The widely recognized developmental age differences between boys and girls of the same chronological age is almost universally ignored in educational planning for children in their early school years. (Author)

The purpose of this study was to determine which of nine Piagetian tasks could function as a measure of a child's cognitive developmental readiness for reading and mathematics. Second, an attempt was made to identify patterns of acquisition of the component skills associated with seriation, classification, and conservation. (Author/BW)

Reports the results of a study of five-year-olds, which indicate that social relationships are a facilitator of cognitive learning of reading readiness concepts and imaginativeness. Girls in the experimental treatments significantly outperformed the boys. (JD)

Discussed are the problems of teaching and learning fractions in the upper primary and lower secondary schools. Recommendations for teaching fractions are made and defects in various methods of fraction instruction are identified. It is suggested that fractions not be taught in upper primary and lower secondary schools. (Author/DS)

The Koppitz Human Figure Drawing (HFD) Test was examined for use in early identification of academically not-ready kindergarten children. HFD scores of children who later "passed" the Metropolitan Readiness Test were compared with HFD scores of children who later "failed." Results indicate that HFD scores are useful in…

Examines influence of household income on cognitive stimulation during the transition to school. Cross-sectional and longitudinal fixed effects regressions are estimated to examine income's effect. Household income was positively related to level of cognitive stimulation in children's home environments across both sets of analyses. Implication for…

Examines research on the importance of understanding children's biological timetables for mind and brain development, and forces that can threaten this neurodevelopmental timetable during critical periods. Discusses the brain's adaptability, and focuses on the importance of knowledge derived from the study of special populations for understanding…

Investigated continuities and discontinuities in the use of learning strategies by Western Australian preschoolers. A follow-up study was conducted a year later. Findings showed that children who were characterized by active strategic approaches to learning in preschool maintained these approaches in the first year of school. (SH)

A model of the sources and consequences of mismatches between gestures and speech is presented that argues that the transitional knowledge state is the source of the mismatch and that such mismatches signal that a child is in a transitional state of concept acquisition and is ready to learn. (SLD)

Examines arithmetic and algebra knowledge from a cognitive perspective in an effort to determine what constitutes a pre-algebraic level of understanding. Presents results of a longitudinal study designed to investigate students' readiness for algebra. Proposes a model for the transition from arithmetic to pre-algebra to algebra. Contains 29…

Discusses solutions to the problem arising when parents are ready for their child to be toilet trained and the child shows no interest. Provides information on physical and emotional readiness and environmental factors in readiness. Recommends that lessons in good hygiene be included in toilet training. Notes that when physical, emotional, and…

Keeping Options Open is a community college-high school partnership that provides a series of career development/academic readiness workshops for high school students to help them make career and life plans. The program increased communication among school counselors and helped parents focus on career/life planning. (SK)