Since 2003, nonprofit organization Common Sense Media has studied the ways in which kids are growing up in the digital age. In this interview, research director Michael Robb shares recent findings about the media habits of young children, tweens, and teens. While the news coverage of these issues tends to be hyperbolic and alarming, Robb explains,…

In this article, the author takes a critical look at what counts as literacy for preadolescent and adolescent talented boys. Arguably, there exists a population of boys who demonstrate strong verbal abilities, as measured by standardized verbal assessments and classroom performance, yet indicate a lack of enthusiasm when encountering print-based…

This paper revisits the question of "voice" in the context of neo-liberal social and educational reform. "Voice" has been one of the key concepts of feminist and critical pedagogies in the theory and practice of producing social transformation. I argue in this paper, that the political effectiveness of this concept needs to be…

Argues that most young children were probably not emotionally distressed by the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle accident or by media reports of the accident because they are most upset by visual ugliness or televised depictions that personally threaten their sense of well-being, neither of which was present in the televised reports. (MBR)

Describes circumstances of a 1978 camp canoeing accident in which 13 persons drowned. Reports factors which led to the accident, based on details from the Coroner's Report. Poses questions which should be satisfactorily answered before a trip can be safely undertaken by campers and camp staff. (CS)

The challenge to children's librarians of recognizing, analyzing, and selecting picture books for the not-so-young is discussed. Characteristics of sophisticated picture books, views of Elaine Moss (well-known British librarian), and efforts of children's librarians at Ottawa Public Library to establish picture books collection are highlighted.…

Advocates early intervention to prevent high-risk behaviors among upper-elementary school students. Discusses changes experienced by preadolescents and implications for their learning and future adjustment. Reviews brief intervention packages and describes an alternative approach involving embedding a prevention program into daily classroom…

With eighth-grader in White House, America is in for four years of voyeuristically observed adolescence. As Chelsea Clinton and millions of other 12 year olds know, junior high is where real psychological action is. Middle school is cruel, self-conscious culture, replete with rumors, complicated dress codes, and popularity-driven status hierarchy.…

Discusses need for precollegiate intervention programs to attract minority female students to fields of science and mathematics. Considers benefits for colleges that sponsor such programs. Describes types and components of intervention programs for minority females at middle school level. (NB)

This paper addresses girls' patterns of computer avoidance at the middle school and other grade levels. It reviews the evidence for a gender gap in computer use in several areas: in school, at home, in computer camps, in computer magazines, and in computer-related jobs. It compares the computer equity issue to math avoidance, and cites the middle…

Reviews sixth to eighth grade students' attitudes about what they watch on television, and discusses how prime time programming can help students in school by encouraging reading of books connected with television shows, providing scripts for students, and use of television as a source of classroom discussion and to encourage family communication.…

Reviews the opportunities for and obstacles to promoting independent learning at the middle grades level. Proposes the substitution of compensatory practices that discourage self-directed learning activities, such as test review handouts, with instructional practices that support independent learning activities, such as performance feedback and…

Recommends that curriculum and instruction be designed to engage students in using the tools of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Describes a curriculum framework that takes into account adolescents' language development and uses language to integrate various academic subjects. (PAM)

This paper describes the process of "contemplation writing" for one urban sixth-grade class. The paper describes the daily give-and-take between teacher and students, relates the way in which the teacher instructed his students about how to concentrate and observe before the writing process actually began, discusses the writings that…

Examines traditional psychometric approaches to measuring intelligence and recent work by cognitive psychologists to develop a rationale for a non-verbal reasoning test for 10- to 11-year-olds. Recent studies providing basis for analyzing structure of test items are outlined, and benefits of analyzing items at a sub-type level are discussed.…