Explores children's play in elementary school, focusing on children's changing definitions and categories of play, including instrumental or teacher-generated activity, real or voluntary play, and illicit or unsanctioned surreptitious interactions among children. Presents relevant educational research on play, decrying the overemphasis on…

Explores implications of the "master teacher" concept and speculates on some of the contributions professional educators might make to the public dialogue. Discusses changes that might occur in teacher education programs if the master teacher idea becomes a widespread reality and offers a definition of the master teacher that is based on…

The inexperienced teacher should begin the year with a plan grounded in information from effective classroom models. Knowledge of what activities to select, in what sequence to place them, and how to communicate with students about the selected activities might relieve much of the doubt and anxiety that can cloud professional judgment and…

A questionnaire study conducted among 141 elementary and junior high special education teachers showed special education teachers agreeing with classroom research on teaching skills. Teacher behaviors positively correlated with pupil achievement were rated significantly higher than behaviors negatively correlated with achievement. The predominant…

This study examined whether the density of noncontingent outcomes limits instructor expressiveness as an effective teaching behavior in different lecture content conditions. Results indicated that for high-content lectures, instructor expressiveness facilitated achievement and confidence in students who received contingent and low noncontingent…

In an historical examination of educational equity issues the authors examine why sex equity remains an unrealized goal, how teacher behavior affects equity, and why classrooms and campuses are not encouraging places for women. The lack of support for equity in the current political climate is also addressed. (SK)

An awareness program designed to help teachers recognize subtle patterns of their own behavior regarding learning disabled (LD) students did not affect the frequency of teacher-LD student interactions and responses but decreased nonsupportive verbal and negative nonverbal behavior toward the students. (CL)

The social studies teaching by four student teachers was shaped not only by beliefs about social studies, but by such things as a concern for developing an appropriate teacher role, ideas about what school is about and what ought to be learned there, and past educational experience. (RM)

Author suggests we have to "play the anthropologist" in order to grasp what is really going on in the classroom. (Editor/RK)

Recommendations for new course leaders at People's Universities include: consistent emphasis on oral work, maximum use of the target language, varied approaches to the teaching process, active participation by the learners (reduction of "teacher talking time"), modest expectations, simplified explanations (examples are given), and adult-level…

This document presents a code of ethics for early childhood educators that offers guidelines for responsible behavior and sets forth a common basis for resolving ethical dilemmas encountered in early education. It represents the English and Spanish versions of the revised code. Its contents were approved by the NAEYC Governing Board in April 2005…

A study investigated differences in literacy teaching and learning between those classrooms following the "Literacy Initiative for Teachers" (LIFT) program and those using normal teaching techniques. A subsidiary aim was to document the staffing ratios throughout the day in the classrooms and the amount of time devoted to English. One Reception…

This review of literature examines student nonverbal communication and its influence on teachers and their teaching. The review is divided into five sections. The first section explains why we consider this topic to be important, especially for new teachers and their professional development. The second section explains our focus, which is student…

Noting that the role of phonics in reading and writing has become as much a political issue as it has an educational one, this pamphlet offers a position statement regarding the role of phonics in a total reading program. It begins with three assertions regarding phonics and the teaching of reading: (1) the teaching of phonics is an important…

This study investigated teachers' beliefs and practices of cooperative learning, and strove to determine whether their observed teaching practices reflected their stated beliefs. Findings of the study revealed that teachers understood cooperative learning to mean small groups of students working together to accomplish a particular assignment. The…