Using a hypothetical story about the education of two students with hearing impairments, the article discusses how inclusive education, when not conscientiously planned and implemented, can limit such students and stunt their academic and social growth. The article notes the importance of creating an acoustically friendly classroom environment.…

Suggests that documentation can help teachers: (1) better respond to demands for accountability; (2) teach through direct, first-hand interactive experiences that enhance brain development; (3) be more effective; (4) meet special needs; and (5) help children perceive learning to be important and worthwhile. Describes several methods of…

Articulates a personal commitment to teaching that emphasizes modeling behavior, preparation, and creating a safe and supportive environment for learning. Discusses some strategies for establishing a proactive classroom management style. Argues that the most energizing and essential role for teachers is that of motivator. (MJP)

Explores changes in teacher knowledge through curriculum reform in the middle grades. Summarizes middle school reforms across the core subject areas, how some of the recently developed mathematics curricula have been used to improve student learning and enhance teachers' content knowledge, and analyzes responses from teacher interviews on one such…

Criticizes the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools' report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century," for its poor use of available social studies curriculum research and lack of citations of research sources. Argues that report views teachers as passive recipients of curriculum and fails to address…

This study classified the characteristics of 103 at-risk first grade children and their classroom environments over a one- to four-year period. Found that individual seatwork as an instructional arrangement increased the risk of special placement, whereas small group work was associated with nonplacement for children with possible learning…

Discusses the characteristics of a college prep program in which Hispanic high school students are motivated to succeed in school. Explores specific teacher strategies that effectively motivate students. The following themes are discussed: (1) creating a vision of the future; (2) redefining image of self; and (3) building a supportive community.…

Explores the impact of classroom environment on curriculum implementation. Provides historical background for this area of study, describes instruments for assessing prosocial behavior, and examines studies of teacher and student perception of classroom environment. Reports on two studies that combine qualitative and quantitative methods, and…

Describes the development and validation of a short form of the My Class Inventory (MCI) assessing classroom psychosocial environment. Reports a case study involving the use of the short form of MCI in attempts to improve a sixth-grade mathematics class. Provides all 25 items of the short version of MCI. (YP)

This review of research on the development of self-concept in young children defines and differentiates the various dimensions of self-concept; notes problems associated with measuring self-concept; comments on the relationship between cognitive development and self-concept, and discusses external factors related to self-concept development. (BB)

Answers early childhood teachers' questions concerning the addition of a computer to the classroom setting. (BB)

Reviews the controversy over the effects that various forms of computer use are likely to have on different children's learning, motivation, and social behavior. Considers difficulties in the current state of empirical research in this area, and offers recommendations for future research. (Author/BJV)

Examined effects of school improvement program on elementary students' (N=306), teachers' (N=98), and parents' (N=276) perceptions of school and classroom climate, student achievement, and attendance. Compared to seven control schools, seven participating schools showed significantly greater improvement in students' and parents' perceptions of…

Describes the University of Delaware's drama-based approach to enhancing the intelligibility of international teaching assistants (ITA). This training addresses the segmental and suprasegmental features of ITA pronunciation within the context of cultural, pedagogical, and linguistic factors unique to the university classroom environment, and…

The Transition Checklist was developed to compare characteristics of mainstream settings with performance levels of students entering those settings. The checklist assesses classroom instructional methods and materials, course content, evaluation techniques, and classroom management; interpersonal/social relations; and related school environments,…