In previous studies of educational systems, Markov chains have often been used in simulations in which history played no role because all events were described as independent of each other. Mono-level dynamics (i.e., the social context in which learning occurs is ignored) have also been applied to simulations. Educational theories, however, are…

A study investigated the effects of the language used by native-English-speaking teachers on limited-English-proficient (LEP) students' opportunities to participate in classroom discussions. Three experienced secondary school science teachers were observed, interviewed, and videotaped over a period of a year. Each classroom contained 3-4 LEP…

A survey of 14 teachers at a central Virginia school investigated their attitudes concerning their involvement in students' problems outside of the school. In addition, 33 fifth grade students were surveyed concerning their attitudes about teachers' involvement, and interviews were conducted with two teachers, one principal, and one counselor. The…

This research goes with a new tendency in the field of educational psychology--the study not only of students' motivation but also of teachers' motivation. However, the studies of teacher motivation had been only to acknowledge the factors to motivate teachers, without the analysis of motivation as a process that contains several cognitive…

This report describes a program for improving the on-task behavior of at-risk students to increase their academic achievement. The targeted population consisted of high-school students in a growing middle-class community located in a rural area of a midwestern state. The problems of academic under-achievement were documented through data including…

Given the failure of previous research to find consistent effects of class size on students' achievement, this study examined whether teachers in British elementary schools changed their behavior in ways conducive to learning when they worked with classes significantly smaller than average. Seven pairs of elementary school teachers judged as…

This pilot study examined teaching strategies used by experienced early childhood teachers to scaffold their students' learning in pre-primary classes. Five teachers were involved; each was visited three times and videotapes were taken of teacher interaction in a range of classroom settings. The teacher language was transcribed from the videotapes…

A study explored student teachers' adherence, rejection, or modification of their course work-generated (but untested or "idealized") model of reading when faced with the demands of the classroom. Fifty senior education majors enrolled in an integrated elementary and special education program at an urban university wrote reflective essays,…

An ethnographic study observed a kindergarten classroom community, as "Peley" (of Southeast Asian origin) and "Raji" (of Indian origin) interacted with students and staff to develop their English literacy. Data included field notes collected at home and at the suburban, central New York elementary school. In-depth interviews…

A study investigated the importance of context, community, and culture in learning to teach. Two secondary English teachers in their first year of teaching were interviewed eight times before, during, and after their first year of teaching. Data also included participant-observation in each of 11 weekly student teaching seminars, non-participant…

Recent classroom-centered research and its implications for the teaching and learning of languages are reviewed in this book. It synthesizes and evaluates critical research about the way student and teacher behaviors affect language learning, and discusses research methods. Chapters explore the following topics: (1) major issues in second language…

A semi-annual refereed publication of research and instructional practices in English/language arts and allied fields, preschool through adult levels, this volume of "Maryland English Journal" presents articles on a variety of subjects and showcases the work of young writers. Articles in volume 29, number 1 are: "Expertise in…

In this study 83 regular class teachers (RCTs) evaluated potentially irritating behaviors of special educators. In addition 64 special educators also attempted to predict these ratings using a parallel instrument. Results indicated that RCTs' ratings of special educators' irritating behaviors were lower than predicted by the special educators…

This paper presents an approach to analyzing classroom talk that sheds light on the intellectual work of the classroom. The analysis system extends the theoretical construct of preference organization from conversational analysis to the study of a whole-class, teaching-learning interaction in a ninth-grade English classroom, during which an expert…

This monograph reviews several approaches for describing learning styles and the instructional implications of an emphasis on learning styles for teachers. Several reasons for the importance of understanding individual learning styles are provided; such understanding leads to: (1) reduction of teacher and student frustration; (2) higher student…