This book examines the commonplace rituals and ceremonies that play a central role in college and university culture; it examines how people build, learn, and transform culture in ways that create meaning and give definition to existence. Qualitative research on four campuses over 10 years investigated: why colleges persist with rituals and…

This brief study is based upon several weeks' observation of schools and mining towns in what are considered the best districts in the bituminous coal region of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Alabama, and upon some years' acquaintance with mining town schools. An attempt has been made to point out in a general way the type of school that should…

No effective professional training can be given without ample opportunity for observation of the ordinary processes of teaching, school organization and management. However, at first, few university classes, schools, or departments made any provision for such observation of practice. Experience has, however, finally shown that high-school…

The amount and type of peer interaction occuring in four racially mixed eighth grade classrooms were explored. Analysis of the interactions suggested that cross-race interactions of all groups were more task-related than within-race interactions. In turn, within-race interactions were more social than cross-race interactions. (Author/PN)

An eight-stage model was developed for implementing a five-month program of sustained silent reading. Data from 65 intermediate grade classrooms (using individual students as analysis units) revealed no significant differences on standardized and informal measures and no significant interactive effects. The teachers' summative evaluation found the…

Investigates in two longitudinal, observational studies among 3-year-old children the extent to which early experience, caregiver intervention and language mastery activities are more predictive of IQ and other measures of intellectual competence than are child-initiated activities and nonlanguage-oriented experiences. (Author/RH)

Argues for the application of traditional anthropological ethnography in the study of formal education and for broadening the scope of such studies. Suggests an ecological framework that permits a multilevel application of ethnography in formal education. (Author/GC)

The efforts of a principal who used ideas concerning use of classroom time generated by the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study to restructure programs at two rural elementary schools are described. Staff development efforts and teachers' reactions are highlighted. Changes in instruction and in scheduling are discussed. (PP)

Sixty-eight teachers (39 English and 29 mathematics) were observed in two of their class sections. Relationships among teaching behaviors and student outcomes in mathematics classes suggest that elements of both the direct instruction model and indirect influence model are supported. Results in English classes are less clear. (Author/CTM)

Teachers in this high school "shadowed" selected students to see the school through students' eyes. The teachers noted both strengths and weaknesses. The latter included class interruptions, low expectations of low achievers, and inadequate learning time. (JM)

Reviews various methods of social skills assessment with children. Found that behavioral observations, sociometrics, and teacher ratings have been the most often used methods. Suggests school psychologists should utilize all three measures to secure a comprehensive picture of children's social behavior and to obtain some measure of social…

Clinical feedback is a planned process of exploring collected data through nonjudgemental observation. Two programs are described which reflect faculty judgement that student teachers need training in systematic observation and analysis of the stimulus-response characteristics of teaching and learning. (JN)

Studies published since 1965 on the relationship between classroom behavior and academic achievement are reviewed. Criteria are established for selecting the studies, the research is assessed, and recommendations for future research are made. (MH)

Describes a study of the teaching behavior of student-teachers of science disciplines during the one-term teaching practice of the English "Post-Graduate Certificate in Education" course. Results suggest that in several behavioral dimensions students and teachers achieve a close match. (HM)

Described a naturalistic study of an Early Learning Lab which yielded examples of classroom management strategies that allowed young children to create their own solutions to help them feel empowered when accomplishing a task, while gaining self-confidence and a sense of identity from the experience. (Author/SD)