Articles previously published in "Today's Education" and in other publications produced by professional organizations in the NEA Center are reproduced in this book. The collection presents a description and analysis of current student needs. The six sections of the book are: (1) The Early Environment (suggestions for parents and teachers on how to…

This study investigated the effect of locale, grade, and subject on instructional quality. Rural and urban teachers were observed teaching grades 4, 5, and 6 in social studies, mathematics, and language arts. It was hypothesized that teacher verbal behavior in a classroom predicated the quality and quantity of cognitive behavior of pupils. Rural…

The Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study, Phase II, was a research project on effective teaching behavior--what teachers do that significantly affects what and how pupils learn. The purposes of Phase II were to (1) develop an assessment system for measuring teacher and student behaviors and other factors which could influence each of them and their…

When asked to assess an object or event that allowed for a variety of points of view, inservice teachers after value clarification training (to a greater degree than before such training): (1) showed more openness to the needs and interests of students as individuals and as a group and less identification with authority figures; (2) indirectly…

Modification of teacher behavior using videotapes and the Withall Social Emotional Climate and Golloway instruments to classify teacher behaviors resulted in maintaining positive pupil attitudes toward school and teachers and self-esteem over one academic year. Previous studies had shown a decline in these types of pupil attitudes during an…

The "teaching spectacle" approach (where the teacher is the major and only character involved in teaching and learning) often observed in university-level English as a second language classes in Indonesia must be abandoned in favor of a "learning festival" approach, which encourages complete involvement of both teachers and…

This study investigated the perceptions of 79 senior special education practicum students regarding the appropriate role of their university supervisor during a field-based experience. Content analysis showed that students perceived two distinct roles for supervisors: provider of evaluative feedback and support person. (Author/JDD)

This study compared 52 resource room programs for mildly mentally handicapped, learning disabled, and severely emotionally disturbed secondary students, which used or did not use microcomputers. Benefits of microcomputer use included increased active task engagement and increased individually focused instruction, but overall differences in most…

Describes the success of an experienced middle school teacher in balancing her professional and personal values with organizational obligations and responsibilites to students. Encourages administrators to support teachers in the construction, evaluation, and revision of the classroom curriculum and to provide more collegial exchange opportunities…

Research that provides a detailed analysis of college instructor expressiveness indicates that it influences student achievement and perceptions of teacher control in the classroom, but not for all students or in all classrooms. This body of research can contribute to development of models for classroom instruction. (MSE)

Recent state reforms that embrace the effective schools movement may actually be counterproductive. These mandates encourage the persistence of outmoded, teacher centered, pedagogical practices and current school organizational structures, inhibiting the development of students' independent reasoning and problem-solving skills, as well as the…

Describes an approach to content reading instruction that emphasizes both content and process, and encourages reader response in social, affective, cognitive, and metacognitive realms. It begins with the Content Directed Reading-Thinking Activity, followed by the Group Mapping Activity and the Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy. (HOD)

Music therapy and music education majors' perceptions of teacher approval/disapproval given to elementary students were assessed. There were significant differences between the two groups regarding the perceived use of teacher time, with music education students estimating a significantly greater amount of time devoted to approval. (Author/RM)

Explains motivation as part of the problem of discipline. Explains sage analysis and its value and pinpointing likely causes of discipline failure in the educational system. Identifies six probable causes of discipline failure as identified through sage analysis in two school districts and suggest strategies for avoiding that failure. (SB)

Analysis of 1,796 student ratings of clinical instruction showed students link teacher effectiveness to (1) an instructor meeting teaching responsibilities; (2) instructor behavior conducive to clinical learning; (3) technical competence; and (4) instructor enjoyment of his/her job. (MSE)