The responses of 108 children, aged five through nine, to the question, "What is reading?" were analyzed to determine whether there were age-related trends toward more mature and structurally more complex definitions of reading and whether a relationship existed between reading skill and the ability to formulate a definition of reading. The…

This is one of a series that is a collection of translations from the extensive Soviet literature of the past 25 years on research in the psychology of mathematics instruction. It also includes works on methods of teaching mathematics directly influenced by the psychological research. Selected papers and books considered to be of value to the…

This paper integrates a recent conceptual shift in middle childhood language acquisition research--the study of metalinguistic development--with a Piagetian perspective on cognitive development to propose a theoretical framework from which to consider language development during this period. The paper first defines metalinguistics and then uses a…

The document describes a conceptual curriculum model for designing original geographical curriculum materials. The model emanated from a series of research projects at the Geographical Institute's Department of Geography for Education at the Rijksuniversiteit of Utrecht, the Netherlands. The objective of the research was to gain insight into the…

The document provides art activities for the classroom teacher who is not an art specialist. It contains activities which supplement experiences provided by the art teacher as well as activities designed to measure the achievement level of students in concept skills related to art and the principles of design. The supplement is divided into three…

The goals of the visual arts program of the Attleboro (MA) public schools, its relationship with the rest of the curriculum, and a study of the effectiveness of the program in seventh grade are described. It is suggested that the visual conceptual skills that are developed through the visual arts program are essential to cognitive processes and…

A model of conceptual change, adapted from Posner, is presented. It includes both the replacement of an existing concept (conceptual exchange), and the incorporation of a new concept (conceptual capture). Conceptual exchange occurs only when an existing concept is dissatisfying and a new concept is intelligible, initially plausible, and fruitful.…

One aspect of Jean Piaget's theory of intellectual development is presented and its implications for designing and using homework problems is discussed. Suggested is a way in which homework problems can be used to provide students an opportunity for self-regulation. Also discussed are the deficiencies of typical homework problems and examples are…

THIS REPORT IS THE FOURTH PROGRESS REPORT OF A STUDY OF HOW A PUPIL'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IS AFFECTED BY PARTICIPATING IN A PRESCHOOL HEADSTART PROGRAM. THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEADSTART GROUP IS BEING COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF PUPILS WHO RECEIVED NO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. THE PRESCHOOL INVENTORY TEST WAS USED TO MEASURE PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT IN 5…

ATTITUDES AND COGNITIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE NATURE OF WORK WERE STUDIED TO DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF SEX, SOCIAL CLASS, RACE, AND INTELLIGENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORK ORIENTATION. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 1,254 TEENAGERS FROM 13 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OPEN ENDED QUESTIONNAIRES, RATING SCALES, HIGH SCHOOL RECORDS, AND TEAHCER RATINGS PROVIDED…

TO VERIFY A PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED DEVELOPMENTAL INVERSION IN PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY AND TO EXPLORE PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES, RESEARCHERS GAVE A SET OF SEQUENTIAL-PATTERN RECOGNITION TESTS TO 316 CHILDREN, REPRESENTING NURSERY SCHOOL THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. EACH TEST CONSISTED OF FINDING TOKENS PLACED BEHIND 5 DOORS IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN. THE…

ACCORDING TO PIAGET, THE CONCEPT OF CONSERVATION IS A PREREQUISITE TO MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDING. THIS STUDY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ABILITY OF FIRST GRADE CHILDREN TO SOLVE ADDITION PROBLEMS WAS DEPENDENT ON THEIR MASTERY OF CONSERVATION OF NUMEROUSNESS. SECONDARY PURPOSES WERE TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT IN PROBLEM STATEMENTS OF (1)…

A TEST WAS CONSTRUCTED TO MEASURE SELECTED LIFE SCIENCE CONCEPTS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX. THE CONTENT OF THE TEST IS BASED ON SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS--(1) STRUCTURE, (2) METABOLISM, (3) GROWTH, (4) REPRODUCTION, (5) RESPONSIVENESS, AND (6) ADAPTION. A LIST OF CONCEPTS RELATED TO THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS…

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUPILS' ABILITY TO USE EVIDENCE FROM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS WAS DETERMINED. THE 320 PUPILS FROM GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX WERE PLACED IN DECISION-MAKING SITUATIONS REQUIRING THEM TO USE EVIDENCE FROM A PLATFORM BALANCE OR GRADUATED CYLINDER. PUPILS WERE REQUIRED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN MASSES OR VOLUMES OF PAIRS OF OBJECTS. THE…

THE USE OF PICTORIAL SYMBOLS IN THE COMMUNICATIVE PROCESS WAS EXAMINED TO ENHANCE ASSOCIATED TEACHING AND LEARNING CONCEPTS. THE ANALYSIS WAS APPROACHED BY PROVIDING EMPIRICAL DATA ON CONCEPT FORMATION, SEMIOTICS, AND THE COMPARATIVE-DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED--(1) EXAMINATION OF THE RESEARCH IN THE PICTORIAL AND MEDIA REALMS, (2)…