This guide is designed to facilitate self-studies of planning and implementation of state-required summer reading camp programs for grade 3 students who scored at the lowest level on the state reading assessment. It provides a template for data collection and guiding questions for discussion that may improve instruction and increase the number of…

A structured reinforcement system, in which learning disabled students earn tokens for on-task activities, is an effective way of managing classroom behavior. An 11-step process of initiating such a program is described. (CL)

Reviews research studies which deal with the relationship between the time students spend engaged in learning and their subsequent achievement performance, and examines the emerging implications of these studies for the classroom teacher. (MP)

Tips to help music teachers develop time-management skills are presented. These include setting personal goals, keeping a time log, fighting procrastination, controlling interruptions, endorsing the art of selective omission, increasing delegation, self-pacing, practicing wastebasketry, and economizing work habits. (RM)

Techniques to promote engagement in preschool children with special needs include rotating toys to maximize novelty, specifying engagement goals, and using individualized materials. Promoting engagement requires consideration of methods for determining engagement goals and ways to manage the logistics of the individualized program. (DB)

To improve test scores and instructional quality, school districts in New Brunswick (New Jersey) and Adams County (Colorado) implemented programs to increase student time on task. Administrators introducing time on task programs should involve teachers and principals in planning, answer six staff questions, and provide support for necessary…

The article reviews research on children's use of time with emphasis on maintaining "engagement" (developmentally and contextually appropriate behavior). Techniques for preschool teachers to use to promote high levels of engagement by children with or without disabilities are identified. (DB)

This brief guide notes the effectiveness of self-management strategies in increasing students' responsibility for their own learning and behavior, heightening student motivation and self-esteem, and reducing demands on the teacher's time. A strategy is outlined to help students increase their on-task behavior, by having students chart, correct,…

To improve homework quality in the classroom, teachers should clear up homework fogginess and use strategies for success, including creating goal-directed assignments, balancing homework, allowing time to finish assignments, viewing homework-assignment time as part of the learning process, helping students organize their homework, and helping…

The paper reviews findings and implications of curriculum based assessment (CBA), an approach focusing on collecting, interpreting, and using data to help lower achieving students have opportunities for success in mainstreamed settings. An instructional delivery model is presented to guage the probability of task success and provide a structure…

This document discusses the importance of time management for learning-disabled students and techniques to enhance the teaching of time management skills. Teaching effective time management calls for consideration of the student's readiness to learn new material, effective transitions between activities, clear prioritization of educational…

Classroom variables associated with academic learning time (ALT)--instructional time, on-task behavior, and student success rate--are positively related to student achievement. Guidelines and forms are provided for teachers and supervisors to gather objective and usable information on these ALT components through direct classroom observation…

To make sure students' time in school is used efficiently and advantageously, some simple ways to improve time use are suggested. It is important to assess time use to ensure that a school schedules enough time for basics, is using learning time and teaching time well, and is not duplicating subject matter. (MD)

This article examines the concept of negative reinforcement in relation to the maintenance of off-task and disruptive behaviors in classrooms. Suggestions are given for determining whether negative reinforcement (in the form of escape from the instructional task) or teacher attention is maintaining the behavior. Suggestions for making tasks less…

The Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) field continues to experience increased valuing of experiential practitioner knowledge. A welcome result of this evolution has been the broadening of research perspectives. The 16 practitioner narratives in "Insights on Teaching Speaking in TESOL" are written by…