Consequences were withheld for high-rate gesture requests of 6 mentally handicapped individuals (ages 12-40), to increase the proportion of gestures used spontaneously. Results suggest that the teacher's nonresponding to high-rate spontaneous gesture requests increased individuals' use of previously taught but unused gesture requests. (Author/JDD)

Observation of social studies lessons in a bilingual and a regular classroom containing immigrant Filipino-American students revealed differences between classrooms in communication strategies and patterns. Teacher-student interactions in the bilingual classroom somewhat reflected those found in the Philippine setting, promoting greater…

Investigates the potential of collaborative learning in mathematics using multimedia. Analyzes the data collected by video recording the work of groups on the multimedia-based activities and ethnographic research methods. Concludes that the classroom interaction was found to be supported not only by language mediated by the multimedia system but…

Advocates the use of simulations in second-language classrooms, examining their advantages and presenting data from a study on college students' perceptions of the effectiveness of these advantages in an advanced second-language classroom. The study indicates that students found simulations enjoyable, motivating, and effective in promoting…

Describes a professional development activity that offers a way for teachers to analyze their current classroom discourse practices and move toward the goal of dynamic and productive mathematical discourse. (ASK)

Presents examples of discourse in classroom interaction that show how social relations in the classroom mirror larger societal relationships in ways that exclude students' cultural and linguistic practices as resources for meaningful literacy learning. Shows how this discourse process (called reciprocal distancing) is used by teachers and students…

To manage classroom conflict effectively, college faculty need to be able to identify and analyze the problem and find solutions. Problem identification addresses who is involved; nature of the conflict; when it happened; where it happened; resolution attempts; and consequences. Solution identification includes developing a positive attitude;…

A study of native-language (L1) use in the collaborative interaction of five dyads of native English-speaking adult learners of Spanish as a second language found that L1 serves a critical function in students' attempts to mutually define task elements, provide each other with scaffolding help, and externalize inner speech. (Author/MSE)

Examines whether gender played a role in the peer-revision process in an English classroom. Discusses findings regarding how gender influences the peer-revision process, how this has increased the teacher's sense of responsibility to both her male and female students, and how this knowledge can be used to improve peer-revision practice. (SR)

Examined the complex interactions among student engagement, scientific-thinking practices, and student role taking and social interaction in the context of school-based science lessons. Found that students in an intellectual-roles plus audience-roles condition were more active in initiating engagement episodes than those in intellectual roles only…

Reports on student perceptions of classroom discourse, which includes speech between teacher and students as well as among peers. Students indicate both observations of frequency and value judgments. Responses are analyzed by their final course grade. Results are intended to guide future formal and informal observational studies on how relative…

Describes the conversational rhythm in an elementary class in order to understand when and how teacher and students succeed in developing shared understandings, and when and how they encounter difficulties. Uses the two contrasting concepts of "intermingling" and "bumpiness" to catch the phenomenological aspects of time in the…

Explores the arguments used by 14-year-old students in making decisions about the design of a road in their area. Describes the general perspective of such an approach and the process of argumentation, then analyzes the nature of the students' arguments which are discussed on the basis of a specifically-constructed network. Contains 20 references.…

Explores how children's ideas in science affect elementary science instruction by investigating whether and how three primary teachers recognize and react to student ideas. Finds that the experienced teacher with the highest level of content knowledge had the largest repertoire for eliciting and addressing student ideas, and the intern teacher's…

Argues that the best books will inspire children to pause and think deeply about their own lives and lives of others. Offers brief descriptions of 37 books for children and young readers, including: picture books that promote rich classroom conversations; poetry collections; books to grow up on; picture books for the youngest students; historical…