Examined how elementary students' use of critical thinking in their movement actions was inspired by an "expert" teacher's task design, task presentation, and instructional strategies during creative dance lessons. Data from videotaped lessons and written anecdotes indicated that by presenting sequential, open- ended tasks and learning…

Discussed is a report of a British government advisory group concerning programs of study in mathematics education, as related to students with special education needs. Described are the progression of levels, the spread of levels normal for particular age groups, and the notion of age determining the work of students. (JDD)

Describes study of elementary school children in Australia which was designed to determine their sequential knowledge of measuring length and to apply recent cognitive theories to predict the sequence of development of knowledge. Recent literature is reviewed, information processing skills are discussed, and skills required for measuring length…

This paper describes the Reading Recovery program implemented at a special needs school in Kiel, Germany. The program is intended to offer primary-grade pupils a second chance to obtain reading and writing skills. The highly structured reading program involves isolation of difficulties, work on word structure, learning consonant-vowel combinations…

Nineteen children with developmental delays in the first stage of language learning conversed with their parents in a laboratory setting. Adult utterances were coded for topic, question type, and nonquestions. Child utterances were coded for topic. Child topic continuations were more likely to follow adult continuing questions than any other type…

Advocates the use of the Engelmann-Becker Direct Instruction method to address third-world problems in education. Explains the method, which structures meaningful, strategic learning to ensure student success. Presents results of a pilot study of its use in Gazankulu in South Africa. (DMM)

This study examined relationships between mathematical learning difficulties (MLD) and the planning, attention, simultaneous, successive (PASS) theory of cognitive processing. PASS processes were assessed in 267 Dutch students with MLD. Results indicated students with MLD performed lower than peers on all "Cognitive Assessment System"…

The author compares two philosophies of language instruction (medical and behavioral models); evaluates four major elements of the teaching/learning process (stimulus, pupil response, consequation, and feedback); as critical variables in developing a lesson plan; and discusses the effects of selection of pupils, teachers and space on language…

The two studies detailed in this paper investigated the effects of adaptive sequencing of examples and adaptive feedback on concept learning using computer-based instruction. In the first study, two groups of undergraduate students progressed through a set of five behavior management concepts presented in the rational set generator framework.…

Drawing from basic assumptions about learning and critical thinking skills, this paper suggests a teaching method for helping community college students to use their critical thinking capacity in their college courses. First, a series of assumptions commonly held by teachers about the nature of learning are presented, and contrasted with…

Seven papers address the teaching of self-management skills to disabled persons in supported employment settings. In "Competitive Employment: Teaching Mentally Retarded Employees to Maintain Their Work Behavior," (Frank Rusch and others), external cues managed by job coaches are contrasted to self-generated cues leading to employee self…

The activities included in this book are based on current theory on effective oral communication and are intended to increase students' repertoire and use of effective oral communication behaviors. Specifically, the book's activities are designed to (1) appeal to students of all ability levels; (2) provide for student interaction and involvement;…

Four recently developed computer programs can help students with the composition process. The first, a prewriting program, helps students prepare to write by asking them a series of questions, similar to those an instructor would ask, intended to help them think more deeply about their subject. The second writing program also contains prewriting…

A FOURTH PROGRESS REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BEGINNING READING SKILLS PROGRAM USING THE EDISON RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENTS INSTRUMENT IS PRESENTED. THE ACQUISITION OF A SEQUENCE OF COMPLEX BEGINNING READING SKILLS IS EXAMINED. MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES ARE DISCUSSED. THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES WERE TESTED IN FIELD STUDIES--(1) THE EFFECTS OF TWO TYPES…

This booklet is one of a series of teacher-written curriculum publications launched by the Bay Area Writing Project, each focusing on a different aspect of the teaching of composition. It describes four sequences for teaching writing developed by four teachers at four different levels--kindergarten through grade three, intermediate grades, grades…