Presents abstracts of two award winning studies, one dealing with spelling in the context of writing for a purpose, the other with student-teacher interaction during reading. (FL)

Analyzes some examples of classroom interaction from observation of English as a second language (ESL) teachers in Japanese classrooms. Analysis of the data shows that lessons often seem to pass from meaningless activity to silence and that ESL teachers continue to emphasize form over meaning and accuracy over communication. (SED)

Discusses research in semantic processing and narrative discourse by psycholinguists, applied linguists, and speech pathologists. Focuses on children's comprehension of the language of instruction and contrasts normal and disordered comprehension and performance. Presents excerpts from two language evaluations that utilize some recent approaches…

A classroom floor plan, conforming to theoretically equable features (line of sight bearings, expanding/concentrically diminishing wave forms, vectors proportionate, "time") is presented to show that an equable state exists but is entirely theoretical and as a reminder that different options can exist without diminishing the basic human…

This report presents the preliminary development and field-testing of an observational system designed specifically to describe teacher-student dyadic interaction in second language instructional settings. (Author)

In classrooms that operate as learning communities, the social and learning purposes advance together through all participants being involved and engaged in building knowledge. This book demonstrates a new way of seeing and managing classrooms through: (1) an integration of what is best in learning and what is best in the social life of…

This is a report of a study designed to discover the nature of interactions between teachers and students in regular-size classes (25 or more students) and small-size classes (fewer than 18 students). It also describes the efforts of one public school to maintain smaller classes. A review of the literature and observations of 11 primary classrooms…

This study explored how children are socialized through discipline in the preschool classroom. Using detailed descriptions of teacher-student interactions and an interpretive method, the study mapped the process of the children's socialization and the role of discipline. The case study in one 4-year-olds' room examined early socialization…

The last few decades saw a dramatic progress in computer technology, which challenged many taken-for-granted assumptions about human communication. In terms of language classroom settings, integrating computers into teaching and learning brings certain communication patterns and, at the same time, poses the question about adaptation of classroom…

The purpose of this study was to determine students' perceptions about their biology teachers' attitudes and communication behaviors in classroom environment in Turkey. A Likert type questionnaire was constructed consisting of 33 statements divided to three sub-sections. The Cronbach's alpha reliability for the instrument was 0.9076. Results…

Research suggests that teachers would like to relinquish some control of classroom activity to students, and many have accomplished this difficult task with notable success. This collection of essays, with contributions from both classroom teachers and university professors, recounts some of these successes and aims to be a resource for teachers…

Supportive classroom environments can enhance students' learning about their own diversity as well as that of others. Discussing basic diversity variables such as gender, age, and race can raise awareness and conscious decision making about how students use and view communication in their everyday lives. A graduate student instructor enhances her…

This introductory lesson exposes students to a variety of online texts about Anne Frank and the Holocaust prior to more extensive study of these topics. Students are encouraged to cooperatively examine Internet sites as a primary source of information, and then share their impressions and opinions of the various sites. During the two 40-minute…

This handbook provides classroom teachers with information to assist them in enhancing Samoan students' social adjustment and academic achievement in U.S. schools. The information complements the 25-minute videotape, Samoa, which is designed for student viewing. The handbook provides background information on the Samoan people, their islands, and…

To help immigrant children succeed academically, the teacher must seek to ease the pain of the uprooting experience and find ways to awaken the power within the children to help themselves. This paper describes teaching experiences that led one teacher to understand immigrant children's psychology and the interventions necessary for giving self…