Examines the concept of accountability, including some practices of accountability and how accountability can be achieved. Concludes with a discussion of how accountability must be demonstrated in the early childhood profession, noting the development of a code of ethics by the Australian Early Childhood Association, and citing to whom, when, and…

Discusses the statement "I just love children" and its inappropriateness in the context of working with children in child care settings. Stresses that such statements are sometimes indicators of inappropriate attitudes on the part of caregivers, such as exercising undue power, fostering dependency, patronizing, being amused by children,…

Contends that the use of commercial published curricula, particularly textbooks and teacher's guides, is widespread in U.S. church-sponsored programs of religious education. Reports on case studies of five church-school teachers on their curriculum development and lesson-planning procedures. (CFR)

This study examined whether selected indicators of effective teaching would differ across three levels of expertise in teaching elementary physical education. Teachers and target students were videotaped during class; teachers' verbal negative feedback data were analyzed. Results indicated that expert teachers were not necessarily more effective…

Examines ways in which elementary school teachers organize their workplace behaviors as they respond to computers in their schools. Data was collected via extensive observation and formal interviewing in nine elementary schools. Findings revealed that teachers shape the meaning of computer technology through avoidance, integration, and technical…

Notes five broad types of discipline problems teachers encounter in their classrooms. Provides keys to a successful discipline management program, which includes being consistent, setting standards, and keeping a sense of humor. Suggests ways to promote favorable student attitudes toward school. Includes a conflict clarification form and suggested…

Study examined the relationship between elementary students' perceptions of instructional behaviors and use of cognitive strategy during reading comprehension. Students read, then answered questions about, strategy use and teacher behaviors. Teacher behaviors created conditions that influenced strategy use; student interpretations of certain…

Provides relevant background information about the hemispheric nature of the brain. Presents a framework for resulting practical implications for elementary school language arts. Notes that both prospective and practicing elementary school teachers should find this linkage of theory and practice beneficial as they help children gain language arts…

Six theme articles discuss teaching students with different learning styles; student-teacher communication; teaching behaviors that have a positive influence on student achievement; teaching effectiveness; evaluating effective teaching; and tools for measuring effective teaching. (JOW)

Notes innovation and creativity as an alternative to violent response to anger or frustration. Discusses prerequisites for success of social problem approach to conflict resolution and presents six specific steps to this approach and its benefits for both teacher and children. (HTH)

Discusses findings from research with the South Brunswick, New Jersey, schools--where an Early Literacy Portfolio was in use across the district for over five years. Finds that instruction and assessment were more closely aligned than in the past and that teachers felt confident in their abilities to make sound instructional decisions and to…

This article reviews research indicating that teachers' behavior is negatively affected by disruptive and aggressive responses of students with emotional/behavior disorders. It presents strategies to reduce classroom aversiveness, to reduce students' need to escape or avoid instruction through aggressive or disruptive responses, and thereby…

Describes a middle school teacher's efforts to alter his teaching style from that of an objectivist to a constructivist approach. (ZWH)

Discusses six types of difficult parent behaviors: antagonistic, know-it-all, complaining, negative, shy or unresponsive, and illiterate. Provides teachers with suggestions for working with parents who exhibit these behaviors. (BB)

Discusses the paucity of research on teacher feeling and analyzes the nature and importance of teacher guilt. The paper examines persecutory and depressive guilt and discusses four guilt traps common to teaching (commitment to care, open-endedness of teaching, accountability and intensification, and persona of perfectionism), offering solutions.…