Observed use of culturally diverse and Euro-American books during freeplay and naptime in two daycare classrooms. Subjects were 35 children, ages 44 to 65 months, and their teachers. Results indicated that teachers and children used culturally conscious books less often than other types. Introducing these books during group time increased their…

Synthesizes findings from observational classroom research on corrective feedback and presents an observational study of patterns of error treatment n an adult English-as-a-Second-Language classroom. Examines the range and types of feedback used by the teacher and their relationship to learner uptake and immediate repair of error. (Author/VWL)

This article presents four strategies for identifying young gifted children: recognize the limits of testing; network with parents; consider new ways of thinking about and observing giftedness, including incorporating different learning styles in teaching; and use portfolios to collect actual samples of children's work. Advantages of portfolio…

Presents results from a study investigating the effects of professional training on teachers' use of observations to assess elementary students. Describes the training program and its focus on professional empowerment, strategy development for observation-based assessment, and learning the value of peer support. Reports that participants'…

Examines whether observers' perceptions of private lessons are affected by the type of teacher verbalizations used to make student performance corrections. Asks preservice music education teachers (n=50) to respond to a 10 statement questionnaire after viewing two videotaped private lessons. Finds no meaningful difference in subject responses…

Presents active learning strategies that utilize visual images, in particular photographs, to promote learning in geography. Explains that the six activities focus on Vietnam. Uses the photographs to encourage students to engage with the images to promote better observation skills. (CMK)

Examines the relationship between teachers' beliefs and their practices at Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) in relation to the use of questioning. Explains that interviews and observation were used in collecting data from Key Stage 2 teachers at four British schools. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents a study that recorded the teaching of educators in British infant (n=10), junior (n=10), and secondary (n=10) schools. Focuses on their use of different types of questions. Reports that the analysis of the three groups of teachers differed slightly. Includes references. (CMK)

Reports on social skills and social status of 22 Australian students, with mainly moderate intellectual disabilities, who underwent an inclusive preschool intervention. Finds that the students spent more time with developing peers. Discovered differences between students with disabilities and other students in relation to time spent with peers…

A teacher education program which merged elementary and special education into one major was evaluated using naturalistic inquiry methodology. A discussion is presented on the methodology, the process, the major findings, and implications for evaluation of teacher education programs. (JD)

Discusses roles that parents and teachers can perform to facilitate children's interactions with computers. Highlights include: (1) designing computer environments, including learner control, learning activities, and relating computer experiences to other learning processes; (2) adult interactions with children; and (3) observation and feedback…

This study assessed the validity of the Children's Physical Activity Form, an observational instrument which measures the intensity of children's physical activity, by comparing observer judgments of subjects' (N=40) activity intensity level with min-by-min heart rate values. Results document the validity of the instrument for observing physical…

A qualitative observational study of standardized group testing in 10 kindergartens revealed variations in testing conditions, discrepancies from standardized administration procedures, and variations in children's behavior that contributed to difficulties in maintaining a uniform testing process. High-stakes group testing in kindergarten should…

This article reports on the effects of a training program on teacher behavior, student achievement, and student attitudes toward mathematics. Results suggest that the timing of the training affected student achievement. No effect on student attitude was determined. Participants were 32 eighth grade Dutch mathematics teachers. (IAH)

This field study suggests that preschoolers' social play should be viewed as a developmentally expanding repertoire of skills and that the performance of the skills is a function of the expectations of the preschool environment (school philosophy and practice). Subjects were 54 Canadian preschoolers, aged 4 and 5. (IAH)