This annotated bibliography describes research on the characteristics of apprehensive writers and on methodology which has been found useful in reducing anxiety and increasing writing achievement. Following an introduction, 27 annotations (dating from 1976 to 1990) are presented. A summary, conclusions, and recommendations follow. A 33-item…

Year-long observations of 51 teachers in 11 junior high schools resulted in identification of 2 groups of teachers who were rated as either more or less effective in classroom management during the year. Subsequently, these groups were observed and comparisons were made of their behaviors and activities during the first three weeks of school.…

To provide a Louisiana State reading improvement program with information that could improve instructional efficiency, a study was conducted to determine the relationship between student time on task and eight broad categories of classroom activities used by teachers during reading and language arts instruction. The eight activities studied were…

Since the late 1960's, researchers have been concerned with the influence of teacher expectations on student performance. Teacher expectations generally can be categorized into three types: assessments of ability, predictions of progress, and natural discrepancies between teacher estimates and actual student performance. Expectations can have the…

Using Chester Barnard's acceptance theory of authority, this study of 125 secondary teachers and coaches explored relationships involving their "zones of indifference" or extent of response to orders by authority. Specific questions addressed were: (1) whether significant relationships existed between zones of indifference to…

Observations were made of coaches' interactive behavior during competitive games, and the quantity and quality of interaction between 38 coaches and their athletes were recorded. Interactions were categorized as: (1) positive--verbal praise, nonverbal affirmative gestures; (2) neutral--lecturing, giving commands, pointing, demonstrating; and (3)…

Courts will generally support the dismissal of an employee who fails to follow the legitimate orders of his or her superior or who is so verbally abusive of his superior that the school's effectiveness is imparied. (Author)

This study is one of the few that have addressed the teacher's involvement in children's peer interactions. Some of the ways in which teacher beliefs and intentions interact reflexively with contextual factors to produce particular social realities in preschool settings are examined. Four experienced early childhood teachers of acknowledged…

This study examined the effectiveness of audiocuing as a method for training a student teacher in the skill of providing positive reinforcement to students. (Audiocuing is the pre-recorded auditory cue provided by a microcassette recording which only the subject can hear.) In the event that it is necessary for the student teacher to make…

As personality and social psychology research has shown, cross-situational consistency of people's social behavior tends to be rather low. This applies also to teachers' classroom behavior: teachers adapt to situative conditions. However, both situation specificity and teachers' adaptation are not sufficiently taken into account in research and in…

Artist/teachers are professional artists in various fields who teach in high schools for the visual and performing arts. Although many hold advanced degrees, few have taken courses in teaching methods. Nevertheless, as a group artist/teachers have a reputation for teaching excellence. Participants in this study of the psychological characteristics…

The first chapter of this book makes a case for preparing teachers to be lifelong students of teaching. Impediments to that goal are enumerated, and suggestions are made on how they might be overcome. Some of the means by which teachers can be made more reflective about their teaching are presented. In chapter 2, teachers are encouraged to become…

Assertive Discipline (AD) is a modified version of assertion training skills. It is a systematic combination of verbal assertiveness training combined with teachers using everyday rewards and punishments to positively influence relationships and students' behavior. When using the AD model, the teacher must: (1) clearly convey their rules and…

This study examined the specific factors that help teachers learn to implement innovations requiring non-routine teacher behaviors. Questions focused on the type of support teachers must have in order to make changes in their instructional approach. Thirteen teachers in the San Francisco area were observed as they attempted to teach the same…

Ideas for fine tuning the awareness and responsive interactions of teachers of infants and toddlers are offered. The ideas, which are supported by theory, research, and clinical experience, focus on the importance of: (1) tender, careful holding of babies; (2) prompt and accurate interpretation of the signals of distress; (3) development of keen…