A qualitative study followed slow-progress students as they engaged in embedded word studies in their classroom-based literacy activities. Issues addressed were: (1) the ways embedded word studies promoted slower-progress students' word knowledge; (2) how developing word knowledge influenced these students' reading and writing attempts; and (3)…

This early childhood training workbook and three accompanying video series provide instruction for early childhood caregivers and teachers in the areas of guidance and discipline, math, and diversity. The video series "Guidance and Discipline" demonstrates the ways in which teachers help children become self disciplined. The three videos…

This document, which is part of a series of training materials explaining the benefits and use of performance-focused learning, examines the goal-based learning approach to education and training as a means of accelerating performance change. Each page of the document consists of a graphic and bulleted list of information pertaining to one of the…

Concern for disruptive behavior in the classroom has been an ongoing issue at the local, state, and national level. This report describes a program for improving behavior and academic success through a caring classroom. The targeted population consisted of elementary students in growing rural and urban communities at three different elementary…

This book recounts personal experiences at the University of Iowa summer reading program from 1988 to 1994 and the children in the program who are all viewed as "reading disabled." The children ranged in age from 8 to 12 years and in reading ability from recognizing fewer than 15 words to reading at a late second or early third grade…

Focusing on problems in the teaching/learning process related to the classroom atmosphere, this book demonstrates problems related to gender bias in the classroom, discusses the implications of these and other problems, and offers suggestions for improving the teaching/learning environment. The first section describes the importance of classroom…

Providing a low-key, nonthreatening way for teachers and parents to build partnerships for kids, this book presents short, concrete activities in English and Spanish to foster communication between teachers and parents and between parents and children. While the activities in the book are designed for grade 3, none of the activities have…

This report assesses how the classroom climate is affected by classroom structure, power dynamics within the classroom, different pedagogical styles, the curriculum, and the relationships between male and female students. Data come from quantitative and qualitative studies in classrooms at all levels and in related settings, along with surveys,…

This collection of articles on the learner-centered classroom offers strategies that fall into the following five educational arenas: (1) integrated curricula; (2) thoughtful instruction; (3) active learning; (4) reflective transfer; and (5) authentic assessment. Section one presents an overview of natural, holistic, integrated curricula created…

Given the failure of previous research to find consistent effects of class size on students' achievement, this study examined whether teachers in British elementary schools changed their behavior in ways conducive to learning when they worked with classes significantly smaller than average. Seven pairs of elementary school teachers judged as…

While many parents are familiar with Montessori schooling at the preschool level, Montessori elementary and middle schools have also proliferated in the past decade. This book provides an overview of Montessori theory and practice, with special emphasis on the child's elementary school years. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to the origin and…

This project involved a program for improving student behavior. The targeted population consisted of second and third grade students in a rural community located west of Chicago, Illinois. Data indicated that behavior problems were disrupting instructional time and students' involvement in learning. The evidence for the existence of the problem…

This book is an outgrowth of a 2-year study of 284 children discovered during preschool or kindergarten to be advanced in mathematics. In addition to psychometric and cognitive testing conducted at the beginning, middle, and end of the study, half of the children attended biweekly interventions designed to enrich their experience with mathematics.…

A year-long qualitative study constructed a "thick" (rich, literal) description and interpretation of the social organization, interactions, and attitudes displayed within one self-contained second-grade classroom during its scholastic language arts activities and instruction to explain how a literacy learning environment can be seen as…

This guide is intended to accompany a staff development videotape which attempts to: (1) heighten awareness regarding attitudes, values and misconceptions about chemical dependency; (2) provide information about the impact of alcohol and other drugs on young special needs children; and (3) demonstrate skills and strategies for working with special…