Effects of the SOLVE Strategy on the Mathematical Problem Solving Skills of Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities

This study examined the effects of explicit instruction in the SOLVE Strategy on the mathematical problem solving skills of six Grade 8 students with specific learning disabilities. The SOLVE Strategy is an explicit instruction, mnemonic‐based learning strategy designed to help students in solving mathematical word problems. Using a multiple probe across participants design, results suggested a functional relation between explicit instruction in the SOLVE strategy and increase in strategy use and computation scores on grade level mathematical word problems for all participants. Additionally, all participants generalized the SOLVE Strategy to other mathematic topics and concepts, and the teacher and students felt the intervention was socially acceptable. Finally, limitations, implications for practice, and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

INNOVATION IN CHILDREN'S ART

High ability is evident when children commit themselves to making innovations which outstrip those of their peers. To understand the conditions under which innovations spontaneously arise evidence is needed about the processes of production which have given rise to the new products. Two traditions of research are available. One gains its plausibility from the fact that depiction is a relatively solitary pursuit (compared with, say, making music with someone else). It identifies innovations which seem to be powered by individual discovery learning. The other tradition derives from the fact that depictions are communications. It identifies conditions which foster iconophilia and the urge to do something effective. Examination of various sorts of innovation identified in children, adopting the recent ‘computational approach’, led to the conclusion that the study of humble innovations enhances sensitivity to signs that a child is spontaneously starting to outstrip his or her own previous work and that of peers.     

Donald Super: A perspective on career development

This interview with Donald Super focuses on life stages, determinants, role of career counselors, matching vs. developmental emphasis, multicultural and women's issues, current applications of theory, and a comment on future directions.This interview was videotaped at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in April, 1991. It has been edited for clarity and ease of reading.     

Chronicling engagement: students’ experience of online learning over time

Although there is ample research into student engagement in online learning, much of this investigates the student experience through surveys administered at a fixed point in time, usually at the exit point of a single unit of study or course. The study described in this paper, by contrast, aimed to understand online student engagement over a whole semester, guided by two overarching questions: What factors impact students’ engagement over a semester? What factors account for fluctuation in engagement levels over time? This paper presents results from weekly feedback on online education students’ engagement over the length of one semester at a regional Australian university. It also chronicles in more depth the experiences of one student across the same semester. The findings offer longitudinal accounts of student engagement, demonstrating that levels of engagement fluctuate and are influenced by a variety of factors.     

A Trial Evaluation of SWELL (Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy): a whole class early literacy program for at‐risk and disadvantaged children

An evaluation of the Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy program (SWELL) was undertaken in four schools. Two schools participated in the SWELL program in the kindergarten year. The other two schools pursued the regular kindergarten curriculum. Pre‐ and post‐tests were made on a sample of kindergarten students in all four schools (between‐school evaluation). Post‐tests only were performed on a sample of Year 1 students who had not been exposed to SWELL (within‐schools evaluation). End‐of‐year assessments indicated that experimental students outperformed control students on words read in context, but not on words read in isolation (between‐schools evaluation). A similar but non‐significant trend was observed between kindergarten and Year 1 students in the experimental schools, but was not evident for control schools (within‐schools evaluation). Implications for at‐risk and disadvantaged students are discussed.     

Research-supported practices for improving attendance in high schools: a review of the literature

High rates of absenteeism are often an early warning sign for negative long-term outcomes. Typical high school attendance policies, especially those that are punitive in nature, can make attendance problems worse. Fortunately, evidence suggests that even small improvements in student attendance can lead to meaningful outcomes. To support this recovery, high schools must have access to the most effective and efficient attendance interventions. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to summarize the current empirical research related to improving attendance in high schools. Results indicate that the 3 most common elements of high school attendance interventions with desired outcomes were skills training, family support, and incentive-based strategies. We discuss implications for future research and suggest that developing a continuum of research-supported practices within a multi-tiered system of support framework may be an effective way for schools to proactively and efficiently improve student attendance at the high school level.     

The Pedagogical Experiences and Practices of Family Child Care Providers

The work in family child care is becoming increasingly more professional, moving from an image of ‘mothering’ toward one of educare. The growing demand for expertise and competence in family child care providers can be examined in light of their pedagogical experiences and the ways in which children engage in learning in providers’ homes. This article is based on a phenomenological study conducted with four certified family child care providers, each with 10 or more years of experience with a wide age range of children. Data revealed that providers foster a pedagogical relationship with children along five dimensions of learning: children’s skills for learning, essential opportunities for learning, two forums for learning, socio-emotional learning, and meaningful learning. The authors conclude with implications for further research.