This study examined the reading habits of 301 fourth-grade pupils in Israel. The objective was to investigate the relationship between the type of school library and the pupils' reading habits over the long range. The hypothesis was that pupils who have a central library in their school together with classroom collections read more than pupils…

Attempts to address, on behalf of the teacher of reading, some pedagogically significant aspects of metacognition. Tests the effect of using Metacognitive Awareness Guidance (MCAG) in reading assessment tasks given to nine-year-old Israeli pupils. Notes teachers' reactions related to four aspects: use of self-talk, use of metacognitive learning…

This paper reports on an exploratory, longitudinal study that analyzes and interprets the evolution of teachers' beliefs regarding learning, teaching, and technology, and their instructional practices, in the context of integrating technology-based information-rich tasks in six 4th-6th grade classrooms. The study used multiple research tools,…

A science lesson (observing yeast) was taught demonstrating that when a guided inquiry instructional method is encountered there is a change from subjective to objective thinking. Describes steps in the lesson and analysis of pupils' responses and behavior. Suggests an instructional model to increase perceptive level of thinking in biology…

Advocates the use of little puppet plays for teaching English as a foreign language to elementary school children. (Available from English Inspectorate, Ministry of Education and Culture, P. O. Box 292, Jerusalem, Israel.) (CHK)

This study examines the impact of a school visitation program at the Tel Aviv Museum on the artistic perceptions of fourth graders. Nine randomly selected classes and four control classes were studied; cognitive and affective perceptions of modern art were measured. The results and their implication for museum visitation programs are discussed.…

Examined the effects of cooperative-mastery learning (CML) on student's questioning behavior, creativity, and achievement. Comparisons of controls and students trained to generate questions under CML, mastery learning, and cooperative learning (CL) indicated that CML and ML students scored higher on measures of higher order questioning skills and…

An experiment involving fourth graders examined effects of syntactic context on auditory word identification and ability to detect and correct syntactic errors in speech. Severely disabled readers were inferior to good and poor readers in syntactic awareness and ability to use syntactic rules. (RH)

Examines the effects of competition and cooperation on learning through computer-assisted instruction (CAI). A questionnaire was administered to 457 Israeli fourth graders who used two CAI arithmetic systems. The characteristics of the systems are discussed, and the results of the survey are correlated to students' gender and achievement levels.…

When English is taught as a second language in grade 4 in Israeli schools, the emphasis is on listening and speaking. Efforts are made to include varied and interesting activities using games, songs, plays, and records. (Available from English Inspectorate, Ministry of Education and Culture, P. O. Box 292, Jerusalem, Israel.) (CHK)

In a comprehensive survey of the literature title "Coping With Violence in the School System," Benbenisti, Astor, and Marachi (2003) map out the programs being deployed throughout the school system today. Those programs listed are "peace builders," "second step," "Richmond's youth against violence,"…

Most of the research into dyslexia has been carried out among children and has raised the question whether the characteristics of young dyslexics are similar to those of adult dyslexics. The aim of this research was, therefore, to confirm whether the cognitive deficits, which appear among young dyslexics on reading and reading related tasks, are…

This study examined individual differences among beginning readers of English as a foreign language (EFL). The study concentrated on the effects of underlying first language (L1) knowledge as well as EFL letter and vocabulary knowledge. Phonological and morphological awareness, spelling, vocabulary knowledge, and word reading in Hebrew L1, in…

The developmental course of children's automatic extraction of meaning from printed words is recharted by using a Stroop-type recall task. Results confirm that, after a year of practice with reading material, children do automatically extract meaning from a single printed word. (GK)

The hypothesis that student groups working under conditions of intergroup competition will adopt different motivational orientation than will groups not in competition was studied using 89 Israeli fourth graders (50 males and 39 females). The impact of prior socialization on group behaviors and implications for cooperative learning are discussed.…