This study of 16 Singapore child care centers found that children spent most of their time engaged in adult-led group, cognitive, and daily routine activities. Findings also suggest that good quality centers offer a variety of cognitively stimulating activities, such as literacy activities, academic and problem-solving tasks, and verbal…

This study examined the relation between weather and mothers' perceptions of children's moods. Thirty-three mothers rated their children for 30 days, and these scores were examined for their relation to six weather variables (barometric pressure, humidity, temperature, sunshine hours, precipitation, wind) and daily changes in variables. Results…

This study investigated the effects of prop realism on the play of 24 preschoolers. Observations of play sessions revealed that highly realistic props and low-realism props elicited equal amounts of group dramatic play. However, low- realism props generated greater diversity of play themes, more fantasy role enactments, and more nonintended use of…

Reviews Click's book, which explains the development of children during middle childhood; discusses the role of the many individuals involved in a child care facility; introduces developmentally appropriate practices and programs for cultural and linguistic diversity; and describes how to implement a variety of activities. Finds that despite…

Reviews Fraser's book, which relates the author's work at Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia, and three child care settings to interpret the Reggio Emilia approach for Canadian settings. Notes that the book reminds readers that what is missing from prescribed curricula is the relationship of learners to the material; in this book,…

Reviews Newman's book, a play-oriented guide for parents of preschool children with disabilities. Recommends the book as a small step in fostering parental perspectives on school readiness issues and as one way of helping children by encouraging parents to adopt a teacher's stance. (TJQ)

Reviews Pianta and Cox's book, which covers the significance of early school transitions; the ecology of transitions into and through kindergarten; facilitating transitions for children from diverse backgrounds; and implications of the kindergarten transition. Cautions that while the book provides a strong empirical foundation, it does not provide…

Describes research on interpersonal expectancy effects, concentrating on classroom settings. Results of a meta-analysis of 448 studies of interpersonal expectancy effects are summarized. A 10-point model for the study of such effects and evidence supporting a 4-factor theory of the mediation of teacher expectancy effects are presented. (SLD)

The developmental model of self-concept proposed by M. Lynch and M. Levy (1982) is extended through the entire adult life cycle. Self-concept is seen as a set of cognitive rules that have affective or cognitive consequences and that operate like the ego functions proposed by Freud. (SLD)

Results from 692 questionnaires completed by university students indicate that those who participated in community service as autonomous volunteers donated more hours of service and experienced deeper involvement in community service projects than did students recruited through a class or a club. Implications for encouraging student service are…

Studies effects of the Paideia curriculum on critical thinking skills of 270 high school students in the Paideia curriculum and 284 in the standard curriculum. A problematic relationship exists between the treatment investigated and the measures used to collect data, supporting arguments for localized evaluation of Paideia Program efforts. (SLD)

Describes perceptions of conflict as a utility (functional conflict) among 1,953 department executives in programs of social work, education, and nursing (the emergent professions); and analyzes perceptual data in terms of organizational conflict climate and demographics. Variations in terms of perceived operational utility of organizational…

Three studies involving a total of 918 students of above average ability in grades 3 through 8 confirm the importance of self-efficacy in students' decisions to initiate creative productivity and reinforce the value of performance accomplishments for increasing self-efficacy and creative productivity. (SLD)

Investigates effects of a manipulative instructional approach and traditional instruction on the achievement of subtraction facts for 4 African-American and 26 white second graders in a rural North Carolina school. Greater gains in achievement of subtraction basic facts occurred with the manipulative instruction approach. Implications for…

Examines the relationship between field work and counseling skill development for 73 trainees from 2 master's level counseling programs with different field-work requirements. Trainees with field-work experience respond differently than do inexperienced trainees, with greater empathy, better formulation of clinical impressions, and the ability to…