This study was to examine the individual differences in primary school students’ motivation (i.e. growth mindset, self-efficacy, and interest), self-regulated learning strategy use in English writing and the relationships between motivation, strategy use and English writing competence. Participants were 523 4th grade primary school students in Hong Kong. Although the findings showed a general pattern that the high achievers reported higher levels of motivation (i.e. growth mindset, self-efficacy, and interest) and self-regulated learning (SRL) strategy use than the average achievers, who in turn outperformed the low achievers, all the students showed quite a low level of interest in English writing. Interestingly, motivation impacted SRL strategy use very differently for students of different writing competence groups on the whole. Three-group Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) suggested that growth mindset had the strongest and most significant correlations with all students’ use of SRL strategies. However, interest and self-efficacy had different relationship patterns with SRL strategy use among the high, average and low achievers. Interest had no significant relations with the high achievers’ SRL strategy use, while self-efficacy had no significant relations with the low achievers’ SRL strategy use. Implications for English teachers to improve differentiated instruction are discussed. Copyright © 2021 Sage Publications Ltd.

由於每位學生都有其個別需要,故此如何照顧個別差異是學校以至每位老師的一個重要課題。根據香港教育局的融合教育運作指南,建議學校採用三層支援模式,以便因應學生不同的需要而提供適切的支援。而大多數學校均於每年的十二月起進行「及早識別和輔導有學習困難的小一學生計劃」(第一層:及早識別),並會設置輔導課,作為第二層支援的策略。作為學校負責統籌特殊教育需要的行政人員(下稱統籌主任),筆者希望透過檢視香港及不同地區對數學輔導教學的原則及策略,反思如何改善學校的小一數學輔導教學。Since each student has his or her own individual needs, how to cater for individual differences is an important issue for each teacher in schools. According to the Integrated Education Operation Guide of Hong Kong Education Bureau, it is recommended that schools should adopt a 3-tier intervention model to provide appropriate support to cater for students with different educational needs. Most schools carry out the "Early Identification and Intervention Programme for Primary One Students with Learning Difficulties" (First Tier: Early Identification) in December. Remedial classes, small group teaching and pull-out programmes will be involved as a Second Tier support strategy as well. As a school administrator (hereinafter referred to as SENCo) who coordinates the issues of special educational needs, I hope to improve the teaching of Primary One Mathematics in schools by examining the current principles and strategies of remedial teaching in Hong Kong and different regions.
[Copyright of 香港特殊教育期刊 is the property of 香港特殊教育學會有限公司. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This paper investigates differences in approaches to learning and teaching English as a second language (ESL) as reported by 324 mixed-ability Grade 7 Hong Kong ESL students and 37 ESL secondary school teachers with different backgrounds. Information about participants' perceived approaches to learning/teaching English were collected through a student questionnaire and a teacher questionnaire. Analysis of the student data suggested significant differences among students of low, medium, and high academic abilities in their reported use of deep and achieving approaches to learning English. Analysis of the teacher data revealed that teachers with different qualifications and number of years of teaching experience performed significantly differently on the Information Transmission Approach and on collaborative approaches to teaching English. Implications for the learning and teaching of English in Hong Kong and limitations of the study are also discussed.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2010.534769]

Children's interest in exploration is the hallmark of their curiosity. As people who are significant in organising children's environment, how teachers and parents respond to children's exploratory behaviours may promote or hinder the child's desire for further investigation. With reference to Kurt Lewin's concept of 'total situation', various hypothetical scenarios on children's exploratory behaviours in different contexts were designed to solicit teachers' and parents' interpretation of the behaviour, how they might respond in the situation and the rationale behind their response. The findings indicated that the decision of adults in allowing children to explore is influenced by a combination of child, adult and situational factors.
[Copyright of Early Child Development and Care is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03004430802181965]