This paper identifies factors possibly influencing long-term effectiveness of social skills training with students having emotional or behavioral disorders. These include: lack of a sound conceptual framework, questionable social validity of target skills, controversies surrounding the nature of social skills deficits, imprecise assessment…

Analyzes the key components of the Precision Teaching technique: pinpointing (identifying learning channels and defining correct and incorrect responses), counting behavior in real time, and charting the pace of learning. Includes a case study describing the Precision Teaching of receptive object identification with a 3-year-old with autistic…

Describes how a teacher used the "hypothesis-test" approach in elementary and junior high classrooms, teaching alone or team teaching, to be proactive about students needs instead of reactive to their disruptions or silence, to help kids who need it before they cry out, and to introduce them to the sweet taste of success before they encounter…

Interviews Katherine McNeil, a special education teacher and behavioral specialist for the Northwood JAG ("Just Achieving Greatness") Program for middle school students with severe behavioral disorders. Notes the JAG website provides an overview of this successful program, samples of student work, rubrics, and resources for teachers. Outlines how…

Observed differences between third graders' self-regulatory behaviors in three instructional contexts (teacher directed, seatwork, and small group). Children were most self-regulated but most likely to be disorganized during small group work and seatwork; least likely to attend to instructions, monitor work, and seek help during teacher directed…

Reports the results of a survey of Wisconsin secondary social studies teachers designed to answer the question: To what extent do teachers use simulations? Describes the study designed to replicate an earlier survey of Ohio teachers in 1979 by J.J. Blaga. Compares the results of the two surveys. Concludes simulation use has increased. (RW)

Examines academic and pacing performance differences for students who chose between instructor- and self-set deadlines. Finds that students in the two conditions did not differ in academic performance but that students who chose to set their own deadlines missed fewer deadlines and showed accelerated pacing. (KO)

A general overview of desirable teacher characteristics includes: the use of individual teaching strategies, especially those that promote critical thinking skills; the ability to develop individualized and cooperative curricula; extensive subject-matter knowledge; and the ability to view and handle the dynamics of a classroom. (Author)

Reports the opinions of 101 rural Arizona teachers on (1) the effectiveness of various classroom strategies used with hyperactive students; (2) the helpfulness of advice given by other professionals and parents about handling such students; and (3) the adequacy of preservice training in needed skills. Contains 11 references. (SV)

Reviews U.S., British, German, and Scandinavian research on factors influencing the degree of liking or disliking music. Focuses on research relevant to such factors influencing musical preferences among young people receiving general music training as: specific characteristics of music; the effect of familiarity with music; the effect of…

Eight behavior disordered students (ages 7-11) in a self-contained class were given two units of instruction in science concepts in a crossover design, with each student receiving both mnemonic and traditional instruction. Student learning was significantly improved under mnemonic instruction, and high levels of concept retention were…

Discusses ways that whole-language teachers can address the concerns raised by administrators, parents, and other teachers about the physical environment and noise level in the classroom. Notes that teachers using whole-language approaches often need to explain and justify their expertise and teaching methods to individuals not familiar with the…

Makes an argument that teachers will unintentionally impart their values to students and that it is better for teachers to be open and honest and to serve as a model of values clarification. Examines reasons for discussing such issues as dissection, anthropocentricity, evolution, and scientist's gender. (LZ)

Describes a study of 69 community college faculty members' espoused and implicit theories of teaching, their methods of diagnosing and responding to problems in the classroom, and the relationship between theory and practice. Reports a significant relationship between espoused theories and diagnoses and actions. (DMM)

A technique is presented for teaching deaf students self-discipline along with useful idiomatic expressions. Idioms selected for study (such as "top dog,""in the doghouse,""sitting pretty," and "in hot water") are related to school rules, depicted on a bulletin board, and used to track classroom behavior.…