Describes one teacher's systematic inquiry into the effectiveness of strategies to increase students' vocabularies. A research-type approach indicated that use of clarity statements and interchanges that encouraged connections to the students' own lives seemed more effective in helping students incorporate their understanding of concepts with…

A review of recent literature on both theoretical and research findings on the application of research to improve classroom instruction is offered. (DF)

Teachers should familiarize themselves with the practical advantages of single-subject methodology in attempting to meet the various learning needs of hearing-impaired students. Two examples are provided to illustrate how these designs can act as tools for deciding which of several teaching methods are most beneficial to particular students.…

Discusses the interrelationship of the language arts, and how both oral and written language help the learning process. Describes a classroom in which students' activities center around talking, and how the teacher participated as a researcher in ethnographic studies out of which came the motivation for this instructional approach. (HTH)

This final report of a reading instruction study examined teachers' use of research-based practices when teaching reading comprehension, as well as the barriers that prevent teachers from using such practices. Six schools in two school districts in a southwestern urban area were selected for intensive study; 39 teachers of grades 4-6 participated.…

Discusses the benefits of a source of guidance for teachers: language arts research. Explores an authentic classroom experience using a socio-psycholinguistic theoretical orientation and an ethnographic approach to research. (EL)

This response to Rule et al. (EC 620 843) concerning translating research on naturalistic instruction into early-intervention practice with young children with disabilities raises concerns about treatment fidelity in such research studies, and notes the existence of pioneering models for studying treatment fidelity. (DB)

This response to Rule et al. (EC 620 843) concerning translating research on naturalistic instruction into early intervention practice with young children with disabilities questions whether the main features of naturalistic instruction are often fully implemented, and suggests that following the suggested guidelines might lead to actually…

An overview of areas of classroom research explored in the past decade provides a foundation for discussing major conclusions which appear to emerge from recent research findings. The solid demonstration that teachers make a difference in student learning is cited as the chief contribution of classroom research in the 1970s. An example of research…

Examines issues, especially definitional issues, in the practical application of effective naturalistic instructional (NI) practices in the instruction of young children with disabilities and their families. Suggests guidelines for describing independent and dependent variables in the procedural and contextual features of research into NI. (DB)

Study examined how teachers understand research in light of their prior beliefs about what research is and how it should influence their teaching by questioning 13 teachers about 5 articles they read. Found that many teachers focused on the product of research rather than the main ideas and evidence in support of that product. (MDM)

This observer training manual was developed as a central component of a research effort, Changing Teacher Practice (CTP), which was designed to increase the frequency of effective teaching behaviors and staff development strategies in an ongoing school system. The observations focused on two major aspects of classroom teaching--instruction and…

A method for integrating theory and practice in English as a second language teacher training is outlined. The model's steps include videotaping a teaching session; review and discussion of the videotape; evaluation of the lesson's most and least effective elements; and studying theoretical issues brought up through study of the tape. (CB)

Component-building research on practical issues of instructional design can make a substantial contribution to research-based school improvement. Component-building research consists of rigorous within-school experiments that test various components of instruction for effects on student achievement. Research would address practical issues that…

A review of research bearing on second language teaching methodology looks at what it tells about language processing and production, classroom interaction and second language learning, and learning strategy preferences. The perspective taken is that methodology consists of classroom tasks and activities. Implications of the research for the…