The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which the formal teaching of grammatical rules would affect the writing quality of sixth graders. Comparison was made between students of two University Lab Schools located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study was limited to the observation of written expression, because of limited…

The Second National Survey of Instructional Uses of School Computers gathered information from more than 10,000 principals and computer-using teachers in a probability sample of over 2,300 U.S. elementary and secondary schools during the spring of 1985. Information was obtained through questionnaires and telephone interviews. The first of six to…

Results of the first 6 months of the Ypsilanti-Carnegie Infant Education Project are provided, including quantitative data and a case study, a discussion of the curriculum employed in the home and illustration of curriculum practices, and research design changes. The purpose of the project is to assess the effectiveness of systematic intervention…

This report presents the results of a study of eighth-grade science teaching, conducted as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study. The Video Study is a supplement to the TIMSS 1999 student assessment, a successor to the TIMSS 1995 student assessment. The TIMSS 1999 Video Study had the broad purpose…

This article describes a 4-step protocol for selecting and facilitating production of a first vocabulary in children with specific language impairment using a focused language stimulation approach. Focused language stimulation includes general language stimulation techniques and, in addition, requires frequent, highly concentrated repetitions of…

Suggests using simulated data to teach students about the nature and use of statistical tests and measures. Observes that simulated data contains built-in pure relationships with no poor response rates or coding or sampling errors. Recommends suitable software. Includes information on using data sets, demonstrating statistical principles, and…

Describes an integrated thematic unit for children from kindergarten to third grade. Explains that the unit incorporates reading, speaking, writing, science, mathematics, social studies, and art into the study of whales. Suggests learning activities on echolocation, migration, measurement, scrimshaw, history, and human interaction with the…

Using classroom-based instruction and on-the-job monitoring and feedback, seven teachers were trained to systematically observe the data collection and teaching performances of their assistants as well as to provide contingent feedback. The supervisory training for teachers was accompanied by improvement in data collection among seven of eight…

Outlines efforts of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to improve the collection and analysis of data relevant to classroom instructional processes. These include (1) the inclusion of videotaping in studies of classroom methods; (2) improved surveys of instructional practices; and (3) studies of daily instructional logs kept by…

By using injured students to observe and record data, physical educators can get regular, ongoing feedback about their teaching effectiveness and allow injured students to participate in class from the sidelines. The article explains how to work with student recorders, offering a sample student recorder data collection form. (SM)

Objective: To review recent progress in child and adolescent psychiatric epidemiology in the area of prevalence and burden. Method: The literature published in the past decade was reviewed under two headings: methods and findings. Results: Methods for assessing the prevalence and community burden of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders have…

The aim of this study was to explore preservice classroom teacher reflection in a physical education teaching and learning environment and to describe how the teachers' reflections related to their practices. Two preservice classroom teachers voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected using observations, journals, documents, and…

Recent research by Swain (2000a, 2000b, 1998, 1995), Swain and Lapkin (2001, 1998, 1995) and Kowal and Swain (1997, 1994) has examined the role of collaborative tasks in focusing immersion students' attention on the need for explicit knowledge of grammatical forms and lexical items in the production (especially written) of French texts. This is…

This study explored the process and outcomes of constructivist methods of enhancing science understanding in the topic areas of light and the earth in space. The sample was drawn from a group of 41 nine-year-old children, delivered in four two-hour weekly sessions. Each session involved different combinations of interactive discussion and…

Assessment is the key to developing an effective program and tracking the progress of each individual student. In turn, the pillar of assessment is collecting accurate, objective data. In this article, the authors discuss the importance of collecting accurate data on student performance in order to be accountable for the instruction and learning…