Classroom variables associated with academic learning time (ALT)--instructional time, on-task behavior, and student success rate--are positively related to student achievement. Guidelines and forms are provided for teachers and supervisors to gather objective and usable information on these ALT components through direct classroom observation…

The effects of teacher comments, type of task, student performance, and gender on the continuing motivation of 424 fifth- and sixth-grade pupils was studied. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship between continuing motivation and student perceptions of their own competence. (Author/MT)

The amount of notes and textbook use were related to candidates' previously measured abilities in the area, to their scores on the examination; and to their responses to a questionnaire. Results indicated that those who devoted more examination time to using notes and texts obtained less good scores and had obtained low scores on previous…

Results of a naturalistic, observational analysis of 43 self-contained classrooms serving severely handicapped students indicated that during designated instructional periods, slightly less than half of all student time was spent on-task. When students were on-task, almost two-thirds of their time involved nonfunctional instructional tasks.…

This article examines the issue of instructional time from the perspective of the teacher educator. The importance of using instructional time effectively is discussed and suggestions to monitor and improve class time management problems are presented. (MT)

An examination of pullouts--the practice of withdrawing certain elementary school students from their classrooms, usually for specialized instruction, field trips, assemblies, or school projects. Includes historical background, a study of curriculum effects, study guidelines, and solutions to pullout problems. (DCS)

To make sure students' time in school is used efficiently and advantageously, some simple ways to improve time use are suggested. It is important to assess time use to ensure that a school schedules enough time for basics, is using learning time and teaching time well, and is not duplicating subject matter. (MD)

A self-management procedure used with 10 students (8-12 years old) in special schools was found to alter behavior directly without the need for a prior period of externally managed contingencies and was equal or superior to the externally administered tokens in its effects on time-on-task and out-of-seat behavior. (Author/CL)

Among findings from a comparison of 13 preschool hyperactive and control males assessed on receptive-communications tasks that required listening and delayed response were that Ss did not differ in task-related movements or verbalizations, but that hyperactive Ss verbalized impulsively during transitions and tasks requiring response delay. (DB)

The influence of two time variables (allocated time and pupil time on task) was compared with the influence of two context variables (aptitude and socioeconomic status), on primary level mathematics achievement. Results showed that the time variables accounted for significantly more variance in achievement, with pupil time on task having the…

Practice in oral and silent reading is an important component in the development of reading skills. Observational techniques were used to investigate the actual amount of time a second-grade class spent reading during reading instruction. Results are discussed with regard to effects of practice time on student reading. (Author/DF)

The instruction that we provide, the intellectual climate that we create, and the policy decisions that we make should all start with the question, "But will it improve students' learning?" Basic to any answer is the state of our knowledge about learning. A spate of recent research has resulted in comprehensive and lengthy reviews of surveys of…

To test a deduction from Carroll's Model of School Learning (i.e., increasing a learner's perserverance will not alter degree of learning or learning rate), time needed to learn a task under an encouragement condition designed to increase perserverance was compared to learning time under a discouragement condition. As predicted, no significant…

An attitude that students could, and would, master their lessons resulted in raised student test scores and improved school discipline at a Florida elementary school. Increasing time on task and dividing lessons into manageable blocks contributed to the school atmosphere. (MLF)

Two experiments were conducted to assess whether the distribution of fixation times might be related to the prevailing cognitive activity involved with two different tasks, i.e., driving and observing colored fields. The results suggest that the distribution of fixation times can be associated with the prevailing cognitive activity while viewing.…