Argues for abundant classroom talk in helping students to shape their writing so that it accomplishes the desired academic and social purposes. Describes four eighth-grade students' informal talk during writing classes and how it supported and influenced the students' writing. Concludes by identifying ways in which teachers might work with…

Explores effects of instructional practices on classroom communication apprehension (CCA) in Nigerian classrooms. Finds similarities and marked differences between American and Nigerian students' preferences for instructional practices as intervention strategies for CCA, specifically significant differences between low and high CCAs in preferred…

Examines contextual factors that influence what students deem interesting and important by examining what teachers signal as interesting/important in their classroom discussions and assessments. Reveals that the valuing system within three classrooms varied in noticeable ways. Discusses similarities and differences between the value systems of the…

Outlines an approach for incorporating class meetings into an elementary class. In class meetings, rules and practices are agreed upon, not only for everyday procedures but also for specific controversial topics. Includes sample class-meeting formats for discipline problems and other issues. (MJP)

Examines incidental cultural knowledge displays by two nonnative-English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) in their intensive English program classrooms. Focuses on the nature of the discourse produced in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes taught by NNESTs. Analysis of videotaped classroom data indicates that a wide and unpredictable range of…

Data of reported cases of emotional abuse were collected from six Zimbabwe education offices and a questionnaire was administered to 150 primary school teacher trainees and 300 teachers. The majority of participants believe that shouting, scolding, use of vulgarities, humiliation, and negative labeling of pupils is done by female teachers.…

A study explored 40 Mexican teachers' perceptions and attributions about student behavior and management strategies they use in their primary classrooms. Teachers' preferred management strategies were talking with parents and increasing positive reinforcements to increase/maintain appropriate student behavior. They used talking with students and…

Examines prekindergarten children's process of learning a commonly occurring classroom discourse structure--an instructional exchange consisting of three moves: teacher solicitation, student response, and teacher reaction. Finds that children's success in learning the structure is a result of maturity and sociocultural factors rather than to…

This study of seven educators of hearing-impaired students in early elementary programs found that teachers' signed Manually Coded English (MCE) messages represented their spoken utterances. MCE proficiency may be influenced by teacher attitude regarding the importance of signing complete messages and the degree to which supervisors monitor…

Examines the feasibility of measuring self-perceived, communication-related characteristics of college teachers. Finds that four factors appear to compose this construct: extroversion, character, competence, and composure. (MG)

Examines the effects of facial expression and posture of teachers on the reactions of schoolchildren. Finds that smiling and frowning have strong effects while the effects of posture and gesture are weaker. Reports that touch and explaining gestures are seen as positive by the students and controlling gestures are viewed as negative. (KO)

The results of participant-observer research in beginning French and German classes shows that recognition of common ground in the classroom is essential for communication, and that a sense of classroom community is crucial to truly communicative interaction. (Author/MSE)

Explores note writing and other "literacy events" in one sixth-grade classroom. Focuses on the "unofficial" use of literacy used to communicate within the students' underground classroom culture. Learning that exceeds adult expectations is evident in students' nonacademic writing which they use to present themselves, to share, and to order. (JS)

Examination of the relationship between students' use of French and English in five classes at a bilingual university and their access to subject-matter knowledge and social networks found language brokerage to be an important process in two classes. The process of language brokerage, related research, and policy implications are discussed.…

Describes a framework for child-centered programs. Topics discussed include teacher attitudes, the classroom environment, lesson plans, conversation, observation, perspective-taking, and teacher self-reflection. (RJC)