This book describes the Missouri Mathematics Effectiveness Project, a major systematic research program supported by the National Institute for Education. The report is based on a decade of naturalistic and experimental study of mathematics classrooms in intermediate elementary grades and junior high school classrooms. A rationale for the…

This issue contains abstracts and critical comments of 10 articles. Studies included focus on sex differences in mathematical learning, intuitive functional concepts, multiple embodiments of place value concepts, instructional activities of high and low achievers, effective management at the beginning of the school year, cross-age peer tutoring,…

Recent research has shown that computer technology, including databases, is becoming a part of social studies instruction. Yet it still is not clear how teachers are using databases and what are the outcomes from such use. The research reported in this document addresses three principal questions: (1) How do teachers use computer databases in…

An inservice program was developed for elementary school teachers who requested help because of their students' apparent lack of written language abilities. Preliminary planning, involving the teachers (trainees) working with a trainer, determined a way in which student learning needs could be related to teacher training needs. The inservice…

This study sought to determine if changes occur in preservice students' self-concepts during the quarter they are enrolled in an elementary education methods course. Subjects were 24 elementary education majors in their junior or senior year prior to student teaching. Pre- and post-testing instruments were the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale…

A study examined the effects of students' intellectual and physical characteristics on the nonverbal behavior of vocational teachers. During the study, 30 female vocational typing teachers were randomly assigned to teach a five-minute minilesson to 15 handicapped students and 15 students who were not handicapped. Both high- and low-achieving…

Interactive research in the area of staff development at the building site level has been conducted recently by the Research and Development Center of the University of Texas, Austin. In this research study staff developers, principals, and resource teachers are given training, research information, and implementation strategies to improve…

Eight issues concerning academic freedom are discussed. The issues are: (1) the question of who should have the right to decide what should be taught; (2) the extent to which school districts should impose specific restrictions on subjects discussed in the classroom; (3) the controversy over the rights of teachers to refuse to teach content that…

A study investigated attempts to influence student-teachers' interactive cognitions by means of specially designed video materials that were detailed illustrations of educational theories. It was hypothesized that student-teachers, having worked through these video materials, would be inclined to used the theoretical key elements in their thinking…

The Early Field Experience (EFE) is the laboratory component of a "Reading in the Content Area" methods course. Preservice secondary education teacher candidates are required to tutor a middle or high school student on a one-to-one basis for a semester. Content area reading strategies are taught in class and the EFE students apply them in their…

In 1988, a study was conducted to examine the perspectives of community college students, faculty, and administrators concerning faculty behaviors that enhance students' ability to persist in college and transfer to a four-year institution. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 faculty members and 16 administrators to elicit…

In this module, developed by the Research Applications for Teaching (RAFT) project, preservice teachers study the major types of classroom interactions which occur between teachers and students and review the research findings showing how these interactions are related to effective teaching. Much effort is spent on describing procedures for…

This manual describes the Dimensions of Excellence Scales (DOES) and their use. The DOES have been developed to assist local education agencies in their efforts to diagnose problems, identify strengths, and improve school operations. There are survey scales for school staff, parents, and students. Each scale concerns dimensions that have been…

A case study of a seventh-grade mathematics classroom was conducted for almost three months in l985-86. The purpose was to investigate factors related to mathematics achievement. The 16 students consisted of 4 black females, 3 black males, 5 white females, and 4 white males; the teacher was a black male. The data came from field notes and audio…

Data are reported for the classroom observational portion of a cross-sectional study conducted in Tasmania, Australia to examine the acquisition and development of addition and subtraction skills in young children. During the study, a group of students in grades l, 2, and 3 who differed in cognitive processing skills were observed during…