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This study investigates whether the use of prosodic cues during instruction facilitates the processing of German accusative case markers. Two groups of third semester L1 English learners of L2 German completed Processing Instruction (PI) with aural input: Learners in the PI+P group heard sentences that included focused prosodic cues; learners in the PI group heard sentences with monotone prosody. The effects of training were assessed through an offline comprehension task, a written production task, and an online self-paced reading (SPR) task. The results for the offline tasks showed that the groups were similar with respect to their offline comprehension and production. The SPR task showed that both groups used case markers to interpret word order online to some extent; however, only the PI+P group did so in all conditions. These results suggest that prosody does play a role in (morpho)syntactic processing, and that covert activation of prosodic structures can facilitate processing during online reading tasks.

This article explores how multiple linguistic cues interact in predictive processing among second language (L2) learners. In a visual-world eye-tracking experiment, we investigated whether learners of German use case and prosody cues together to assign thematic roles and predict post-verbal arguments. During the experiment, participants listened to subject-first and object-first sentences that contained (1) case cues only, or (2) both case and prosody. The results showed that the learners successfully predicted post-verbal arguments on the basis of lexical-semantic information but were less successful in using case cues. However, prediction success increased when both case and prosody were present, suggesting that predictive processing is supported by prosodic cues. Additionally, results show that higher proficiency was associated with faster processing and a greater ability to generate predictions. We conclude that the presence of cue coalitions allows L2 learners to process information more efficiently, and that the L2 processor can exploit the additive use of cues for prediction.

Background: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of garden-based learning on outlook and behaviors toward vegetables among primarily Latinx students. An educational strategy, garden-based learning is a teaching tool that complements other disciplines. Methods: Third- and fourth-grade students at 4 elementary schools with different garden programs completed a bingo survey and participated in class discussions to measure outlook and behaviors toward vegetables. Results: Students in schools with more garden exposure were more likely to answer "Yes" to survey questions reflecting a positive attitude and behaviors toward vegetables. In class discussions, students most often mentioned vegetables grown in the school garden as their favorite vegetables. Conclusion: For third- and fourth-grade students, the length of exposure to a school garden appears to have a positive impact on both perceptions of and desire to consume vegetables. Other studies have shown that positive outlook and behaviors toward vegetables can change vegetable consumption habits in children. Integrating garden-based learning into the school curriculum may positively influence eating behaviors over the long-term future.

The acquisition of verbal morphology presents challenges for many second language (L2) learners, in part because they do not readily process those forms during sentence comprehension. Instead, L2 learners rely on lexical-semantic cues (e.g., temporal adverbs and explicit subjects). This study investigated the role of task-essential training in changing learners' processing tendencies and tested whether such changes were related to increased performance with the L2 Spanish present, preterite, and future tenses and first- and third-person morphology. The experiment compared a no-training control group to three groups of learners who completed a multisession task-essential training following the principles of structured input (SI). Groups varied in the type of feedback they received. Results of a cue-reliance assessment indicated that each SI group relied significantly more on verbal inflections after training while the control group did not. Furthermore, the extent to which groups relied on verbal inflections on posttest measures correlated moderately to strongly with performance on interpretation and written production measures. Implications are discussed for input processing, learned attention, and pedagogy, in particular the impact of feedback on cue reliance and learning outcomes.

This study investigates the role of prosodic cues and explicit information (EI) in the acquisition of German accusative case markers. We compared 4 groups of 3rd-semester learners (low intermediate level) who completed 1 of 4 Processing Instruction (PI) treatments that manipulated the presence or absence of EI and focused prosody. The results showed that, when training included EI or prosodic cues, the groups improved on comprehension and production tasks in an immediate posttest. Four weeks after training, the groups sustained gains on the comprehension task, but not on the production task. Participants who did not receive EI or prosody only showed improvement on the comprehension task in the immediate posttest and did not sustain these gains. These findings replicate previous findings on the role of EI in PI, showing an advantage for EI with the target form (e.g., Henry, Culman, & VanPatten, 2009). Moreover, the results suggest that prosodic cues help learners process morphosyntactic forms, and that they can enhance grammar instruction.

A model is presented for assuring the appropriate identification and referral of students with learning disabilities to special education. The model formalizes a regular education component in six steps for implementation in regular education contexts, followed by seven procedural safeguards once a student has been referred for comprehensive evaluation. (PB)

Examined the reliability of the Rucker-Gable Educational Programming Scale (RGEPS) in a study involving 200 college students and investigated whether the reduction in reliability was due to either content inequivalence or attribute instability. Findings suggested the scale is only moderately reliable, and that attribute instability contributed to score variability. (JAC)

A study involving 90 regular class teachers indicated that the Rucker-Gable Educational Programming Scale appears a valid measure of the construct of knowledge of appropriate placement for handicapped students and sensitive to training effects. (CL)

The study revealed that responses of original and current normative populations had significantly changed on the Rucker-Gable Education Programming Scale, a measure of attitudes and knowledge regarding placement of handicapped students. In addition, a significant difference was found between responses made by the normative sample and public school personnel. (Author/CL)

A study involving 202 undergraduates and 115 regular educators examined the reliability of the Rucker-Gable Educational Programming Scale, a measure of teachers' attitudes toward and knowledge of appropriate program placement for handicapped children. Results showed the scale to be only moderately reliable. (SB)