Presbyopia, a condition which affects the eye's ability to change focus or to produce a clear image, makes an appropriate analogy through which to consider educational access for special needs students. Presbyopia can be corrected with properly fitted glasses; new "glasses" should be "prescribed" for teachers so that distortions related to student…

This paper summarizes research findings on teacher behavior and its relationship to student reading achievement. Research studies included in the review identified actual teaching behaviors, included observations of teacher-learner interactions, were limited to elementary school, and were conducted between 1966 and 1972. Subjects covered in the…

Processes by which teachers may identify behavioral objectives for their students and bring about changes in attitudes and values are examined. An example is presented of the general affective goals of helping students to develop positive self-concepts, appreciate the dignity and worth of others, and value democratic attitudes. It is pointed out…

A review of literature dealing with psychological needs, including work by Maslow (with explanations of comfort, security, the social instinct, ego gratification, and self actualization) serves as a foundation for an examination of the problem of motivating students. Two major causes of lack of motivation, poor teaching and poor curriculum, are…

Self talk (thoughts about one's self and own performance while learning or working) can affect cognitive and learning strategies that in turn affect specific learning techniques. Negative self talk can interfere with learning since it reinforces feelings of failure, thereby increasing the probability of continued failure, and maintains an…

Researchers used a pretest-posttest comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of monetary rewards in Project ALIVE (Atlantans Learning in a Vocational Environment), a nine-week summer program that combined education, employment, and career training for economically disadvantaged youth in grades 8-12. The project was jointly offered by the Atlanta…

A study was conducted of teachers of disadvantaged children during the 1979-80 school year in Dade County, Florida. The study involved nearly 100 inner city elementary teachers who were identified as being the most effective teachers in their schools. The teachers responded to a lengthy questionnaire which asked very detailed questions about how…

Internal and external factors that influence student motivation are considered from the perspectives of the student and of the teacher. It has been found that the student brings to the learning situation characteristics that have a direct bearing on individual motivation. High self esteem and level of aspiration are present in a motivated student,…

A basic writing course designed for college freshmen who do not score high enough on entrance examinations to qualify for regular composition courses emphasizes the positive aspects of a student's writing. The nongraded course consists of four components: journal writing, grammar instruction, in-class paragraph writing, and controlled composition.…

A STUDY BY TABER AND GLASER WHICH TAUGHT SIGHT VOCABULARY BY THE VANISHING LITERAL PROMPTS METHOD WAS REPLICATED IN AN EXPERIMENT WITH 14 PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, AND BEGINNING FIRST-GRADE CHILDREN. MATERIALS USED WERE EIGHT LOWER CASE COLOR WORDS PRINTED ON 3 BY 5 CARDS. AFTER PRETESTS TO IDENTIFY COLOR KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIRM LACK OF WORD…

The relationship between teaching styles and student academic achievement is considered. Results of research studies on direct and indirect teaching styles, formal and informal styles, teacher clarity and enthusiasm, and the effects of different types of feedback to students are discussed. Specifically considered are the use of questions…

INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS HAD SHOWN REDUCED PROFICIENCY WHEN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING WAS STOPPED AND TEAM TRAINING BEGUN. THIS STUDY ASSESSED THE EFFECTS OF SUPERVISORY FEEDBACK TO INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS ON THE RATE AT WHICH TEAMS ACQUIRED PROFICIENCY. SUBJECTS WERE 24 THREE MAN SERIES TEAMS, 18 TEAMS GROUPED BY LOW, MEDIUM, AND HIGH LEVELS OF…

RESEARCH IN WHICH BEHAVIOR THEORY WAS APPLIED TO TEACHING READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC TO RETARDED CHILDREN IS REPORTED. TWENTY- SEVEN EDUCABLY RETARDED CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE CORE GROUP. THE MEAN MENTAL AGE WAS 11 YEARS AND THE MEAN IQ WAS 63. IN AN EXPERIMENTAL ENVIRONMENT OF APPROVAL, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND TOKEN REINFORCEMENT, A…

This is one of a series of Education for Parenthood manuals developed for use in Salvation Army demonstration programs in parenthood education. This guide presents discussion plans for eight workshop sessions based on the book, "Liberated Parents/Liberated Children." The course was designed to help teenagers (1) become aware of typical negative…

The purpose of this study was to determine what kind of feedback would be most effective in helping students improve their writing and in what manner it should be provided. Feedback was provided on a specific writing task, the short autobiographical narrative. Improvement was measured by scales of the three variables: completeness, development,…