This paper argues that many pedagogical reform efforts falter because they fail to consider the cultural context of teacher and student behavior. Little guidance exists on how to adapt teaching practices to be compatible with culturally influenced behaviors and beliefs. We present evidence from three studies conducted as part of a large basic…

The "Find Your Classroom Voice Program" has been offered at Kingsborough Community College for the past three years. Its purpose is to enable students who are consistently inactive in class discussions (and who might be called "classroom-specific social phobic") to develop the ability to take a more active role in the classroom. With its success,…

Teachers calling on students to answer questions in class regarding homework assignments and general knowledge frequently invoke the Drama Triangle (Karpman, 1968). Many of these questions automatically put the teacher in the Persecutor or Rescuer role and students in the Victim role. Retaliatory transactions by students often put the teacher in…