A survey of school districts was conducted to determine the initial progress and problems associated with the 1997 Class Size Reduction (CSR) Initiative. Data reveal that most school districts had enough space for smaller classes for at least two grade levels; small school districts were much less likely to report space constraints. The CSR did…

Results of a program to improve teaching in New York City schools through teacher-to-teacher networks are reported. The program, IMPACT II, solicits ideas from teachers, awards development and dissemination grants, and helps other teachers replicate innovations. A District Incentive Grants Program for teachers is also described. (PP)

Recently employed teachers in Virginia were asked to describe how well their teacher education programs had prepared them for teaching handicapped children in regular classrooms. Teachers responded that their college courses had paid more attention to describing handicaps and legislation than to development of instructional activities for such…

Research dealing with the design of the school physical environment and its effect on stress in students and teachers is examined. The design of both the school's overall environment and the individual classrooom unit may affect student and teacher attitudes and student achievement. (PP)

Investigated whether differences by sex or race existed in placement, learning disabilities classrooms, teacher contacts, assignment practices, and student learning behavior. Found differences in placement. Similarities were found in teacher treatment, student behavior, and the effects of such behavior on test performance. (Author/CM)

Acknowledged experts described what they believed the content and educational outcomes of sex education programs in the schools should be. Exemplary programs, selected on the basis of their views, are identified and discussed. In addition, student and teacher response to one program is analyzed. (PP)

Considers the impact of teacher responses to student writing. Notes the need for a greater identification by the teacher of the overall work that students present for evaluation and feedback. Offers guidelines for responding in more qualitative ways to student writing. (RL)

Observations were made in 10 schools at the second-, fifth-, and seventh-grade levels of the forms of responses teachers and children provided to moral and social conventional transgressions. It was found that the responses of both teachers and children to social conventional events differed from their responses to moral events. (Author/RH)

Analyzed approaches to classroom misbehavior by classroom teachers, and graduate students completing their training in school psychology, using the induction-sensitization model of socialization. Significant differences were noted, with teachers displaying a more sensitizing (punitive) approach to classroom management. A significant…

Kindergarten teachers were more likely to discipline when boys were verbally disruptive, but disciplined girls for disruptive aggressive behaviors. Teachers were physical when responding to boys' disruptions and used verbal and nonverbal behaviors when responding to girls' disruptive behaviors. Girls' questions received longer teacher responses.…

Three strategies can be used by health educators to respond to students' questions about the instructor's personal life: (1) answer honestly; (2) refuse to answer; and (3) equivocate or lie. In deciding how to respond, instructors should try to ensure educational value and be as truthful as possible. (JN)

This paper discusses how students engage in misbehavior for meaningful, needs-meeting reasons. Methods for helping children to learn more satisfying and appropriate ways of meeting their needs are explained. The Pennsylvania State University Social-Emotional Climate Index is presented as a tool for assessing the classroom climate. (Author/BE)

In "A Case Study of an Educational Innovation: the History of Flanders Interaction Analysis System" (Flanders and Amidon, 1981), the research, development, dissemination, and utilization of the system is described. The parallels between the development and use of the system and the development of more recent educational innovations are…

A process-product study examined the relationship between the percentage of teacher time on task and the percentage of teacher-centered instruction and the achievement of seventh- and eighth-grade students. (JN)

The moral reasoning of teachers enrolled in education courses was examined through an administration of the Defining Issues Test. Teachers were found to be at a generally comparable level to most other adults, but below many college graduates. (JKS)