Using a sample of 291 respondents from a teacher's union in a large urban school district, this study explored relationships among job stress, stress-induced illness behavior, and social support by principals and coworkers. Although illness increases as job stress increases, supportive principals have a positive effect on stress-induced illness…

Discussion of effective inservice teacher training highlights minimal intervention training as an effective method for providing inservice education to teachers in isolated areas. Instructional design features for minimal intervention training are described, and five elements required for effective training aimed at changing teachers' classroom…

Argues that the science lab can be an environment highly conducive to intellectual development. Discusses students' task commitment and motivation, and teacher enthusiasm, expectations, genuineness, and exemplary behavior in light of research findings and the author's personal experience. (RS)

Results of a study of 18 cooperating teachers (CTs) supervising physical education student teachers (STs) from five colleges/universities in the Northwest indicated that: CTs provided minimal feedback; held few supervising conferences; and spent little time observing teaching. Through logs and weekly wrap-up reports, STs indicated desire for…

Examines teacher practices of placing students in basal reading series, particularly capable readers. Finds basic inconsistencies between teachers' stated beliefs about capable readers and stated placement practices which are partly the result of the fear of skipping essential skills as outlined in the basals. (RS)

Reports on an evaluation of the Bangalore/Madras Communicational Teaching Project (CTP), a content-based approach to language learning. Analysis of 21 lesson transcripts revealed a greater incidence of error treatment of content than linguistic error, consonant with the CTP focus on meaning rather than form. (26 references) (Author/CB)

The article describes a facilitative teacher style of interaction in the special education classroom. The facilitative style, in which students are encouraged to develop control of their own learning, is contrasted with the directive style, in which the teacher maintains control of all classroom interactions. (DB)

This issue consists of 1 study which describes staff and child responses to aggressive and withdrawn behavior in 79 children at 6 day nurseries. Children were appropriately occupied and staff provided a setting and materials that promoted play. Although there was positive social interaction between children, rates of aversive behavior were high.…

Examines time spent on comprehension instruction by award-winning teachers, teachers with master's degrees, and a control group of teachers with bachelor's degrees. Finds that award-winning teachers spend more time in making assignments and giving individual help, but notes no differences in time spent on prereading activities or direct…

Discusses a conditioning exercise used in an undergraduate psychology classroom. Students are to shape their professor's behavior by using operant conditioning procedures. Reports favorable student reaction to assignment. Notes that class size influences success and relates anecdotes in order to illustrate obstacles to the completion of the…

Observation of 401 college teachers indicates that teachers of different academic disciplines (arts/humanities, social sciences, natural sciences/mathematics) differ in the frequency of specific classroom teaching behaviors, but that what makes an effective teacher, in the perception of students, is consistent regardless of discipline.…

Describes how a teacher shared her love of poetry once a week with a class of seventh-grade students who hated poetry, and how, in a few short months, students who had hated poetry for years became poetry lovers. (SR)

Reports on a study to determine the impact of feedback on academic achievement. Finds that students who received daily feedback scored significantly better on tests than students who received partial or no feedback. Maintains that the benefits to students outweigh any difficulties for teachers. (CFR)

Analyzes teachers' views of working high school students and the impact of student work upon classroom organization and performance. Results from 311 teachers show their concern for working students but few classroom adjustments to accommodate them. Implications of these findings for the classroom performance of teachers and school organization…

Although whole-language teachers may have more freedom in the classroom than teachers who follow a more prescriptive approach, they are still accountable to parents and administrators. Whole-language teachers need to have a philosophical rationale for the decisions they make, be consistent in their application, make informed choices, be responsive…