Presents results from a teaching effectiveness survey of alumni. Indicates alumni believe that good instructors should demonstrate effective preparation, interest in course material and students, availability to students outside of class, effective pedagogy, practical application, classroom interaction with students, sociability, and a high level…

Finds that, despite the 1997 Arizona endorsement of arts standards as recommended requirements for graduation, secondary school theatre teachers profiled in this study are not accountable for, possess no ownership of, and make no investment in implementing the state's theatre standards on a systematic basis with students in their classrooms. (SR)

A study investigated the ways that six general and special education teachers and five school staff worked to identify and solve their concerns about children with disabilities in their classrooms. Educators collaborated to resolve concerns about children with disabilities by following problem-solving steps somewhat similar to traditional…

Explores vocabulary-learning opportunities in a seventh-grade literature-based reading program. Discusses how this program supported vocabulary teaching and learning both explicitly and implicitly, and shows how varying classroom configurations expanded learners' word knowledge and enhanced their word-learning abilities. (SR)

In a case involving a swim-team student's mandatory pregnancy test and a varsity coach's mishandling of confidentiality, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals awarded the coach qualified immunity, while rejecting the student's Fourth and First Amendment claims. Discretion and legal counsel would have helped. (MLH)

Analyzes effects of using carefully assisted case studies to prepare preservice teachers to be more knowledgeable and skilled in supporting children's response to literature. Finds that, over time, preservice teachers' question types shifted in amount and content, moving from teacher dominance to child-teacher dialogue. Notes teachers became more…

A study compared the teaching behaviors of University of Tel Aviv (Israel) physics and chemistry faculty over two consecutive years, at mid- and end-semester. Findings indicate a high degree of stability in behaviors over time, with no clear-cut improvement during a semester except for faculty undertaking special instructional improvement…

A discussion of the prevalence of academic cheating in higher education looks at research on the problem and at possible remedies. Difficulties for faculty in enforcing discipline policies are noted. Approaches to creating a culture encouraging integrity include vocal administrative support for ethics, an academic integrity code, classroom…

A discussion of teacher talk, particularly in the context of language immersion, looks at its nature, content, and form. A study reported here indicates the importance of discourse modification by the teacher and points up the need for further research on the effects of teacher talk on second-language learning. (Contains 23 references.)…

Reviews research related to the psychodynamics of induced and natural expectations, how these expectations are communicated, and their relationship to students' self-concepts and subsequent achievement. Develops a set of questions that school personnel can use for reflection and self-evaluation. (JPS)

Notes the unique historical features of the field of early childhood education that have contributed to its traditionally emotion-focused quality, and the reasons this focus is declining. Introduces the articles in this issue and how they address topics connected with this shift in focus. (HTH)

Describes the development and validation of a questionnaire, the Teacher Communication Behavior Questionnaire (TCBQ), that assesses student perceptions of five important teacher behaviors: (1) Challenging; (2) Encouragement and Praise; (3) Non-Verbal Support; (4) Understanding and Friendly; and (5) Controlling. (Contains 49 references.)…

Examines the association between perceived warmth of instruction and students' course evaluations on both affective and summative items. Reveals that student evaluations on affective items were more favorable when professors exhibited the full array of warmth-inducing behaviors. Increases in perceived warmth were not necessarily related to…

Provides teachers with basic information needed to prevent and manage aggressive children and youth, specifically, information on stages of crises (frustration stage, defensiveness stage, aggression stage, and self-control stage), effective strategies for each stage, and prevention strategies designed specifically for public school classrooms.…

Presents a study that examines the relations: (1) among professor immediacy (being available and welcoming to students) behaviors and undergraduate students perceptions of instructor's attitudes towards them; and (2) perceptions of instructor attitude towards undergraduates students and student motivation, projected grades, and attitudes towards…