In New Zealand, schools are given decile rankings based on census reports of parental socioeconomic status. An ongoing project seeks to identify beliefs and attitudes that make a teacher's work successful in low-decile primary schools in the greater Auckland area. This paper focuses on three teachers whose professional practice was considered…

This study explored the feasibility of evaluating the effectiveness of learning transfer from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) short-term (1 day or less) workshops to the teacher and through the teacher to the student, focusing on attitude toward science, science-related behavior, and knowledge variables. Participants were 33…

This book addresses issues of impropriety and misconduct in the postsecondary teaching role. It reports on three surveys of faculty members conducted over 6 years at research universities, liberal arts colleges, and two-year community, junior, and technical colleges. In each survey an equal number of faculty members were selected from each of four…

A meta-analysis was conducted of 65 studies related to relationships between science teacher background characteristics and either their classroom behavior or student outcomes. In general, low relationships were found between these characteristics and classroom teaching behavior and student outcome characteristics. Summary tables showing strongest…

The role of vision and bodily movement in the field of language instruction is explained by a phonetician and professor of modern language. (CS)

Questionnaires were administered to 22 principals and 41 biology teachers to determine level of agreement/disagreement when using established criteria to measure effectiveness of an outstanding biology teacher. Results indicated that principals/teachers agree on relative importance of most criteria, particularly those relating to teachers'…

In this critique of "Time to Learn," a publication dealing with the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study, the reviewer argues that time spent on a task is not an adequate measure of instructional quality or relevance. Other limitations of the book and of the study are discussed. (PP)

This study examined the reliability and stability of teacher behavior scores as measured by the Spaulding Teacher Activity Recording Schedule (STARS). Data were gathered on a student teacher at work in a campus laboratory setting and in a primary ungraded classroom. The student teacher demonstrated a stable teaching style in four of the five…

Two studies related content coverage to pupil achievement. With ability and socioeconomic status controlled, a correlation of .40 was obtained between content and coverage and achievement. Significant correlations were also obtained between teacher coverage and achievement for two groups of teachers covering two units two months apart. (Author/RD)

Contains reflections on the importance of teachers' summer vacations and the activities that revitalize the teaching spirit. (RL)

Assesses the use of clinical experience to improve the classroom performance of teachers and discusses in detail a research project at the University of Alberta that sought to identify effective teaching skills and to measure behavior changes of student teachers during their practicum experiences. (Author/WD)

The literature on alternatives to student ratings as means of evaluating college teaching is reviewed. Conclusions focus on the validity and reliability of such alternatives as peer evaluation, administrative ratings, self-evaluation, direct measurement of student achievement, and systematic observation of teacher behavior. (Author/MLW)

Observers coded student-teacher classroom discussions and laboratory conversations which could be described as advisement, interpretation, confirmation, or reflection. All four verbal response modes imply presumption of knowledge of the person addressed. As hypothesized, teachers were more presumptuous than students, suggesting a link to social…

Classroom observations, interviews, and survey techniques were used to identify the attitudes and behaviors of teachers in integrated classrooms. Subjects were 10 women teachers, five Black and five White, of second- grade students. (MP)

Advocates a proactive method by Forrest Gathercoal of dealing with conflict and discipline in the music classroom through reliance on democratic principles. This method, "Judicious Discipline," is based upon the Bill of Rights and includes sharing power, allowing students to be heard, and acknowledging their thoughts as credible and…