Inclusion of race-related content in a college course identified three sources of resistance to learning about racism: race as taboo topic; myth of meritocracy; and denial of personal connection to racism. Strategies for reducing resistance include a safe classroom climate; opportunity for self-generated knowledge; model of racial identity…

Evaluates the reader-protocol method of teaching writers to anticipate readers' comprehension needs. Involves asking writers to predict readers' problems with a text and providing them with reader responses. Finds that writers taught with the reader-protocol method improved more than writers in control classes, and increased in their ability to…

Two investigations were conducted to examine whether incentives increased survey returns from 297 and 100, respectively, former teacher education students; and idiographic characteristics, incentives, and multiple mailings influenced respondent perceptions. Establishing a communication network increased the number of responses; incentives and…

Explanations for an observed change in Rasch item parameters ("b" values) from consecutive administrations of a professional licensing examination were investigated. Analysis of covariance indicated that the change was not related to item position or type. It is hypothesized that the change is attributable to shifts in curriculum…

This study explores how novice teachers make sense of the ways that experienced teachers alter their planned teaching strategies on the fly in response to student feedback during interactive teaching. Analyzes conversations of experienced teachers with novice teachers and discusses differences in their perceptions. (PR)

Item parameter estimation errors in test development are highlighted. The problem is illustrated with several simulated data sets, and a conservative solution is offered for addressing the problem in item response theory test development practice. Steps that reduce the problem of capitalizing on chance in item selections are suggested. (SLD)

Micropolitics is the use of formal and informal power by groups and individuals to achieve their goals in organizations. Article summarizes findings of study examining 1,200 teachers' perspectives on the everyday strategies that principals use to influence them. Data from 826 teachers describing open and effective principals suggest that such…

Increased pace of change and enhanced competition within British education, coupled with threatened or actual school mergers, have brought added pressures to the teaching profession. A study of 76 teachers from 5 Northern Ireland secondary schools that were threatened by merger, had merged, or had not merged revealed that those threatened by…

Dialogues between hearing mothers and their prelinguistic hearing-impaired (n=3) or normally hearing (n=7) infants were analyzed. Mothers of hearing-impaired infants contributed a greater percent of dyadic topic initiations than did other mothers. No group differences were found in responsiveness of mothers or infants. (Author/DB)

A theoretical framework for mastery testing based on item response theory and Bayesian decision theory is described and illustrated. Implementation depends on the availability of (1) a computerized test delivery system; (2) a pool of pretested items; and (3) a model relating observed test performance to true mastery status. (SLD)

Defines learning environment as the physical surroundings, psychological or emotional conditions, and sociocultural influences affecting the growth and development of an adult engaged in learning. Suggests that ingrained views of learning environments can be changed by perspective transformation, paradigm shift, and personal philosophy. (SK)

Describes a study of the reactions of 5- to 7- and 9- to 11-year-old children to frightening films. Reports that prior knowledge of happy outcomes for such films reduces enjoyment, as do unresolved endings. Suggests that the ability to enjoy fear-inducing media increases with age. (SG)

The sensitivity of marginal maximum likelihood estimation of item and ability (theta) parameters was examined when prior ability distributions were not matched to underlying ability distributions. Thirty sets of 45-item test data were generated. Conditions affecting the accuracy of estimation are discussed. (SLD)

Relates a classroom teacher's observations of how students, working in pairs, help each other to move forward in the writing process. Describes the experiences of an English teacher using journals to teach writing to inner-city teenagers. Outlines the teacher's expectations, the steps of journal writing, and goals for becoming a better teacher.…

Explores the field of adolescent development as a rationale for the use of reader-response pedagogy in the secondary literature classroom. Discusses reader-response theory and pedagogy, adolescent cognitive and affective development in the secondary schools, and the implementation of a reader-response secondary English curriculum. (PRA)