The study examined how adding students with learning disabilities (LD) to regular education classrooms changed the behavior of nonhandicapped students and their teachers. Initial observations were of mainstream classes containing no learning-disabled students. Observations were again conducted after LD students had been mainstreamed for 8 months.…

Sixteen students with learning disabilities in junior high special education classrooms were given instruction in science, with levels of teacher enthusiasm manipulated. Results suggest that more enthusiastic presentations resulted in significantly higher academic achievement and lower levels of off-task behavior. (Author/JDD)

The relationship between teachers' use of class time and student achievement, behavior, and attitudes was examined in a study of 102 English and mathematics classes in 11 junior high schools. Time use had a measurable effect on student achievement and attitudes in mathematics classes, but not in English classes. (Authors/PP)

This study explored relative contributions of variables underlying 30 elementary teachers' referral judgments. Best predictors of referral were teachers' judgments about presence of behavioral problems and students' academic competence, while demography, off-task behavior, and teachers' stress failed to contribute significantly. (Contains…

An exploratory study examined influences on secondary and postsecondary vocational and technical student time on task. In conducting the study, researchers recorded minute-by-minute observations of the interactions of 152 secondary students and their teachers and 328 postsecondary students and their teachers in a total of 25 classes that were…

This report is part of a paper set which focuses on a project designated as "Applying Research to Teacher Education (ARTE)." It reviews application possibilities of teacher effectiveness research in elementary classrooms to science teaching at the secondary level. Mills College (Oakland, California) was one of the sites involved in the…

Under consideration in this conference was the idea that prospective teachers should be assessed on the ability to perform teaching skills relative to each other and that overall patterns of skill performance, not separate skills, should be used as the organizing focus of teacher certification. James Raths, in "Teacher Traits Revisited:…

This review of the literature highlights research-based ways to improve schools and classrooms. Emphasis is on student time-on-task, effective teacher behaviors, and positive teacher supervision. (JM)

A policy for the evaluation of certificated employees adopted by the Sheridan Board of Education on July 12, 1983 is presented. The evaluation plan begins with a 17-item "we agree" statement which enumerates the responsibilities and job-related needs of teachers. The purpose, rationale, and objectives of the evaluation plan are based on…

Beginning with general observations on the human element in excellent teaching that often goes unnoticed by researchers, this speaker provides a wide range of suggestions for making more effective use of class time. These suggestions pertain to monitoring time on and off task, classroom organization and planning, making assignments, clarifying…

This paper presents recently reported findings that associate teacher behavior with student achievement. These findings fall under 5 general categories: time usage, classroom management, teacher expectations, teacher effectiveness research, and specific teacher behaviors. Research on time usage has demonstrated that the same amount of learning…

The Middle School Study of Mainstreamed Students sought to establish a foundation for interdisciplinary research on middle school mainstreaming by merging teacher effectiveness and special education practices. The study examined teaching behaviors through macro (classroom) and micro (individual student) analyses of classroom interactions, to…