Curriculum and instruction for the gifted: The role of school psychologists

This paper explores the school psychologist's role in the academic and psychosocial development of students identified as gifted and talented via curriculum. Given the school psychologists' assessment expertize, they can inform the identification to service placement process for students, including advocacy for curricular and instructional opportunities that best meet the student's needs. We discuss modern conceptualizations of giftedness and talent development, the function of curriculum and instruction in meeting the needs of students who are gifted and the school psychologist's role in identifying which curricular adaptations are appropriate for students based on learner data. We also discuss how a school psychologist can work with educators to support the needs of twice exceptional learners and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning students and recommend professional learning opportunities for school psychologists to remain abreast of current issues in gifted education.     

Sexual abuse by grandparents.

Using a sample of 95 case records of sexual abuse substantiated through child protection investigation, this study confirmed several findings from earlier studies of sexually abusive grandparents: (a) virtually all perpetrators are male, (b) the vast majority of victims are female, (c) a disproportionately large share of abusive grandfathers appear to also be sexually abusive fathers, and (d) stepgrandchildren appear to experience greater risk. Additionally, it was noted that stepgrandparent perpetrators were more threatening and physically violent. However, contrary to some earlier studies, evidence was provided that this form of abuse is inappropriately described as "gentle." Explicit threats and overt physical assault were noted in 14 cases. Moreover, the other tactics used to gain children's compliance, such as overpowering them, suddenly grabbing their genitals, and attacking them in their sleep, appeared to seriously compromise children's autonomy and personal integrity.     

The elaboration theory of instruction: A model for sequencing and synthesizing instruction

This paper describes a novel instructional model for sequencing, syntheizing, and summarizing subject-matter content. The importance of such models is discussed, along with the need for a significant change in the role of subject-matter structure in instruction. A zoom-lens analogy is presented to facilitate an understanding of the elaboration model of instruction. Some basic concepts and principles upon which the model is based are described. The basic unvarying components of the elaboration model are described. And finally, some variations in the model for different kinds of goals are described. The elaboration model follows a general-to-detailed pattern of sequencing, as opposed to the hierarchically based sequences derived from Gagné-type task analyses.Many of the ideas described in this paper were developed under two projeets, one funded by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and the other by the Navy Personnel Research and Development Center in San Diego, California; however, the ideas expressed do not necessarily constitute the opinions of the funding institutions.     

新课标下初中数学课堂教学策略初探

<数学课程标准>强调:数学教育面向全体,使每一位学生都能获得适应未来社会生活和进一步发展所必需的基础知识、基本技能、基本态度、基本方法.而课堂是学生获取知识、掌握技能、发展能力的主要场所,课堂教学质量的高低直接影响着学生的数学素质的培养和发展.因此,在新课标下,如何提高初中数学课堂教学质量是摆在广大数学教师面前的重要课题.根据近几年的教学实践,我认为应从如下几方面入手:     

BRIDGE: A model for comparing the costs of using distance instruction and classroom instruction

Abstract

A computerized cost‐simulation model designed to compare the cost of expanding a campus using distance instruction to that of classroom instruction is discussed. The rationale for the cost comparison is the working hypothesis that the benefits of distance instruction are at least as good as those of classroom instruction. Cost comparison examples from classroom, television/broadcast, and asynchronous network courses are discussed. The model also demonstrates the cost‐saving potential of sharing courses and programs among campuses.     

Strategies for initial reading instruction

Summary While the strategies we have presented do not constitute a complete instructional program for beginning reading, the techniques can be integrated into a wide variety of initial reading approaches. Teachers can selectively use any or all of these techniques to meet the particular needs of the individual reader or group. We hope that the ideas presented here will encourage further exploration of approaches for both initial and remedial reading instruction.     

简析儿童的创造性及其培养

我国有关创造性培养的实践和研究所表现的局限反映出人们对儿童创造性特点缺乏全面的理解。根据国内外相关研究 ,儿童的创造常常表现为一些不符合常规的举动和语言。要保护和发展儿童的创造性 ,首先要创设充满尊重与接纳的心理环境 ,尤其要对儿童的“非常”表现给以理解和肯定 ;其次要提供能让儿童运用多种感觉通道进行自主探索的多种活动材料 ,并引导儿童扩展观察视角 ,尝试从多种不同的角度分析和比较事物。此外还需要以高水平的创造成果给儿童提供示范。     

Science instruction for the mildly handicapped: Direct instruction versus discovery teaching

The authors' purpose in this study was to compare the effectiveness of two instructional approaches on mildly handicapped and nonhandicapped students' science achievement. Students were assigned at random to one of two conditions: (a) direct instruction, and (b) discovery teaching. The content of the lessons remained constant across conditions and focused on such concepts as displacement, flotation, variable, controlled experimentation, and scientific prediction. The results show that students in both groups learned equally well as measured by an immediate posttest. However, students in the discovery teaching condition outperformed their direct instruction counterparts on a retention test administered two weeks after the posttest. Finally, learning-disabled students in the discovery condition performed better than their direct-instruction counterparts on a performance-based measure designed to assess generalization. Implications for research and for practice are discussed.