Uses an analysis of children's interpretations of a complex episode of social interaction to illustrate three features that distinguish them from robot plans and that form a basis for a theory of the development of social action: human plans (1) are social, (2) operate on interpretations, and (3) are used, not just executed. (FL)

A problem-solving strategy that appears to be highly successful is having children write their own word problems. The stages of prewriting, writing, rewriting and revising, and publication are each discussed. (MNS)

Children use acquired knowledge as they learn basic multiplication facts. If informal thinking strategies are stressed, the border between "figuring out" and "knowing by heart" gradually disappears. Children will acquire a flexible mental structure of multiplication facts instead of a collection of rules. (MNS)

This study investigated the ability of learning disabled, slow learning, and average children (N=39) to adapt learning strategies to different stimulus demands in small group learning situations. Findings demonstrated distinctly different patterns of strategy usage in each diagnostic category; all three groups were able to differentiate among…

Indicates how thinking strategies help children learn the basic facts for whole numbers, listing several strategies involved in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Also lists books and articles for illustrations of the strategies and how to teach them, and two sources for research findings on thinking strategies for basic facts.…

Elementary school students evaluated compositions that had been written by peers, then discussed the factors upon which their rankings were based. Results indicate that the bases for evaluation fall into four categories: feelings aroused by text, responses to surface features, responses to text as understood, and responses to craftsmanship. (FL)

Discusses the systematic relationship between the language patterns of a text and the context of situation that enables a reader to predict from one to the other. (FL)

Two studies involved 21 reading disabled elementary students grouped as either dysphonetics (characterized by nonphonetic spelling errors) or dyseidetic readers (characterized by spelling words according to sound rather than appearance). Cognitive strategy differences were noted in visual sequential memory. Findings emphasized the importance of an…

Science education is viewed from a framework that integrated sources of knowledge with the traditional processes of scientific inquiry. Sciencing is then described, and how it could be implemented with young children is discussed. (MNS)

Experiments were conducted to explore the operation of retrieval processes in elementary age children's active rehearsal strategies. Using free-recall tasks, subjects were given instructions in active rehearsal as well as supports that might facilitate retrieval operation. Findings suggested that retrieval per se was not necessary for beneficial…

When the words "problem" and "answers" are used in connection with computational exercises, students think they are solving problems. Distinguishing between computational forms and problems is illustrated with a variety of topics. (MNS)

Analyzed was the mental activity required to answer Profile Test questions. This was then related to the results of pupils with differing profiles. Most of the mental activity could be reduced to three categories of knowledge: data, short operations, and paths. These categories are then discussed and applied. (MNS)

Argues that making inferences is an integral part of reading comprehension. Presents classroom strategies based on current research that encourage inference skill development. (FL)

An inductive concept-identification model of expository text processing, consonant with current theories of macrostructure development, is proposed as part of a reading comprehension instruction model. An evaluation study with fourth and sixth graders is described. Results are interpreted as supporting the model. (Author/BS)

Describes a project in which children were given in-depth experiences with a range of quality stories and then were interviewed using a series of open-ended questions to obtain their responses. The project was intended to gain insight into the process by which children make sense and meaning from stories. (HTH)