Many teachers shy away from conversations about diversity issues in the classroom--because they feel pressured to cover the mandated curriculum, or because they worry about students' and parents' reactions, or because they're afraid they'll say the wrong thing or won't know how to respond to comments that can make everyone feel uncomfortable. In…

Recent research in two New Zealand Christian schools found that despite biblical vision and mission statements and declarations of pedagogy built on biblical foundations, actual classroom practice frequently differed little from that in secular schools. Teachers could clearly articulate their respective school's vision and goals but all except one…

In analogy to the circular flow model of economic exchange, the author develops an instructional paradigm which is based on Parsons and Luhmanns theories of generalized interaction media. Concludes with a discussion of the implications of the new paradigm for educational research and classroom teaching. (Author/JDH)

Examines the concept of inquiry and gives suggestions for its use in the classroom. A model of inquiry teaching is developed and illustrated by presenting two inquiry teaching approaches to a geographical study of world population and arable land. Some limitations of inquiry teaching are also discussed. (Author/JK)

The design and effects of a data-based approach to training school staff in the implementation of innovative programs are discussed. The rationale and design of the Data-Based Staff Development Program, which has been developed to train school staff to implement the programmatic and personnel changes required to effectively establish and maintain…

This book argues that the redefinition of teaching begins with teachers' developing a positive attitude about themselves as educators. The book offers suggestions to teachers on how to apply positive practices to themselves, move from passive to assertive communication, redefine their approach and build new beliefs, increase student…

This handbook for teachers highlights issues related to the verbal participation of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in the classroom, and provides suggestions for encouraging and integrating LEP students more fully into the ongoing verbal interaction in the regular classroom. The handbook's suggestions are based on the results of a…

Instructional methods are operational exchanges between participants within environments that attempt to produce a learning outcome. The classroom teacher's ability to produce a learning outcome is the measure of instructional competence within that learning method. (JN)

Describes a dispositional conception of thinking, presenting a view of what good thinking dispositions look like and what they are made of. The article compares different models of teaching (teaching as transmission and as enculturation) and examines the extent to which they provide adequate guidelines for teaching thinking dispositions. (SM)

A teacher describes the use of cluster grouping to meet the needs of six gifted students in her heterogeneous classroom. Considered are the definition and rationale for cluster grouping, classroom structure, cluster identification and profile, facilitation of cluster curriculum differentiation, teacher perceptions, and student/parent perceptions.…

This study was designed to explore an expert teacher's model of thinking and teaching as it occurred within the social and cultural context of the classroom. The model was then compared with instructional systems design (ISD) to identify similarities and differences between them. To accomplish these goals, the study focused on the process and…

This report presents an analysis of data from an experimental study of teaching effectiveness. Results indicated that both the format and the experimental treatment influenced classroom processes. (JN)

This paper explores how exemplary teachers integrate three forms of knowledge in order to help student learn. This triad of knowledge is composed of professional knowledge (subject matter, curricular, and pedagogical knowledge), interpersonal knowledge (relationship with students, the education community and the local community), and intrapersonal…

This book offers specific suggestions to teachers who are attempting to relinquish old boss-management systems by putting the newer lead-management theory into practice in their classrooms. Leading, rather than bossing, creates classrooms in which students not only do competent work but begin to do quality work. The book begins by explaining that…

The process used by one researcher in developing an inventory of specific tasks performed by language teachers is described. The objective was to facilitate research on language teachers' jobs in a variety of countries and under differing teaching conditions and to provide job profiles for use in teacher education and by teachers, their unions,…