A knowledgeable teacher may fail in teaching due to inability to work effectively with pupils. Thus, pupils may be entertaining each other during class time, talking aloud incessantly, walking around aimlessly in the classroom, and bothering others, among other annoyances. When supervising university student teachers in the public schools, the…

Which is the better approach in pupil learning--working together in collaborative situations or working by the self in ongoing learning activities? Howard Gardner (1993), Harvard University psychologist, emphasized that these are two different intelligences. Collaboration is preferred by selected pupils in learning. These learners do best when…

Pupil/teacher interaction provides opportunities for many kinds of learning experiences. Within the reading curriculum, there are a plethora of activities in oral communication and working together harmoniously. Thus from every day experiences, the teacher may communicate verbally what he/she has read in an interesting, informative manner on the…

There are a plethora of variables which affect pupils in the classroom. These might involve the obvious such as uncomfortable temperature readings a well as the following: (1) small group work as compared to individual activities; (2) use of measurably stated objectives versus constructivism as psychologies of learning; (3) a very quiet…

The role of school administrators has become increasingly complex. State mandated testing has brought on a plethora of responsibilities. Pupils are tested in grades three through eight in reading and mathematics. If pupils fail to pass a test, they may be held back to repeat that grade level. An exit test is given in high school which needs to be…

This paper analyzes each of three different plans of reading instruction and raises questions regarding these individual plans of teaching reading. The paper first discusses state standards and the reading curriculum and whether state-mandated testing improves the reading curriculum. In contrast to state-mandated testing, it then considers…

A major task involved in teaching students is to group wisely for instruction. This paper discusses the use of grouping in the following contexts: the self contained classroom; departmentalism and the student; homogeneous versus heterogeneous grouping controversy; learning centers; the dual progress plan; team teaching and grouping students for…

This paper cites as selected taboos in teaching reading (identified by educators very frequently) the following: (1) homogeneous grouping; (2) round robin reading; (3) use of textbooks and workbooks in the curriculum; (4) individual endeavors in school work; (5) memorization of content; and (6) the controlled vocabulary in reading. The paper…

One approach in the teaching of reading that is criticized a lot is the round robin procedure in which the teacher, generally in a heterogeneously grouped classroom, forms three reading subgroups for instruction purposes. Each of the groups is as homogenous as possible. The teacher teaches one subgroup, while the other two are profitably engaged…

Even with computer spell check, it is important for students to learn to spell words correctly. Teachers should make the spelling curriculum meaningful for students by maintaining their attention, showing them the purpose and value of learning spelling, and providing necessary tools for correct spelling. Several spelling instruction plans may…

Teachers need to be able to ask quality questions in the teaching of reading--questions to assess student comprehension and to clarify content, questions to enable learners to engage in higher levels of cognition such as creative and critical thinking, questions to help students engage in meaningful reading experiences and become lifelong…

Teachers may use any of numerous methods of teaching in the classroom. The quality of any learning activity depends upon what occurs and how it affects participants. Some of the more common methods of teaching are: the lecture method; memorization methods; discussion methods; problem solving; use of critical thinking; and use of creative thinking.…

Most educators advocate cooperative learning in the curriculum. Heterogeneous grouping is also recommended so that students with mixed achievement levels work in a committee setting. Cooperative endeavors stress democracy as a way of life, according to many educators, as compared to competition in the classroom. This paper examines the philosophy…

The United States ranked ninth among 35 nations in an international study among students in reading, as reported by the Progress in International Reading Literacy. Standards keep going up for students in reading achievement. Literature books for children must be rewritten in keeping up with the times in a demanding school and societal environment.…

The teacher needs to be certain that each student is able to read effectively to understand the science subject matter being emphasized in teaching and learning situations. In ongoing lessons and units in science, the teacher must use a variety of approaches, such as: prior to students reading science content, print the new vocabulary on the board…