Explores the possibilities provoked by the construction of the category of "youth-at-risk." Argues that discourses which attempt to regulate the behaviors and dispositions of youth provoke dangerous possibilities for the increased surveillance of, and intervention into, young people's lives by regulatory authorities. (Contains 67…

Surveyed adolescent girls regarding body dissatisfaction, dieting, and internalization of sociocultural values, media-influenced knowledge, acceptance of varied body shapes, and media exposure. Girls understood media influence on self-image and behavior and accepted varied body shapes. Significant numbers reported dissatisfaction with weight and…

Adopts a sociocultural perspective to investigate the role of discourse in children and teacher mathematical meaning making in a 5th grade inquiry classroom. Examines the process whereby individual and group developmental trajectories are constructed and allows exploration of the relationship between discourse and knowing. Argues for a more…

Comments on the papers presented in this special edition of this journal. The papers present a major step in conceptualizing what is happening in mathematics classrooms. Suggests that research on discourse in the mathematics classroom should proceed on the present high level of empirical analysis. (Author/MM)

The 20th century brought great changes. Scientific advances have improved transport, communication, and information for millions but the development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction has threatened us all. Now we must continue our first steps towards a war-free world by developing a loyalty to humanity. Scientists must accept…

Classified, selected bibliography for Appalachian Studies includes over 400 entries: books, journal articles, government documents, and dissertations published 1996-97. Contains 25 categories including agriculture; Appalachian Studies; architecture, historic sites; arts, crafts; Civil War; coal, industry, labor; description, travel; economic…

Discusses Jean Fritz's book "Homesick" as a work of art on the borderline between biography and fiction. Suggests young readers should be provided accurate historical knowledge in order to (1) understand the characters' emotions and experiences, and (2) prevent traditional misconceptions from being perpetuated. (NH)

Considers the relation between literacy research and practice as it applies to new digital technologies. Discusses how new technologies intersect with a broad range of issues and practices in literacy instruction. Concludes that researchers and practitioners need to seek understandings that take into account the unique interaction among cognitive…

This article urges a shift in intervention approaches with students who have communication disorders to include sociocultural activities. Data reported support the integration of sociocultural learning and apprenticeship in the current paradigm of intervention practices. Discussion considers intervention practices as development in context,…

We draw on two studies of student teachers as they learn about learning while interacting with pupils. We argue that the affective notion of relational agency needs to become more central to understanding pedagogy if we are to prepare learners for the demands of the knowledge age. Here relational agency is defined as a capacity to engage with the…

The paper considers the definition of high quality preschool from a Vygotskian perspective. Similarities and differences in the issues faced in Russia and those in the United States are discussed as background. Three major ideas are considered from the work of Vygotsky and of his students/colleagues, Daniel Elkonin and Alexander Zaporozhets. The…

The developmental origins of respect and disrespect among American children are seen in early childhood and in the transition to the school years. This chapter presents the first published research to focus on the development of both respect and disrespect as distinct concepts. The findings are examined in the context of both sociocultural and…

This article examines the possible implications of reintegrating the concept of context into identity theory. Through the analysis of a case study of one individual attempting to form an identity within the larger juxtaposed sociocultural contexts of premodernity, modernity, and postmodernity, the article demonstrates how diversity of…

The question raised here is about the extent that liberal individualism and the consumerist ethos is the result of technology and to what extent is it the cultural norm of modernity. There has been a polarization in the way technology is understood. Predominantly it is assumed to be neutral but it can also be argued that technology exacerbates the…

This article is based on the text of the Gulliford Lecture given by Professor Harry Daniels at the University of Birmingham in October 2005. Professor Daniels takes, as his starting point, Ron Gulliford's assertion that teachers need to learn from their experience of trying to teach children who are "hard to teach." He goes on to look at the…