Presents some methods for describing and referring to mathematical objects and consistently and unambiguously signaling the logical structure of mathematical arguments. Presents the problems involved in referring to mathematics objects and properties. Discusses certain individual words used to communicate the logical structure of mathematical…

Suggests some questions and prompts that teachers can adapt and use to promote mathematical power in their students. Argues that asking children to share their strategies for solving problems is a simple but powerful learning tool for promoting understanding. Presents four classroom vignettes as an example. (ASK)

Presents two vignettes of mathematics lessons and describes fourth-grade students' discussions of fractions, percents, decimals, time, and money while investigating the various interpretations of the word "quarter." (ASK)

Proposes that different contexts occur in second-language (L2) classrooms and that repair is organized differently within each context. Suggests that within each context a particular pedagogical focus combines with a particular organization of repair that is appropriate to that focus. The organization of repair within each context is sketched and…

Hypothesizes that the structure of a teacher's oral discourse is a factor that influences student learning. Sets out to establish the conceptual and discursive frameworks of three teachers. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Presents a study that investigates ways to promote the development of reasoning and problem-solving skills in a secondary mathematics classroom and summarizes the key concepts from sociocultural theory. Examines three cases in which students appeared to resist interaction and communication with their peers. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

Two studies explored linguistic development in sign and speech of 10 youth (ages 12-16) with severe intellectual impairments who used manual signs (Makaton vocabulary) for communication. Analysis of semantic relations, lexical development, and word order suggested the children's language had not developed beyond mean length of utterance stage 1.…

Drawing on episodes of teacher-whole-class interaction collected during a collaborative action research project, shows that the same basic IRF structure can take a variety of forms and be recruited by teachers for a wide variety of functions, depending on the goal of the activity that the discourse serves to mediate and on the use that is made of…

Describes two class activities which used a computer software program to allow junior and senior high students to discuss and create on computers, electronically, in real time. Describes an online discussion in a large group, as well as a pairing activity in which two students worked together online to create an original poem. (SR)

Argues that there are potential benefits in incorporating computer-based text analyses into methods for researching talk and educational activity in classrooms. Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of some existing approaches to the study of talk and collaborative activity and suggests ways that computer-based analysis of transcribed talk can…

Introduces three articles that explore teachers' and children's talk in a program for struggling readers; describes how Vygotskian perspectives, along with structure and directness, form their teaching frame; examines three learning settings that have traditionally failed struggling readers; and pays attention to the social nature of learning,…

A study of nine teachers in inclusive elementary classrooms found that teachers who see themselves as responsible for the achievement of all their students interacted with all students more frequently and at higher levels of cognitive engagement. Students in the classrooms of these teachers had higher self-concept scores. (Contains references.)…

This paper examines instructional processes in two seventh-grade science classes and describes three components of general education middle school content classrooms (curriculum, verbal presentations during instruction, and assessed performance outcomes). It concludes that these three components need to be aligned for the successful inclusion of…

Antecedent conditions involving instructor's task demands and social comments were evaluated for three students with severe disabilities who exhibited problem behavior. An instructor emitted high rates of social comments and gradually faded in task demands. Social validity assessments indicated that substantial improvements were perceived in…

Shows that more women than men reported being targets of peer sexual harassment. Notes that women view certain behaviors as harassing and as more severe than men. Finds that classmates were a primary category of harassers for women and a secondary category for men. Documents peer sexual harassment in college classrooms and discusses implications…