Traces the development of ideas explored during reading lessons in children's writings from one transitional bilingual fourth-grade classroom. Uses transcripts from audiotaped and videotaped lessons to study the way reading lessons turned into an anchoring activity for the negotiation of joint meaning. Traces developments in five student…

Argues that encouraging talking among young learners in the classroom is one of the best ways to foster learning. Presents incidents which illustrate that children naturally use language to report on experiences, collaborate toward agreed ends, project into the future, focus on causal and dependent relationships, create and discuss problems,…

Reports on a study of two classroom learning environment questionnaires developed in a culturally diverse context, specifically the Pacific Islands. Concludes that females perceive their environment more favorably than males. (Contains 96 references.) (DDR)

A study examined the strategies used by a fourth-grade teacher in a two-way bilingual immersion program (English/Spanish) that contributed to students' development of academic language in Spanish. Analysis of a science lesson highlighted the use of an appropriate Spanish-language textbook and the teacher's use of visual elements, repetition,…

This article describes features of the verbal and nonverbal environment of the early childhood classroom. Children's literature is used as a vehicle for understanding: (1) how teachers talk to children; (2) how teachers allow children to talk to each other; and (3) how teachers help children talk to themselves about their learning and…

Analyzes interactions between a British primary school teacher and her students during sessions of science to determine the extent that the teacher assists in class performance. States the teaching illustrates features suggesting children's science concepts are being developed and features consistent with assisted performance. (BT)

Traces scholarly constructions of basic writers' identities. Asks what those students who are labeled basic writers are accomplishing in their speech and writing. Offers a speculative model for analyzing basic writing student discourse. Uses that model to examine the language used in a basic writing classroom. Reviews the implications of such work…

Discusses the use of sexist expression by men against women in a school context, both in the classroom and on school grounds. Includes discourse ranging from direct intimidation or harassment to utterances that, though derogatory, are statements of an ideology or a point of view. (KEH)

Examines students' questioning behavior in the college communication classrooms. Finds that (1) male teachers receive more questions than female teachers; (2) female students ask fewer questions than male students in courses taught by males; and (3) self-reported masculinity is associated with a greater likelihood of asking questions. (KEH)

Discusses specific problems (arising in the context of a writing center visit) that writing assignments have caused students. Considers problems in teachers communicating objectives with students, unspecific teacher comments on students' papers, lack of examples for the writing assignment, overemphasis on grammatical correctness, unspecified…

Describes a course in modern British literature in which the students developed their own reading list by conferring with the instructor. Notes success in making students active participants in the course. (RS)

It is argued that the concept of genre-based language teaching is both useful in the first language and also in the second- and foreign language classroom. The theoretical basis for the concept of genre is also outlined. (60 references) (GLR)

Uses a letter format to create a dialogue regarding the practice of a critical pedagogy in the college classroom. Asserts the importance of acknowledging different dialogical spaces occupied by men and women resulting from the power differential; fundamental differences in the way they each perceive themselves; and the different social treatment…

A two-year research and faculty development project at Gallaudet University examined professor-student interactions and developed and implemented a faculty development model designed to promote equitable and effective teacher-student classroom interaction. The research design, training model, and results of the investigation are discussed.…

The article considers whether young deaf children of hearing parents should learn American Sign Language (ASL) as their first language and whether teachers in day high school programs should use manual communication. It concludes that, because ASL is the key to deaf culture, it should be used by parents and teachers. (DB)