In his ethnographic study of junior high school literacy activities, David Bloome found support for four theoretical constructs of the student-text interaction: (1) education is a process of cultural transmission; (2) reading is defined in terms of the sociocultural context in which it occurs; (3) the interpretation of behavior and of signs occurs…

Skillful, scientific observation of even one student having difficulty can give teachers ideas for helping all of their students. Discusses planning observation time, tools for observation, and how to observe students and interpret observations. Provides specific suggestions for five observed behaviors and sources of more information (two…

Looks at the impact of the classroom environment on student emotions and behavior, offering suggestions for using the physical features of the environment to calm or stimulate students. Shows how the factors of environmental arousal, classroom robustness, and spatial settings may be used to create art classrooms that minimize chances for…

The authors briefly describe their research on teaching cooperative classroom behavior to students; outline the essential components of a curricular activity designed to foster cooperative behavior; and explain how teachers can promote in their students both the skills and the affective components of cooperation. (SJL)

The underrepresentation of women in science and engineering might be caused by certain differences in science training processes. This study investigated sex differences in classroom atmosphere and classroom behaviors of science teachers and students. Males were dominant in working on classroom displays and classroom activities. (YP)

Noting children's natural proclivity to interpret language freely and use that potential to expand and develop as learners, this book offers a new approach to understanding how young children communicate their knowledge of the world and how that understanding can transform the educative process. The book also describes the process of conducting…

The program described in this paper was designed to address two sets of questions, one concerning the nature of classroom teaching and learning of science in secondary schools and the other concerning their mechanisms. The program consisted of four phases: (1) "Establishment" (emphasizing trust between teachers and consultants); (2)…

An inductive analysis of studies on discipline reveal four characteristics of effective classroom management. Preservice teachers should be able to: (1) develop a workable set of rules; (2) respond consistently to inappropriate behavior; (3) structure activities to minimize disruption; and (4) respond to, but not denigrate, the disruptive student.…

Describes the types of teacher coordination that are necessary for survival in open space. Teachers successful in open-space schools have provided the best and most useful information on how to survive in open space and their suggestions are discussed in five basic categories. (Author/RK)

To explore the structure of academic work in classrooms, a case analysis was conducted of the academic tasks accomplished in three English classes taught by the same teacher. The authors conclude that the study contributes to the development of a language with which to describe curriculum dimensions of the teaching process. (MJL)

Because the first days of school are considered crucial to the establishment of a well-run classroom, this study observed 28 third-grade classes during the beginning of a term, identifying successful teacher behaviors in making introductions, presenting rules and procedures, monitoring the classroom, and analyzing and regulating student behavior.…

After reviewing effective teaching research during the past 20 years, one basic question arises: do teachers make any difference? Specifically, do teachers' classroom practices have any effect on student outcomes beyond the effects of ability and home background? What knowledge of minimal teaching competencies has been gained, and how firm is the…

This paper reports a study directed toward educational improvement through individual and group change. It is a 3-year naturalistic case study centering on 9 experienced science teachers, 13 novice science teachers, 64 secondary science students, and 4 researchers. The three aims of this study are to know more about: (1) what it is to be a teacher…

Discusses the use of correspondence training in the classroom to improve learning outcomes. Defines the training as an experimental behavioral strategy that takes into account the degree to which people achieve what they are aiming to do. Concludes from research involving middle school students that the subjects achieved a better work output in…

A study was conducted at the College of Saint Rose, in Albany, New York, to evaluate the effectiveness of a student workbook that accompanies the 5th edition of the textbook "Introduction to Psychology: Exploration and Application," by Dennis Coon. The study examined the academic performance and attitudes of 106 undergraduate students…