Based on years of extensive research on teacher development, this book offers a practical introduction to the concept of teacher reflection, demonstrating how student teachers can engage with reflective learning from their teaching and classroom experiences in a systematic and inspiring way. Providing practical models and guidelines for use in the…

The paper discusses the use of regularly scheduled classroom group discussions in the treatment of emotionally disturbed (ED) children, to assist them in learning alternative ways of acting and interacting and to move them from feelings of discouragement and negativism to the point where they can effect change in themselves, feel confident in…

Explores the concept of peer writing groups by reviewing research and offering a plan for preparing, training, monitoring, and evaluating the peer writing group. (SD)

States that students in writing response groups have to work through conflicting sets of role expectations, one connected to response to writing in general, the other created by the unequal power relations in classrooms. Discusses how students manage to juggle the demands of conflicting roles and how teachers can guide them to do so productively.…

Reviews selective research on collaborative writing and then shows how group dynamics and peer review techniques can be integrated into classroom group writing projects. (TB)

Discusses examples of peer social interaction and language play among fourth through sixth graders. Suggests that these sub-rosa skills be taken into consideration during classroom assessment of language competence and development. (HTH)

Group discussion can be very effective in building a sense of community in any adult basic education (ABE) classroom. Such discussion can generate conversation, encourage participation, and create an accepting environment where sharing experiences and ideas feels safe to all participants. When trying the technique of group discussion with a new…

Some ideas are presented for structuring student groups in second-language classes in a way to encourage them to work together more productively. Eight types of positive interdependence are explained. (Contains 14 references.) (LB)

Discuses briefly how, by understanding the social distances that define and separate students' self-selected peer crowds in secondary schools, school staff can help students with peer pressures, develop their own identities, and succeed academically. (SR)

This guide describes five types of student team cooperative learning activities: (1) Student Teams-Achievement Divisions; (2) Teams-Games-Tournament; (3) Jigsaw; (4) Team Accelerated Instruction; and (5) Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition. In Part 1, each technique is described in detail. A review of research finds positive outcomes in…

A demonstration of a classroom writing group in action, this 35-minute interactive video and instructional booklet focus on writing as a shared act of communication. The videotape models structure and process rather than any particular kind of writing, and the group process can be adapted to a variety of writing tasks and requirements. The…

Suggests that students do a better job of revising their essays when more than one student has suggested possibilities for revision. Contains tips on training students in the process of peer reviewing. (TB)

Advocating the creation of a school climate that allows staff to determine the match between their current practice and standards of excellence, this booklet describes a process and attendant conditions for conducting self-study, one such process that shows promise. Based on experience, the booklet offers several lessons about the self-study…

Much of the variation in achievement in college classrooms can be eliminated through the use of cooperative learning groups similar to those that have been used successfully in the elementary school setting. The group succeeds when every member succeeds--success meaning mastery of the concept or problem being posed. Its use in reading methods…

Examines children's compliance to directives given by their peers, with particular interest in children's success with directives. Examines the roles of status, directive form, and politeness cues. Outlines four instructional objectives for teaching children to develop effective controlling strategies. (JMF)