This study found that the responses of 40 institutionalized adults with moderate mental retardation to the tasks of discriminating emotions and expressing empathy were poor in contrast to those with mild mental retardation. Of individuals with mild mental retardation, those with no chronic challenging behaviors scored better than those with…

Three studies examined observers' attributions and reactions to negative emotional displays, as well as expressers' expectations about others' reactions. Analysis revealed that people attribute others' negative emotions equally to situational factors and dispositions, whereas their own emotions are attributed to the situation more than to…

Reports an individual's observations during a trip to China. Argues that the U.S. government and students must learn to understand and appreciate China because of its large population, market potential, and position among major world powers. Discusses personal impressions, the protesters at Tiananmen Square and elsewhere, and reactions to…

Discusses the adaptation of an English lesson to develop its potential for economic awareness. Presents a role play for students that deals with a fictitious teenager appearing before juvenile court. Emphasizes importance of allowing students to explore the economic aspects of social problems while developing English skills. Explores both social…

Discusses the role, status, and compensation of nonprofessional library staff (e.g., clerks and technicians); role, authority, status, and compensation of non-librarian professionals appointed as directors or supervisors; and the relationship of professional librarians to other professionals on the library or information-center staff. Delineates…

Discusses reasons for involving middle-school students in genuine historical inquiry, including that it will foster perspectives, attributes, and critical-thinking skills required of informed citizens in a democratic society. Notes that requiring students to do so requires careful guidance and thoughtful preparation. Discusses nine considerations…

Used a goodness-of-fit model and an exploration-based/perspective-taking model to examine identity formation among Jewish adolescents. Found that ideological identity diffusion was higher among students living in Jewish nondominant neighborhoods, and ethnic behaviors and practices and total ethnic identity were higher among adolescents living in…

Explores how three inquiry processes (iconology, iconography, and social art history) can enable art educators to develop interesting and relevant teaching approaches for the study of art. Gives examples of how the inquiry processes could be used in the art classroom. Explains that through inquiry methods, art historical understanding may be…

Allows students to experience the trials and tribulations of traveling the Oregon Trail through reading diary and journal entries written by children of that time. Recommends three classroom activities for use with historical narratives: looking for the unexpected, identifying recurring events, and creating "imaginary" diaries based on…

Focuses on a way of teaching that explores the connection between historical and cultural content in works of art, linking the present and past through reCognizing (understanding a previously known thing differently or viewing an unknown thing in multiple ways). Provides an example of reCognition using the Kwanzaa Playground in Columbus (Ohio).…

Discusses child peer relationships in relation to teacher's role; object-conflict, sharing, and cooperation; causal, consequential, and alternative thinking; inferring and responding to emotions; perspective taking and empathy; and initiating friendship and group entry. Claims that children's discussion documents their growing understanding of…

Third-grade students at Albion Public School (Albion, Nebraska) were linked with "special friends"--elderly residents at a local home. Students learned first-hand about the lives of the elderly, worked on related projects in school, shared activities with their new friends, and formed some very special relationships. (SV)

This study compares perspectives about benefits and risks of inclusion of 237 parents of children with and without disabilities and 118 providers in the same community-based reverse inclusion preschool program, using the same measures. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two factor structure, risks and benefits, based on scale scores from the…

Two studies explored children's understanding of how the presence of conflicting mental states in a single mind can lead people to act so as to subvert their own desires. Study 1 analyzed explanations by children (4-7 years) and adults of behaviors arising from this sort of "Ulysses conflict" and compared them with their understanding of…

Facilitating mental computation discussion comes with its own set of challenges for researchers and teachers. It is important to be able to help capture the students' ideas, before they disappear and seem like little more than moments of magic! In enabling children to learn how numbers work, the current emphasis on mental computation is driven by…