The Barclay Classroom Climate Inventory, an instrument designed to measure self-competency skills, peer evaluations, vocational awareness, and teacher judgments of elementary school children is outlined. A brief review of the literature is presented, with a discussion of the parts of the instrument and the methods whereby the scores derived from…

A system of appraising teachers that is acceptable to the teaching profession, the public, and school management is needed. To meet this need, Project D developed a diagnostic system of appraisal whose aim was to pinpoint areas in which teachers might reasonably be expected to improve their performance. The procedures adopted included the…

This final report on the Preliminary Evaluation of Planned Variation in Head Start According to Follow Through Approaches is a detailed account of the field testing and implementation activities performed during the 1969-1972 period, with emphasis on the second and third years. The sections of the report are as follows: I. Introduction; II.…

"Excessive" noise outburst behavior of 24 second graders was effectively controlled under automated stimulus conditions. A voice operated relay transmitted signals to an automated combination light display and outburst time/total running time meters; under 2 conditions, the light display functioned first as a primary, then as a secondary…

This unit of the Flexible Learning System (FLS) provides instruction for adults in helping children develop problem solving skills and attitudes, with particular emphasis on shifting the responsibility of solving classroom problems from teacher to children. Problems are treated as opportunities to learn in which individuals or groups want…

This study examines the development of cooperative and negative behavior in a setting in which children of varied ages had regular opportunities for social encounters. Subjects were 16 children, half 16-19 months, half 28-32 months. Each child was observed 30 minutes per day for five days. Behaviors were recorded continuously. A narrative written…

Two studies combining teacher questionnaires, classroom observation, and pupil interviews were conducted to contrast formal and informal teaching practices in open plan and conventional classrooms. Study I sampled 12 teachers of classes including second year junior pupils (8-9 years of age); Study II sampled 30 teachers, including 13 with mixed…

What is the best way to share leadership duties while creating successful learning communities? What is the best way to help teachers improve their practice while also tracking student achievement? With this resource for effective leadership, answers will be found to these tough questions for every member of a school team. This book takes a…

Based on the experiences of a participant observer (weekly playground volunteer) over the course of one school year, this paper recounts the experiences of first through third graders during recess and discusses the importance of outdoor play for providing children an opportunity to speak and act unfettered by adult expectations, thereby promoting…

Stepping Stones to Literacy is a tool for elementary school improvement teams to evaluate and strengthen their reading programs. Each Stepping Stone is a guided activity to stimulate reflection and guide systematic inquiry. It is a collaborative, active research approach to evaluation (Levesque & Hinton 2001). The goal is to eliminate the gap…

Noting that improving the quality of learning in primary schools and preparing children for a long, complex life in the twenty-first century requires the highest quality of teaching and professional training, this book is part of a series to improve teachers' skills in the classroom. The book is intended to offer primary school teachers a means of…

Celebrating the achievements of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) by highlighting the promise of its future, this book presents 12 essays that describe how WAC programs have adapted and continue to adapt to meet new challenges. Essays in the book explain strategies for continuing WAC programs in an atmosphere of change; explore new avenues of…

Foreign language students experience added difficulty when they are isolated from native speakers and from the culture of the target language. It has been posited that MOO (Multi-User Domain Object Oriented) may help overcome the geographical isolation of these students. MOOs are Internet-based virtual worlds in which people from all over the real…

This practicum paper documents a program that was developed and implemented to help adult, advanced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students increase their speaking and listening skills and build self confidence with native English speakers. The objective was to increase group average exit test scores in speaking and listening by at least two…

This study compares the effectiveness of audio-taped feedback (ATF) with traditional written feedback (WF). Its focus is on the ATF and WF provided to 23 college sophomore English majors at a Taiwan university. Students were also asked at the end of the academic year to evaluate and compare both ATF and WF from their perspective. It is concluded…