This final report describes a 3-year project which investigated the relationship between academic learning time (ALT) and achievement in reading and mathematics of mildly handicapped students within the context of different special education delivery systems. Subjects were 24 educably mentally retarded, learning disabled, and emotionally disturbed…

Under consideration in this conference was the idea that prospective teachers should be assessed on the ability to perform teaching skills relative to each other and that overall patterns of skill performance, not separate skills, should be used as the organizing focus of teacher certification. James Raths, in "Teacher Traits Revisited:…

To assist the North Carolina League of Middle/Junior High Schools, this paper briefly surveys the literature on developmental characteristics of early adolescents and the characteristics of effective teachers and also discusses the implications of the findings for instruction and the curriculum. The authors first define early adolescence as the…

This study investigated differences occurring in student time utilization in three teachers' classes. In Class A, the teacher used a large group instructional mode; in Class B, the teacher used a small group instructional mode; and in Class C, the teacher used an individualized instructional mode. The subjects were 60 eighth grade students from a…

Investigated how students and teachers in mixed-age classes spent their learning time during reading, language arts, and mathematics. No significant differences between single- and multi-aged classes was found. Concludes that teachers found working in mixed-age classes very difficult, with most working as if they were teaching two different…

Examined were the effects of Team-Assisted Individualization (TAI) on the academic, behavioral, and social skills of 18 emotionally disturbed adjudicated boys, aged 13-15. TAI increased the students' on-task and cooperative behaviors, increased the students' liking of their classmates, and was preferred by students when compared to working…

Four junior high aged students (three behaviorally disordered and one learning disabled) received self-management training, without the external control of a token program. The self-evaluation procedures reduced students' off-task and disruptive behaviors in the resource room, but there was little or no spontaneous generalization to the students'…

This study compared 52 resource room programs for mildly mentally handicapped, learning disabled, and severely emotionally disturbed secondary students, which used or did not use microcomputers. Benefits of microcomputer use included increased active task engagement and increased individually focused instruction, but overall differences in most…

Suggests, based on classroom observations, that teachers with a knowledge of reading research and the ability to organize instruction are better able to provide effective instruction for poor readers. Emphasizes the importance of increased time on reading tasks, direct instruction, and process writing activities. (ARH)

This study examined differences in time needed for learning for three types of learning tasks from Bloom's taxonomy: knowledge, comprehension, and application. Seventh and eighth graders (N=88) were given five repeated trials to master three simulated classroom tasks. Large differences were found between tasks in mastery rates, information…

Three educators review two reports about education in the future. The reviewers address the question of which predictions seem most probable and least probable in the reports. (MD)

Results showed hardly any differences in time-on-task behavior between third and fourth grade pupils in mixed age single age mathematics and language arts classes in the Netherlands. Students in mixed age classes spent more time working individually. The ability level of the students had little impact on time-on-task behavior. (Author/RM)

This study examined whether teacher behaviors (such as teacher enthusiasm, level of lesson difficulty, teacher voice volume and inflection, teacher use of inquiries, and teacher use of positive feedback) were related to student academic engagement in an inner city day care center. Data were collected by videotaping 13 teachers and 94 ethnic…

This action research project investigated the effects of music on the behavior and performance of students (ages 3-21) with multiple disabilities, mental retardation, or severe mental retardation in four self-contained special education classrooms. The teacher researchers involved in the study made no assumptions with regard to the outcomes. It…

In 1994, the National Education Commission on Time and Learning (NECTL) published "Prisoners of Time," an eye-opening study into how much schools are governed by the clock and calendar, and how families, administrators, and teachers are subsequently affected. This report expands and updates the 1994 report, adding informative questions and answers…