Introduces the constructivist theory of mathematical learning, and illustrates its application in a curriculum focusing on fundamental concepts. How knowledge is constructed, how concepts mature, and what it means to learn and to know mathematics are presented. Pedagogical implications of adopting a constructivist perspective on knowledge and…

Stories can have powerful effects on others. An autobiographical account of a behavior specialist's supposed descent into a severe emotional disturbance (SED) is presented here. Written as a narrative, the story opens with a description of what it is like to think differently from everyone else. It is conjectured that either the years spent by the…

Arguing that educational institutions share responsibility with social service and welfare institutions for addressing the range of children's needs, this policy statement presents principles and strategies for implementing broader collaboration with community organizations. Introductory sections acknowledge the need for joint action and identify…

A study investigated patterns of paragraph structure and organization in 19 short essays in Chinese by Taiwan middle school students. The organization of the writing samples were analyzed and the paragraphs classified according to five types of internal structure: deductive, with the main idea presented at the beginning; inductive, with the main…

This theme issue presents a variety of viewpoints on the topic of educational programs for gifted and talented students, in three papers by Anne Turnbaugh Lockwood. The first paper, "Beyond the Golden Chromosome," reviews the ideas of Joseph S. Renzulli concerning the definition of giftedness, use of the label of gifted, the need for…

Informed opinion suggests that problems of underachievement in school relate to the lack of particular kinds of experience, discontinuity between school and home, and linguistic and cultural diversity. If a literacy program were based on up-to-date knowledge of the processes involved in reading and writing, and what is known of early literacy…

Liberal education offerings at 15 colleges directed to professionals, retired people, and other new audiences are described. An article by Peggy Ann Brown, "Recharging the Batteries on Totally New Fuel," describes four educational programs offered to professionals, including literature seminars at Brandeis University and the Dartmouth…

Examines factors underlying the disappearance of Native American languages, examines success stories of language maintenance, and offers possible solutions to the problem of the disappearance of these minority languages and the accompanying loss of cultural identity. (20 references) (Author/CK)

The dialogical relationship between Confucianism and Taoism serves as a framework for examining the interplay between learning as socioculturally mediated activity and critical reflection in preservice teacher education. Article highlights a summer elementary school science program that involves preservice teachers, university faculty, and a local…

Discusses how to hear and incorporate students' voices in educational learning and inquiry, explaining the context for and importance of hearing students' voices. Discusses teachers' roles as researchers who would incorporate student voices in their research, forms of research, and necessary skills and materials for becoming teacher-researchers.…

Describes a difficult sixth grade girl who spent her elementary school years fighting to feel happy. The article focuses on a teacher's efforts to raise the child's self-esteem by examining her home life then taking appropriate steps to encourage success (e.g., tutoring younger students). (SM)

A third-grade teacher and a teacher educator argue that, in an elementary mathematics class in which the teacher is encouraging the children to communicate and justify their mathematical ideas, the features of a mathematical task shape the mathematical discourse. They conjecture that divergent tasks, problems with many correct answers, may…

After 10 years of teaching rule-driven, procedure-based, algorithm-oriented mathematics, an elementary teacher describes how she began to rethink her teaching style after returning to school for a graduate degree. Her rethinking is based on the first of four student teaching events that spanned an entire school year in which she used the…

This report describes an evaluation of Project SELF HELP, a school-based family literacy program serving parents and other caretakers, elementary school age children, and preschool children 2 days per week during the school year. A summer reading program was also available to families. The evaluation was conducted in 1992-1993 to inform program…

This document reports on a symposium that was held to begin to shape a national policy on delivery of services to children at risk and their families, and to develop guidelines for future collaborative efforts between representatives from the health and education professional communities. The symposium explored innovative ways to integrate and…