Two studies were conducted to examine characteristics of teacher communications to 32 students (ages 5-17) with severe and profound disabilities. Results found the forms of communication selected were less related to the student's communicative ability or responsiveness to particular forms than they were to the teacher's intention in…

Examines the relationship between kindergartners' (N=168) perceptions of competence and teacher comments. Results indicate that teachers did not more frequently praise students who had higher perceptions of competence than students with lower perceptions. No relationship emerged concerning the effects of teacher praise or criticism on changes in…

Finds an inverse relationship between student perceptions of teacher misbehaviors and (1) teacher assertiveness, (2) teacher responsiveness, (3) positive affect for the teacher, and (4) positive affect for the course material. Shows that instructor type (graduate assistant versus professor) was not related to perceptions of teacher misbehaviors.…

Summarizes the Ann Arbor "Black English" court case, focusing on teacher attitudes, knowledge, and practice. Argues that three distinct constructs of teacher knowledge are evident in writing studies today. Concludes that pedagogical theory in composition needs to more adequately address questions of language diversity and race to affect…

Discusses some Japanese cultural concepts and student behavior that grows out of them. Suggests a number of classroom techniques that recognize and accommodate these cultural concepts while helping Japanese learners adjust to American classrooms. (SR)

Examines the scope and quality of reflection-in-action displayed by six beginning teacher specialists as they provided each other with support. Analyzes 12 videotaped peer-assistance sessions using self-selected pairs. The most reflective episodes occurred when the specialist engaged the ethic of inquiry, raising questions and enjoying multiple…

Examined factors affecting teachers' perception of risk to a child's welfare in situations of abuse and neglect, their willingness to report situations to authorities, and their approach to such cases. Subjects were 161 Israeli elementary school teachers. Found several areas in identifying and reporting child maltreatment-related to the nature or…

Suggests that banning superhero play is not most effective means of dealing with children's exposure to inappropriate television. Maintains that valid data on possible increases in classroom superhero play are not available, superhero play may fulfill some developmental functions, and superhero play may provide an opportunity to teach about values…

Discusses how adults guide children's conflict resolution methods, especially through discourse based on negotiation and compromise. Presents a model of social interaction that analyzes the ways that teachers guide preschool-aged children through conflict resolution. Focuses on means by which culture has a direct influence on teacher resolution…

Discusses how teaching middle school deepened and broadened a former high school teacher's notion of what it is to be a teacher. Describes the teacher's changing teaching strategies. Suggests that the teacher had faced up to an immensely difficult challenge--the opportunity to teach middle school students. (RS)

Raises concerns about whether literacy-enriched play in early childhood settings is really play. Presents a vignette to illustrate how a teacher can model literacy unobtrusively, thereby enhancing literacy, but unwittingly draw children away from meaningful play activities. Differentiates the cognitive processes involved in play and literacy…

Finds that a significant relationship exists between teachers' use of affinity-seeking strategies and student perceptions of classroom climate. Shows that 19 of the 25 strategies were correlated with classroom climate, and that communication teachers regularly used 19 of the 25 strategies. (SR)

Considers the relationship of teacher questioning to resultant student questions in a whole language, literature-based classroom. Finds that the teacher provided numerous opportunities for students to continually formulate questions, helping students to master the difficult art of asking questions at different levels of inquiry. (RS)

Describes how a first-grade teacher used the "hypothesis-test" approach with Devin, a first grader who struggled as a reader and writer. Points out that, when she started working with Devin, she wanted to understand his difficulties, but by the end, she realized that it was her curriculum, not his difficulties, that needed to be in the foreground.…

Describes how a Title 1 lead teacher used the "hypothesis-test" approach with Joshua, a fifth-grade student from a "ravaged background" who was about two years behind in academic performance. Shows how, pursuing his inquiry, Joshua eventually became a strategic reader and a confident engaged learner. Notes that Joshua's turning point was also the…