This report contains the synthesis of Research on Instructional Effectiveness in Elementary Schools (RUETE). The emphasis of the research fellows was on large scale, classroom-based studies related to student achievement. Current research in the areas of active teaching behaviors, activity and task stuctures, and academic learning time is…

A description is presented of an improvement program that focused upon a small, flexible, open primary school. The school had been targeted for improvement because of rather low test scores. Improvement efforts focused on findings from four basic strands of school research: (1) structured learning environment; (2) academic feedback; (3) high…

The efforts of a principal who used ideas concerning use of classroom time generated by the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study to restructure programs at two rural elementary schools are described. Staff development efforts and teachers' reactions are highlighted. Changes in instruction and in scheduling are discussed. (PP)

The first section of this report describes the rationale and objectives of the Research Utilization in Elementary Teacher Education (RUETE) study which developed techniques for exposing student teachers to current research on effective instruction and effective schools. The progressive phases of the RUETE study are outlined and discussed. The…

This paper reviews educational theory and research on student learning gains (especially in basic skills in elementary grades) and on motivating students to value and engage willingly in academic tasks. Research on the link between teacher behavior and student learning and attitudes is addressed in the first section, followed by a section…