Illustrates how to use ethnographic techniques to acquire a better understanding of classroom dynamics. The article focuses on the characterization of "success" in an Italian class through analysis of interaction patterns and purposes of the participants. Findings reveal the need for a continuity of teacher and students' goals, methods, and forms…

Examined qualitative characteristics of teacher-child interaction and how they are related to preschoolers' perceptions of self and peers. Found that girls spent more time interacting with teachers than boys, and had more cooperative and positive interactions with teachers than did boys. Found that the quality of teacher-child interaction was…

Argues that giving voice to students with learning disabilities is requisite of moral education. Explains that schools practicing student marginalization abrogate their moral responsibility. Presents cases of two students with opposing needs who attend schools with diametrically different philosophies toward learning disabilities. Evaluates…

Early and ongoing exposure to entomology promotes interest in insects, minimizes fear of nature, and instills appreciation for biodiversity. Three effective ways to introduce young children to the study of insects are: live collections for observation and investigation, re-creation of insects through artistic constructions to learn structure and…

Discusses the mathematics learning related to NCTM standards that emerges as children engage in play in early childhood and kindergarten settings and offers suggestions for the effective use of play in teaching young children mathematics. Focuses on the use of blocks and manipulatives. Discusses how teachers' assumptions and mathematics knowledge…

Reviews and evaluates approaches to the assessment of social skills of children, including sociometric approaches, behavior rating scales, interviews, behavioral observation, and analog role plays. The advantages and disadvantages of each assessment method are discussed, along with questions that need to be answered in any assessment. (CR)

Notes the municipal preprimary schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, are attracting worldwide attention for extensively documenting children's experience, memories, thoughts, and ideas. Suggest this type of documentation contributes to early-childhood-program quality by enhancing learning, taking children's ideas and work seriously, providing…

Discusses strategies to make life science classes more fun by planning activities that include preserved and live specimens. Discusses field trips and collections. (JRH)

Examines whether traditionally negative student attitudes toward social studies can be improved by particular teaching practices. Finds that teaching style seemed the crucial factor in the ability of an observed teacher to improve sixth grade student attitudes toward social studies. Includes two tables of research data. (DB)

This article focuses on the variety of cultural meanings students articulate when asked about their experiences within the special context of a multiethnic California high school. The article presents excerpts from verbatim accounts in which four Black students, part of a three-year study, describe their worlds in their own words. (IAH)

Describes a model of social writing, for use in writing socially relevant, easy-to-read books for new adult readers, which incorporates expressive, cognitive, and social aspects. Elaborates the process from topic selection through manuscript printing, compares the model to other types, and touches upon its transfer to other settings and other…

Illustrates the utility of nonreactive measures with preschool children in a variety of contexts. Offers a rationale for using nonreactive and observational tests and interview measures. Discusses four types of nonreactive measures and their limitations. (Author/BB)

Describes a scheme of developmental classroom visits used in an inservice program for primary school teachers of English in Singapore. The observation series sought to develop teachers' critical thinking abilities by emphasizing focused content goals, links to course materials, teacher responsibility, teacher self-development, constructive help,…

Results are reported from a study of 42 middle-school social studies teachers which compared 2 approaches to measuring teachers' questions. The approaches focused on either teacher-to-group interactions or teacher-to-individual student interactions. Teacher questioning patterns were identified, and implications of these patterns on mainstreamed…

Results are reported from an experimental study involving 97 fifth grade math teachers in Thailand to determine whether participation in an inservice teacher education program directly influenced teachers' teaching practices and indirectly influenced the learning of their students. (IAH)