All three teachers studied had similar planning and postlesson reflections for teaching classes in which they were and were not certified. However, when teaching some classes in which they were not certified, some of their behaviors resembled those of novice teachers. (PR)

Describe the experiences of a writing teacher as she completed a biography-writing assignment along with her students. Notes that teachers can gain insights into (and an understanding of writing they assign) by doing the assignments along with their students. Notes that many students, even reluctant writers, produced memorable biographies of…

Examined effects of student temperament, instructional method (computer versus teacher), and interaction between 2 on observed off-task behavior and problem-solving performance among 78 kindergarten students. Found that students with highest Task Orientation exhibited almost no off-task behaviors with either method, whereas students with lowest…

Describes the attitudes and characteristics of science teachers who were Presidential Awardees for excellence in science and mathematics teaching. (PR)

Provides excerpts from two composition classes which use small group instruction in different ways, where the teacher is leader and model and where the teacher is not available as model. Concludes that writing teachers should articulate clearly a purpose for writing; and model ways of using writing that students can follow. (NH)

Aims to demonstrate effects of teaching practice on teachers' perspectives about teaching. Argues that there is often a mismatch between teachers' explicit beliefs about teaching and practices in which they engage. Suggests that teachers should develop an appreciation of how tensions and stresses of practice inform their beliefs about teaching.…

Summarizes how a group of teachers prepared a series of elementary-level inquiry experiences that focused on the study of land snails. Recommends and describes the K-W-L and Four Question inquiry strategies for younger and older students respectively. (WRM)

Argues that allegations of reticence and passivity set up against Asian English-as-Second/Foreign-Language learners are over-generalizations. A close look at research from which these allegations originate reveals that the allegations are largely based on impressions of a small number of teachers or professors registered in small-scale surveys,…

Describes a strategy of total positive response which aims to reverse the self-defeating cycle of punishment and failure in high-risk and troubled students. Details how to identify those students who are at risk, how to respond before misbehavior occurs, and the importance of finding something positive in all situations. (RJM)

A study involving seven early childhood and special education teachers found they tended to use the naturalistic intervention strategy, embedding, in a limited capacity. They embedded objectives by asking questions and providing verbal models and used embedding most when they were one-on-one and engaged in language programming and pre-academic…

A study compared the effectiveness of video modeling with in vivo modeling for teaching developmental skills to five children (ages 7-11) with autism. Targeted skills included social skills and daily living skills. Video modeling led to faster acquisition of tasks than in vivo modeling and was effective in promoting generalization. (Author/CR)

This paper describes how functional assessment procedures can be used by classroom teachers to determine the relationships between instructional variables and challenging behavior in students with disabilities. A case study describes use of these procedures with an adolescent boy with severe developmental disabilities. (Author/PB)

Argues that teachers must recognize and use students' characteristics and behaviors of resiliency to improve mathematics achievement in all student populations, including low achievers. Observes 20 high school mathematics teachers, and discusses their use of six promising instructional strategies. (SR)

Examines teaching practices in one English department. Investigates language of course syllabi for statement of goals, course reading, and course writing. Interviews faculty for observations about the texts, curriculum, and classroom practice. Suggests that, while university scholarship has moved beyond the New Criticism of the 1950s, university…

Reviews research that finds teachers assigned to smaller classes do not significantly alter the instructional methods they used in larger classes. (PKP)