Specified procedures for evaluating materials during their in-context tryout are presented. These procedures deal with all possible causes of system failures that have been identified in the in-classroom tryout of new materials. Therefore, methods for identifying, controlling, and monitoring all factors that affect academic behavior in the…

The Portsmouth Project attempted to develop a consciousness in teachers of how they acted in their own classrooms and of the effect their behavior had on the learning environment of children. A basic assumption of the program was that teachers will change their style of interacting with students in the classroom if they become more aware of their…

This study was done at one elementary school in Normandy, Missouri, where the behavior patterns of students in classrooms were changing as the black population increased and teachers were daily being confronted by situations they felt inadequate to cope with. The principal was willing to rank the teachers who were to be involved in the study on a…

A modified Montessori nursery school program operating in a private urban school serving a racially heterogeneous population was evaluated. The project called for investigating the educational effects of the program on both Head Start and middle class children. The impression was that children participated in the project differentially. That is,…

The labeling theory of deviance is used as a basis from which to comment on the dynamics of the labeling process in schools in general. Several research studies have demonstrated the self-fulfilling prophecy of labeling techniques. Four types of behavior can be distinguished: behavior that breaks a rule and is labeled as deviant; behavior that…

The Kansas City School Behavior Project was an experiment intended to enhance the social-emotional development of individual pupils through treatment of mild behavioral disturbances and primary prevention programs, utilizing the teachers in their roles as group leaders. The teachers in the experimental group received summer training in the methods…

An open-ended questionnaire (in appendix) was administered to 162 New Jersey teachers who had limited English proficient (LEP) students in their classrooms but had no training in ESL. The responses indicate the difficulties that regular classroom teachers encounter in integrating LEP students socially and academically into the regular setting.…

Reports on a study that investigated the effects of various instructional practices on programming proficiency focusing on characteristics of Pascal classes. States that instructional practices involve extensive on-line access, explicit instruction, and extensive feedback. (ML)

Current approaches to instruction of students with autism and severe behavioral disorders are reviewed, specifically the behavioral framework and the community adaptation framework. In contrast to such approaches, which overemphasize teacher control over student behavior, a facilitative approach to enhancing students' communicative competence is…

Discusses study of tenth and eleventh graders that was undertaken to determine how paid employment influences the behavior and attitudes of adolescents. Topics discussed include the development of responsibility, isolation from adults, negative effects of working, and West Germany's system of apprenticeship combined with part-time schooling. (10…

Reports on a study to determine the interaction effects of selected personality characteristics, science achievement, and two classroom climates, one which encouraged discovery learning and one that did not. Demonstrated that student achievement is influenced by dynamic interactions within classrooms. (TW)

Describes social behaviors of preschool children in relation to second-language development observed in a multicultural preschool program. The discussion includes examples of behaviors observed early in the year and of early stages of cooperative and sociodramatic play, and observations on the children's cultural adjustments and individual…

Two studies investigated gender differences in planning and debugging behavior, group processes, and achievement among junior high school students learning either Logo or BASIC computer programing in small groups or as individuals. Results indicate no differences in behavior and achievemenet of males and females. (Author/MBR)

Children's behavior is not necessarily directly correlated with the values that they hold. Children may believe in honesty, yet behave dishonestly. It is necessary to understand the complex realities underlying children's behavior if values education is to have real meaning. (IS)

Young people need guidance from caring adults to build strong, positive character traits--but they can also build their own. This book by the best-selling author of "The Kid's Guide to Social Action" invites children and teens to explore and practice honesty, kindness, empathy, integrity, tolerance, patience, respect, and more. Quotations and…