Using a test-observe-test design with a sample of 29 4-year-old children, this study examined the relationship between children's activity choices in a typical progressive nursery school and their intellectual performance, socioeconomic status (SES), and sex. An attempt was made to identify those experiential factors associated with changes in…

Techniques for observing the classroom behavior of teachers and students are examined. These techniques provide a framework for analyzing and understanding classroom interaction, for making decisions about what should be happening, and for changing instructional behavior when it is necessary. The observation methods allow collection, analysis, and…

The fourth in a series reporting evaluation findings on the impact of Project Developmental Continuity (PDC), this volume reports treatment-related and other findings concerning teachers and classrooms up to the time the evaluation study's cohort of children had completed grade 1. Begun at 15 sites in 1974 with the purpose of ensuring that…

Addressing the need for effective teaching and accountability in music instruction, this document describes a study of an inservice project to train teachers in the use of consistent verbal and nonverbal behaviors. The project involved 27 music teachers in the inner city, multiracial community of East Harlem in New York City. The workshop sessions…

A rationale and guidelines are presented for using social science research methodologies to teach elementary school social studies. The goal of using these methodologies is to help children develop independent and self-directed thinking and problem-solving skills. The authors describe four research approaches and give examples of how each…

This study looked at the occupational positions that constitute educational administration and analyzed how they are characterized and structured. Data were collected between September, 1974, and April, 1979, principally from southern California school districts. The method of data collection was ethnographic observation in schools and interviews…

During an extensive inservice program, teachers and aides in 20 kindergarten and first grade Follow Through Classrooms were observed for mastery of the Direct Instruction Model. Two trained observers used the Direct Instruction Supervisor Code to record behavior in the fall, winter, and spring. Subjects were observed while teaching a 12 minute…

This paper outlines a methodology for understanding and describing the reading activities of a small group of black inner city junior high school students. The methodology is based on the assumption that reading can be viewed as a social activity or process that becomes defined through the interaction of participants. Data are collected through…

This is an intensive observational study of teacher behavior in six kindergartens in three schools. The schools were picked to be typical examples of a white middle class suburban school, an integrated lower class urban school, and a black lower class urban school. In all three schools teachers used the greatest proportion of class time (from 33…

DESIGNED TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE USE OF CLOSE-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND VIDEOTAPE IN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS, THIS BRIEF DOCUMENT DISCUSSES THEIR OPERATION AND POTENTIAL AND DESCRIBES SPECIFIC PLANS FOR QUARTERS, EQUIPMENT, AND PERSONNEL. INCLUDED IN THE FIRST SECTION ON QUARTERS AND EQUIPMENT ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE…

Nonverbal teacher behavior is recognized as an important factor in establishing a positive social climate in the classroom. A feedback and analysis instrument is presented focusing on specific nonverbal teacher behaviors. These behaviors--facial expressions, gestures, body movements, and idiosyncratic characteristics--are categorized as either…

This introduction to second language program evaluation begins with a rationale outlining the major issues involved in program evaluation. Procedures for evaluation are described, and examples are offered of goal statements, sub-goal statements, curriculum objectives, and learning objectives. Guidelines for judging a statement of aims are listed.…

Ten studies investigating the relationship between instructional time and achievement on elementary school reading and mathematics tests were reviewed. The studies involved general classroom research, instructional time research, and attention research. The review indicated that the relationship between academic achievement and instructional time…

Teachers were designated as more and less effective according to their ability to teach specially constructed reading and mathematics curriculum units over two weeks. They were then studied to determine if their perceptions of classroom interaction and interactive decision making were different. They were also studied to determine whether they…

This document describes the clinical observation activities in a sample of California classrooms as part of the developmental work for Phase III of the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study. The actual observation procedures are documented, and the conclusions reached on the basis of those observations are presented. Conclusions related to timebased…