IN CONTRAST TO THE TRADITIONAL EMPHASES ON ROTE LEARNING AND FACT ACCUMULATION, RECENT TRENDS EMERGING FROM EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH STRESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THINKING PROCESSES SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO REASON ABSTRACTLY AND TO SYNTHESIZE. CHILDREN WORKING INDEPENDENTLY OR IN GROUPS MOVE THROUGH A DISCOVERY LEARNING CURRICULUM IN WHICH THE TEACHER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENSORY EXPLORATION AND MANIPULATION OF CONCRETE MATERIALS. THE CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO TRANSFER THIS LEARNING TO MORE COMPLEX LEVELS. THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES ARE RECOGNIZED AS BEING COMPLEX ORGANISMS, WHOSE LEARNING DEPENDS UPON THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES. THEREFORE, THE CHILD'S IMAGE OF HIMSELF ASSUMES NEW IMPORTANCE SINCE IT AFFECTS HIS ABILITY TO LEARN THROUGH HIS SCHOOL CAREER. TECHNOLOGICAL AIDS SUCH AS TELEVISED AND COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION WHICH ALLOW A CHILD TO PROGRESS AT HIS OWN RATE HELP HIM TO DEVELOP AND PRESERVE A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. SIMILARLY, GROUP INTERACTION, GUIDED BY AN UNDERSTANDING TEACHER, CAN PROVIDE FOR MOTIVATION AND SUPPORT BY CLASSMATES. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY-KINDERGARTEN-NURSURY EDUCATION, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 1201 SIXTEENTH STREET, N.W, WASHINGTON, D.C 20036. (MS)