Provides a rationale for organizing history instruction around children's trade books. Presents a sample unit on the American Revolution that has been used successfully with intermediate-grade students. Describes an approach that is unique in its dual focus on students' affective responses to literature and their learning of content. (MG)

The consistency of several item bias detection methods was studied across different test administrations of the same items using data from a mathematics test given to approximately 6,600 eighth grade students in all. The Mantel Haenszel and item-response-theory-based sum-of-squares methods were the most consistent. (SLD)

A mathematical model is proposed to describe how group differences in distributions of abilities, which are distinct from the target ability, influence the probability of a correct item response. In the multidimensional approach, differential item functioning is considered a function of the educational histories of the examinees. (SLD)

A pilot study assessing parent satisfaction with mental health services for children was a disappointment in its low response rate (28%, 15 of 53 questionnaires). However, the questionnaire, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, was an easy to use and effective tool that identified some sources of dissatisfaction. (SLD)

The effect of multiple-choice (MC) or open-ended (OE) response format on diagnostic assessment of algebra test performance was investigated with 231 eighth and ninth graders in Tel Aviv (Israel) using bug or rule space analysis. Both analyses indicated closer similarity between parallel OE subsets than between stem-equivalent OE and MC subsets.…

Chinese crime fiction is discussed in the context of political and social change. Chinese fiction bears little resemblance to the model police officer of Communist ideology. Crime fiction has become the main vehicle in China for forming public images of police and may become a channel for social discourse. (SLD)

This study contrasted communicative skills of 20 community-based adults with mental retardation with those of 20 institutionalized adults. The institutionalized group was more assertive and less responsive than the community-based group. The institutionalized group also devoted more utterances to inappropriate topics and provided fewer repairs…

A father shares his experience raising a daughter born with severe brain damage. The article explores the parents' emotions in learning the scope of their daughter's condition, coping with support machinery, getting to know parents of other children with disabilities, dealing with health professionals, and securing financial support. (PB)

This study found that a procedure involving choral responding and self-assessment accompanied by contingent praise may be an effective tool for teaching in-class transition skills to preschoolers with developmental delays. Active engagement sharply increased, with collateral decreases in competing behavior and levels of teacher prompting of target…

High school students with learning disabilities (LD), low achievement, or average achievement responded, several times daily, to questions concerning levels of affect, activation, cognitive efficiency, self-esteem, motivation, and feedback from others. LD students reported feeling more positive and active than the other groups during school hours;…

Maintains that using contemporary novels allows students to critically apply what they have learned about the sociology of family issues, and at the same time to broaden their understanding of them. Outlines the use of literature to illustrate sociological theories, explains the course requirements, and addresses student and instructor responses.…

Develops a multifaceted definition of faculty trust at three organizational levels in a survey of urban elementary teachers. Along with willingness to risk vulnerability, five faces of trust emerged: benevolence, reliability, competence, honesty, and openness. When teachers trust their principals, they usually trust one other and their clients.…

Describes a project in which students in a college survey class on young adult literature were paired with students in a high school English class in a "buddy journal" project. Shows examples of this writing and of the assignments which used Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences to offer students multiple paths for responding to…

Describes the use of a faculty-focused assessment pilot project by six Germanna Community College faculty members, which provides immediate feedback to faculty on what is working in the classroom and what is not. Provides an overview of the project, its results, and recommendations. Includes background on Cross and Angelo's Classroom Assessment…

Explores community college faculty's perception of their involvement in decision making. Reports the responses of 70 Midwest community college instructors in five areas: finance, instruction, personnel, goals, and students. Finds that respondents feel little sense of decision-making involvement. Warns that presidents may alienate the faculty if…