different departments may have on these conceptions. Quantitative results suggest that mechanical engineering students develop a proclivity for rate of change aspects of the derivative…

This paper studies the modes of thought that occur during the act of solving problems in mathematics. It examines the two main instantiations of mathematical knowledge, the conceptual and the structural, and their role in the act. It claims that awareness of mathematical structure is the lever that educes mathematical knowledge existing in the…

This study focused on high school students' conceptions and substantial concept change learning processes when studying the kinetic theory of gases. The study was conducted in 1998 in four classes of a public metropolitan high school in South Korea. Data was collected through semistructured and in-depth interviews and participant observation of…