Artifact Case Studies: Interpreting Children's Work and Teachers' Classroom Strategies

This book presents psychological concepts and principles related to learning, motivation, development, instruction, and assessment. The case studies or artifact cases within this book offer work samples and instructional materials that cover a broad range of topics, including: literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and art. For teachers, counselors, and academic analysts of early childhood and grade school students.

I have written this book to serve as a companion to textbooks in educational psychology, child development, and similar disciplines. More specifically, I've written it to help students in teacher education and other professional programs apply psychological concepts and principles related to learning, motivation, development, instruction, and assessment. To assist instructors who are using the book for the first time, I've written an accompanying Instructor's Manual that can be obtained by calling Faculty Support at 1-800-526-0485 or by requesting a copy from your local Prentice Hall representative.

All of the artifacts included here have come from preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school classrooms, and I am most appreciative of the students, educators, and parents who have graciously allowed me to use their work. In particular, I wish to thank the Belcher family, Don Burger, Chris Cairns, the Davis family, Barbara Dee, the Gass family, Darrell Harris, Rita Hocog Inos, Don Lafferty, Teresa McDevitt, Meghan Milligan, Jay Pawlyk, Julie Peters, Ann Reilly, the Rourke family, the Sheehan family, Ann Shump, Helen Snelson, Drew Spencer, Jennifer Taylor, Grace Tober, Sally Tossey, Kris Wright, and Geoff Wuehrmann.

I am always eager for feedback from instructors and students; it is only by getting such feedback that I can continue to improve my work. Please feel free to send your comments to me at jormrod@alumni.brown.edu.

J.E.O.