This report summarizes the findings of a study that was conducted for the National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL), a group of representatives from 46 national organizations from business, government, and education which share an interest and concern with information literacy. The purpose of this study was to create a comprehensive definition…

The rural school teacher needs to be certain that pupils are attaining the skills needed in reading to be successful in the world of work or postsecondary education. A major source of problems for rural pupils is that many lack background information in order to attach meaning to what is being read. Adequate attention must be given to pupils…

This paper examines the reasons for including drama in elementary curricula; the relationship of drama to children's developmental needs; and appropriate strategies for teaching drama to young children. Reasons for teaching drama include drama's stimulation of high-level thinking and collaborative work. Drama and improvisation also require high…

The environment or climate of a school is determined by more than its physical characteristics. Among the other factors affecting school environment are the school's philosophy, students, communications, teachers, discipline, parents, support services, issuance of awards, and special programs. A positive school environment can be fostered by…

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are reviewed to outline the achievement levels of students in the United States. This examination of NAEP data showing changes in levels of achievement during the 1970s leads to a number of conclusions. The overall picture for 9-year-olds is promising. The outlook for 13-year-olds,…

This monograph is designed to help educators develop a better understanding of children's self-concept, the effects of children's self-concept on their school experience, and ways educators can have a positive effect on self-concept. The first section defines self-concept and presents two case studies; the second discusses factors influencing the…

It has long been recognized that childhood socialization occurs mainly through relationships with others, but only within the last decade or so can it be said that the study of relationships has become central to developmental psychology. As young children grow older, their sphere of relationships extends beyond the primary caretakers, and perhaps…

Education for parenthood is seen as an urgent priority in this paper, which presents a rationale and methods for implementation. National symptoms relating to family problems, teenage parents, mental health, crime, venereal disease, and child abuse are described, and existing preventive efforts in many areas are discussed. Problems facing…

Discussion implications of new information technologies for elementary school children highlights compatibility of formats and content; children's capacities; how technology shapes responses; the use of technology to equalize educational opportunities; and the integration of technology into elementary school curricula. (16 references) (LRW)

Offers teachers and parents practical suggestions for helping children to begin reading naturally. Looks at specific strategies for helping young children to learn to read, particularly a built-in success procedure emphasizing nonvisual aspects of reading. (RWB)

Criticizes methodology and findings reported in the "Consequences" article, particularly in regard to disparities in characteristics of the samples, validity of the measures, and interpretation of results. (NH)

Focuses on two philosophical views of reading, the traditional ("bottom-up") view and an alternative ("interactive") view, along with the implications they hold for shaping reading instructional programs. The differences these two views make in decisions that shape the reading program are illustrated in a kindergarten and…

Critiques William Mehrens' 1992 article on performance assessment, claiming that Mehrens professes to favor performance assessment but only as an afterthought to traditional assessment, and Mehrens' view of traditional assessment limits his portrayal of performance assessment. The paper encourages the research community to support performance…

Cognitive science research has created considerable change in people's understanding of what learning is and how it happens. This change has implications for teaching, learning, and assessment. To develop students' deep understanding of a subject, teachers must understand cognitive theories of learning and apply them in their classroom-assessment…

Examines a model for measuring children's verbal interactions in small heterogeneous or homogeneous cooperative groups using computers. Considers research design, type of task, and data collection and analysis. Concludes that a model incorporating cognitively oriented and socially oriented talk will expand understanding of the nature of children's…