Comparative research on teachers' perspectives and classroom behavior must focus both on external systematic and institutional influences and on individual differences in teacher personality and background. One such systematic study of French and English elementary school teachers identified "meta-national" similarities and international, local,…

Examines high schools teachers' humor in the classroom. Finds that high school teachers generally use less humor than college teachers, perceive college-teacher humor as more appropriate, and use it as a learning facilitator rather than a learning strategy. Presents a 20-item classification scheme of teacher humor. (SR)

Shares the author's transition from traditional reading instruction to a whole-language approach. Discusses journal writing and dramatization as two effective teaching strategies. (MG)

Ethical issues related to computer use on college campuses are of increasing concern, and some are studying them for possible solutions. Issues include copyright of instructional and other computer materials, rude and threatening messages on computer communication networks, and teacher behavior as a model for students. (MSE)

Reports a study that identified the dimensional structure of mentoring and other support behaviors that occur among adults in elementary schools. A questionnaire about support relationships completed by 488 elementary teachers found 6 factors that were dimensions of support: mentoring, supporting, collaborating, career strategizing, supervising,…

When a school-university collaboration gave them the opportunity for school-based restructuring, inner-city elementary teachers pursued new teaching practices; assumed responsibility for professional development; examined their practice and supported it with documentation; developed direction and commitment to mutually determined school goals; and…

Observes three classrooms to describe several useful instructional practices for effective reading instruction for students of English as a Second Language. (SR)

Examines teacher-child interactions in a Reading Recovery program. Finds that teachers with higher student outcomes provided a consistent balance between attention to text-level strategies and letter- or word-level strategies; helped students analyze words using larger chunks of information; and were more specific, more attentive to…

Describes an English-teacher educator's teaching/learning process that honors the voices of the students and builds on their needs and questions. Describes how she combines reflection on her teaching with "refraction": finding a new view on teaching using the oblique light from students' responses from their various dialogs. Includes responses…

Finds that a high humor orientation (HO) was associated with increased undergraduate student perceptions of learning; and that high HO students reported learning more with a high HO teacher. Examines perceived teacher humor orientation in relation to nonverbal immediacy and socio-communicative style. (SR)

Inquires into the pre-trip preparation and interaction between elementary teachers and students during a field trip to a discovery center of natural history. Reports that teachers did not specifically prepare students for their visit to the center and many teachers exhibited formal school behaviors in this informal environment. (Author/CCM)

A study examined ethical activism, the willingness of college professors to inquire about or report possible unethical conduct by colleagues. Using data from a national empirical study of ethics and the academic profession, characteristics of faculty who engaged in ethical activism are examined, as are the consequences of ethical activism for…

Speculates that computer-based multimedia packages possess the potential to change children's symbol-weaving processes (storytelling in which children treat talk, pictures, and words as equals). Discusses how normal classroom practice can be affected by multimedia composing tools, and how teachers can take advantage of the positive aspects of the…

Describes a situation in which a teacher's behavior reinforces students' rejection of another student in middle school. Highlights the need for educators to teach about morals, values, courtesy, character, and related concepts. Maintains that teachers should share the responsibility of developing students' characters with community members and…

A study investigated perceptions of 21 parents of elementary children with disabilities on personnel attitudes and characteristics in inclusive settings. Participants were pleased with the impact of inclusive settings and described perceptions of qualities and characteristics that they valued in personnel such as accessibility and interest in…