This paper reviews experiments conducted at CEMREL in St. Louis, on individual and group reinforcement for tutoring. It summarizes results on how reward structures relate to effective student cooperation and how rewards interact with other variables such as subject area, classroom size, and age. Further research issues are proposed. (SJL)

Investigation of the effects of special education classroom experience on 61 preservice elementary school teachers' knowledge of characteristics of learning disordered or emotionally disordered children and teaching and management techniques found that limited experiences and coursework did not increase the teachers' knowledge. (Author/CB)

Sample guides for both holistic and analytic scoring of elementary school students' writing samples were written by the California State Department of Education. This article describes how the guides were developed and validated and explains complementary uses for the two types of scoring. (PP)

Researchers investigated whether using modern writing tools--mechanical pencils, felt-tip pens, and other devices--would improve the legibility of first-grade students' handwriting. Results showed that children using these tools wrote no better than those using primary pencils. Teachers' practices did influence legibility, however. (PP)

This paper begins with a discussion of a theory of teams in general and then proceeds to a description of a program of research focused on a simple but carefully structured classroom team technique, Student Teams-Achievement Divisions, or STAD. (Author)

How Black and Hispanic students' perceptions of classroom instruction affects their academic achievement was studied. Black students' perceptions of their teachers' instructional time and structuring comments significantly explained their gain in reading achievement. Hispanic students' perceptions of their teachers' pacing significantly explained…

Investigated the effects of four writing experiences, grade, and reading level on elementary students' narrative writing. For 14 days, students wrote in response to 4 stimuli. Poststudy writing samples indicated students wrote in response to a common but different writing prompt. There were main effects for grade and reading level. (SM)

Reported are results of a study on how teachers plan for evaluation of their own instruction and how they implement such plans in the classroom. Subjects were 292 first year elementary and secondary teachers. Results suggest the relationship between evaluation plans and actual in-class evaluation was quite strong. (IAH)

Students from two elementary schools were studied in an investigation of "social isolates," students who are overlooked or ignored in the classroom. Data were gathered from groups of students and individual students. Findings, drawn from comparisons of students, interviews, and test instruments are discussed. (CJ)

This study examined how well the positive effects of cooperative learning would generalize to private schools, comparing mathematics achievement, friendship, attitude toward mathematics, and self-concept outcomes of students taught with and without cooperative learning. Significant increases in mathematics achievement surfaced for cooperative…

This study attempted to extend previous research in teacher education by examining the development of preservice elementary teachers' perspectives and practice of social studies from the beginning of the methods instruction through the clinical experience, specifically examining the roles of the methods instruction and the cooperating teacher. (SM)

Developed profiles of computer-using elementary and middle school mathematics teachers and had experts rank them as though the teachers were receiving a hypothetical award. Experts reported weights of the dimensions they used in making judgments. Actual award judgments were highly predictable from profile dimensions. What experts considered most…

A longitudinal study examined the content and goals of an undergraduate social studies methods course and compared course perspectives to a teacher's perspectives as she progressed through the course, through student teaching, and into beginning teaching. Results highlight many issues related to methods courses and teacher induction. (SM)

Researchers evaluated community social action education programs for at-risk youths using a portfolio and panel review evaluation process. Each program assembled portfolios that an expert panel analyzed for successful program components. Panelists then participated in focus groups. Results detailed 13 features necessary to make such community…