Twelve fifth- and sixth-grade field-dependent and field-independent teachers were observed for 96 hours in regular elementary classrooms. Statistically significant differences were obtained from 8 out of 10 instructional behaviors observed between field-dependent and field-independent teachers. (Author/SJL)

The manner in which faculty deliver the first lecture, usually the first student-faculty contact, can have a real impact on student approach to the subject and the faculty. A study of first lectures observed faculty approaches to the occasion and suggests careful attention to the content, organization, and delivery of the lecture. (MSE)

The relationship between three types of anxiety (about course arrangements, about interpersonal process, and about evaluative outcomes) and eight types of participatory classroom behaviors were examined. Data were gathered through both questionnaire and observation of 81 adult learners in six education courses at Brandon University, Manitoba.…

Argues that the monolingual method in foreign language teaching is not the best for imparting the meaning of new words. A more flexible approach should be followed, so that valuable time may be saved for more difficult tasks. (IFS/WGA)

Suggests two ways to make grading of writing easier, fairer, more helpful to students: first, using minimal grades or fewer levels of quality, and, second, using criteria that spell out the features of good writing sought in the assignment. Discusses minimal grading techniques in contexts of low-stakes writing, high-stakes writing, the final…

Presents two brief articles. Discusses the Conference on Basic Writing's (CBW) workshop, "Race, Class, and Culture in the Basic Writing Classroom" and how it came about. States that the theory and practice of mainstreaming was the center around which issues coalesced. Discusses the invisibility of class as a site of struggle and a place…

A study of two elementary students (age 12) with reading difficulties compared the effects of rapid oral presentation and slow oral presentation on rates of accurate oral rereading during listening previewing. Rates of accurate oral rereading were higher when adults reduced their oral reading rates as students read silently. (Author/CR)

This study evaluated three models of gifted education implemented by seven elementary regular classroom teachers. All models showed a strong relationship between cognitive level of teacher queries and student responses. The Cognitive-Affective Interaction Model produced the best increases in cognitive complexity of classroom interactions and…

Explores evolutionary changes in students' (n=46) motion-related language mediated by computer-based Newtonian microworlds. Documents how ways of talking emerge and how the convergence of meaning arises from the affordances provided by the interpretive flexibility of the microworld, conversations with the teacher, and the microworld which assures…

Traces the development of ideas explored during reading lessons in children's writings from one transitional bilingual fourth-grade classroom. Uses transcripts from audiotaped and videotaped lessons to study the way reading lessons turned into an anchoring activity for the negotiation of joint meaning. Traces developments in five student…

Argues that encouraging talking among young learners in the classroom is one of the best ways to foster learning. Presents incidents which illustrate that children naturally use language to report on experiences, collaborate toward agreed ends, project into the future, focus on causal and dependent relationships, create and discuss problems,…

Reports on a study of two classroom learning environment questionnaires developed in a culturally diverse context, specifically the Pacific Islands. Concludes that females perceive their environment more favorably than males. (Contains 96 references.) (DDR)

A study examined the strategies used by a fourth-grade teacher in a two-way bilingual immersion program (English/Spanish) that contributed to students' development of academic language in Spanish. Analysis of a science lesson highlighted the use of an appropriate Spanish-language textbook and the teacher's use of visual elements, repetition,…

This article describes features of the verbal and nonverbal environment of the early childhood classroom. Children's literature is used as a vehicle for understanding: (1) how teachers talk to children; (2) how teachers allow children to talk to each other; and (3) how teachers help children talk to themselves about their learning and…

Analyzes interactions between a British primary school teacher and her students during sessions of science to determine the extent that the teacher assists in class performance. States the teaching illustrates features suggesting children's science concepts are being developed and features consistent with assisted performance. (BT)