A supplemental instruction program was designed to assist students in mastering course concepts and to increase student competence in reading, reasoning, and study skills. Supplemental leaders, upper division students whose course competency has been certified by course instructors, attend course lectures where they take notes and complete…

The writing of five first grade children was studied to determine whether findings of a previous study regarding children's concept of story structure would be demonstrated in the children's original compositions. The weekly sessions during the study included individual or group prewriting discussions, drawing and active writing, modeling by the…

This ethnographic study responds to concerns that the goal of developing reflective teachers is unrealistic given the practical concerns of preservice teachers. The study examines what should be meant by "reflective teaching" and whether or not teachers can become "reflective." The aim of the research was to understand if and how preservice…

An extended abstract is provided for a major article titled "The Effects of Frequent Curriculum-Based Measurement and Evaluation on Pedagogy, Student Achievement, and Student Awareness of Learning" is described. The article summarizes research on the educational effects of data-based program modification (DBPM). Thirty-nine special…

A discussion of the connections between mathematics, language, and second language acquisition focuses on four major areas: (1) the nature of mathematical performance, (2) the language of mathematics, (3) problems that mathematics poses for limited-English-proficient (LEP) children learning English as a second language, and (4) mathematics as a…

The 13 articles in this information packet are intended to assist individuals involved in developing plans to improve student thinking within a school or a school district. The topics discussed include (1) the need to improve student thinking, (2) obstacles that stand in the way of teaching thinking skills, (3) practical approaches to improving…

Many students have difficulty in science because they are passive readers, readers who receive information without understanding. Passive readers begin reading assignments without thinking about the subject. Their counterparts, known as active readers, interact with text to construct meaning. They make predictions, ask questions, generate…

Metacognitive knowledge is the concern of this paper; specifically children's knowledge of factors, such as their ability and effort, which affect their performance and their awareness of the integration of these factors. How a young child's familarity with his or her own mind might facilitate reasoning competence with respect to aspects--such as…

Describes the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Program, which replaces drill and practice with thinking skills activities for grades three through six. The HOTS curriculum, which is built around commercially available software, is reviewed; special teaching techniques that emphasize teacher-student dialog are presented; and benefits for at-risk…

Describes a prototypical adjunct reading program which was used for two summers with high-risk students about to enter a private, medium-sized university. The program, "Strategies for Learning," provides instruction in 14 specific strategies for comprehending college texts, understanding course syllabi, taking notes, and organizing…

Discusses some recent research dealing with the enhancement of an individual's capacity for acquiring and using information through direct instruction and training in appropriate information processing strategies. Describes a learning strategy system known as MURDER, and relates its use to the learning of scientific and technical material. (TW)

Feelings of helplessness can impact on learning to read. This research review illustrates problems in assessing learned helplessness, including instrumentation inadequacies, lack of comprehensive causal schemes, context specificity, etc. Observations of and discussions with the child are recommended in the assessment process. Guidelines for…

A self-assessment unit developed to encourage accuracy in English as second language teaches adult students to: determine and assess the cost of errors in their native language; develop sensitivity toward errors in their native language; and focus on accuracy in speaking and writing. (Author/CB)

Presents five articles devoted to multimodal theory, research, and practice. Topics include cognitive intervention, the effects of counseling on classroom performance, motivating student attendance with friendship groups, multimodal self management for college students, and a case study describing child adolescent multimodal therapy. (JAC)

This digest discusses using strategy instruction to assist students with learning disabilities. It begins by describing strategy instruction as teaching students about strategies, teaching them how and when to use strategies, helping students identify personally effective strategies, and encouraging students to make strategic behaviors part of…