The Parent as a Teacher Inventory (PAAT) was administered to 30 Mexican-American parent pairs to assess child rearing expectations. Scores were correlated to income, family size, parental sex, parental education, and parent accessibility to the child. Consonance of observed behaviors with PAAT responses indicated an acceptable instrument validity.…

The model is designed to be responsive to parent, teacher, and pupil needs in reducing the discrepancy between the problem behavior and what is reasonably appropriate for the classroom setting. Forms for detailed coding of classroom behavior are included. (Author/CP)

Describes a program in the Vallejo City Unified School District (California) in which the principal, using classroom observation and teacher conferences, assumes the role of teacher of the staff. (Author/JM)

Examines the effect of classroom environment on teaching and learning behaviors of children. Second-, third-, and fourth- grade elementary school classrooms were selected for this study. (MP)

The article explains the value to young children of skill development in the areas of observation, classification, communication, and measurement. It suggests specific science-related activities to help develop each skill. (SB)

Outlines four observational tools which child care administrators can use for evaluating their caregivers. (MP)

The artcile answers some questions frequently asked by growing numbers of bird and animal feeders regarding what types of feeders and seed to use and what kinds of birds can be attracted to a given area. It discusses problems which can arise from this enjoyable year-round recreation. (SB)

A checklist of communication skills and techniques for student teachers includes items in the following categories: knowledge of content; knows students' names; blackboard use; use of notes; distracting mannerisms; eye contact; use of voice; facial expressions; use of humor; seating arrangement; classroom control. (JMF)

A study of the loss of instructional time experienced by elementary school students in the Austin Independent School District compensatory education programs resulted in the unexpected findings that both Title I and Non-Title I schools spent more than one-fifth of the school day in noninstructional activities. (MH)

Over 100 systems have been developed that permit the recording and categorizing of teacher and student behavior. The cognitive processes of practicing teachers' decision making must be studied in order to deduce a common base whereby teaching decisions could be improved. (Author/JKS)

Results of this study reveal that well-trained observers report significantly lower levels of cognitive activity on all measures than raters who had no training or only moderate training. Consequently, interpretations of cognitive components of environmental and teacher evaluation scales must be questioned unless generated by trained student…

Observations by parents of 11 Down's syndrome infants and observations by parent advisors on a criterion-referenced checklist were compared to observation by trained evaluators using the standardized Bayley Scales of Infant Development. (CL)

A large-scale study of the extent of parent involvement on boards in preschool day care indicates that intensity of involvement, rather than the number of parents involved, is the key factor. The impact of parent involvement on staff and classroom environment also is examined. (MS)

The history and utility of category observation instruments are briefly traced; category observation instruments are defined and their essential properties stated; and a sequential strategy for their construction is discussed. (MM)

Results of this study indicate that programs designed to break down the barriers to cross-sex and cross-race association could be a powerful approach to increasing positive social interaction in the classroom. (MM)