This paper discusses developments in special education classroom observational assessment. Conceptual advances include increased focus on assessment with practical value for teaching and benefits gained from merging classroom instructional factors with behavior. Methodological advances include development of ecobehavioral observation protocols and…

Examines the lives of counterculture students. Focuses on students' beliefs and values, preferences and politics, and how such factors relate to their educational experience. Although such students express discomfiture with a structured, traditional college education, most of them enjoy the intellectual stimulation of the academic environment.…

This article examines why Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities often lack validity and accuracy and offers methods to make IEPs more responsive to student education needs. These methods focus on holistic assessment including such strategies as observation, story retellings, oral and silent reading, writing…

Discusses the first session and events from other sessions of a mathematics circle consisting of the author and four preschool children. Presents discussions that ensued with the children when asked to solve problems related to Piaget's stages of cognitive development. (MDH)

Two Hispanic-American first grade girls were studied for one year by naturalistic and qualitative methods. The child for whom the teacher had low expectations did very well at reading, whereas the child of whom more was expected did less well. Why this occurred is discussed. (SLD)

Addresses the relationship between reader response and culture. Presents portraits of a teacher and her Black students and White students as they studied a series of African American literary texts, including Virginia Hamilton's "House of Dies Drear" (1968). The reading of this text marked a turning point for the teacher and students.…

This study investigated sources of resistance to development of integrated preschool programs, expressed in interviews with 30 parents, teachers, and administrators and in observations of planning meetings. Findings suggest that perceived loss of political control over aspects of programs that have been informally negotiated among parents,…

The future of program evaluation is bright if evaluators do not ignore their roots in quantitative research. The current interest in qualitative approaches and the call for a "fourth generation" in evaluation should not override training in quantitative research. Qualitative research should complement, rather than replace, traditional…

Describes the relationship between learning opportunities and the negotiation of social norms in mathematics class discussions based on data from interviews and observation of a third-grade classroom. Includes several transcripts of observations. (31 references) (MKR)

Characterizes the commonalities of four exemplary mathematics teachers based on data gathered from interviews, tests on content knowledge, discussions, and observations in terms of their mathematical preparation; conceptions of mathematics, roles of teachers and students, assessment, and teaching; and teaching practices. (43 references) (MKR)

Describes a multifaceted evaluation of the Brandeis model of reference services, which included how the model was defined, direct observation of librarians, unobtrusive study, and a focus group project to gauge patron response. Results of the study and needed improvements are discussed. A sidebar article describes the Brandeis model. (22…

Observations of children's writing on the computer include an anecdote concerning a five-year-old's use of a word processor to write a story at the University of South Carolina's Children's Center. Also discussed are general literacy growth and four patterns of risk taking with computer writing. (BB)

Presents an annotated dialogue between two teachers concerning a teacher's observations of children's play. Discusses teachers' practice of representing children's play for the children and the results of this practice. (BB)

Sixty-two preschool and kindergarten programs were examined with regard to various instructional practices. An observations protocol was developed to assess social and motivational effects of instructional practice in early childhood education programs. Program participants who had relatively high scores on the social context subscales had…

Stresses the danger of sociological fieldwork in Latin America for researcher and subject. Recommends that the researcher build a network of contacts for support and protection. Discusses the interpersonal relations, problems of security, and field entry techniques involved in sensitive research situations. Suggests unobtrusive methods of research…