We investigated the alignment between a teacher survey self-report measure and classroom observation measure of ambitious mathematics instructional practice among teachers in two urban school districts using two different standards-based mathematics curricula. Survey reports suggested mild differences in teachers' instructional practices between…

Some have described the academic underperformance of Latino children, on the one hand, and their relatively strong socioemotional competencies on the other, as a "Latino Paradox." We unpack the affective climate of early elementary classrooms to explore how this paradox is addressed in a rural school district where children from…

Using artifacts of teachers' practices, classroom observations, and interviews, we explore how 2 novice history teachers use writing in their middle school classrooms. Both teachers focused on evidence-based, interpretive writing in their preservice work, an approach promoted by their methods courses. After graduation, one teacher continued this…

The quality of classroom interactions has typically been studied using aggregates of ratings over time. However, within-day ratings may contain important variability. This study investigated within-day variability using the NICHD Study of Early Childcare and Youth Development's observational data during grades 3 and 5. The first question examined…

Examines elementary school teachers' perceptions of the nature and function of learning activities. Three specific questions were investigated: (1) What do teachers perceive as successful or unsuccessful learning activities? (2) What reasons do teachers give concerning why a learning activity is successful or unsuccessful? and (3) To what extent…

Validation of a classroom observation measure for use with English Learners (ELs) in grade 1 was the focus of this study. Fourteen teachers were observed during reading and language arts instruction with an instrument used to generate ratings of instructional quality on a number of dimensions. In these classrooms we assessed the reading…

We observed 6 primary-grades teachers in public and private schools in this study. Based on mid-year observations, 2 of these teachers were much more effective compared to the other 4 in producing greater student engagement and literacy progress, as determined by video and observation data of multiple content areas and as rated by the Classroom…

Examines the effect of classroom environment on teaching and learning behaviors of children. Second-, third-, and fourth- grade elementary school classrooms were selected for this study. (MP)

Reports a study of kindergarten children's strategies for acquiring and protecting status in interactions with peers. Focusing on children's negotiations of relative social standing in face-to-face interactions, discusses strategies children used to improve and defend their relative positions in the social structure of their peer group. (NH)

Reports on an experimental program in which preschool children, kindergarten children, and first- and second-grade students were enrolled for two months for the purpose of observing the extent and nature of the cognitive and social features of play interaction among age mates and nonage mates. (RH)

Examines techniques teachers use to cope with distractions to classroom instruction and determines their effectiveness in eliminating distractions or minimizing instructional time lost. (Author/DB)

Describes an ethnographic research study of collective student activities that occur during instruction in basic subjects. Intensive observation was made of a first-grade and a fifth-grade classroom. Observations were recorded every day for five months. In addition, students were formally interviewed to get their interpretations of lessons. (SS)

Examines the cross-age peer tutoring process from two perspectives--descriptive analysis of verbal interactions, and documentation of academic and attitudinal progress. Particular attention is given to how the peer tutoring process (a) affects friendship and a give-and-take attitude between the tutor and the tutee and (b) serves as a motivating…

Examines teacher expectations of students in the classroom and the ways that students help to create and/or maintain such expectations. An observational study of children's classroom behavior focuses on the behavior of students independent of interaction with teachers. Subjects are 63 fourth, fifth and six graders. (CM)

Six first- and second-grade teachers were observed while teaching their students how to read in order to examine the methods and rationale they employed for assistance during reading group instruction. (MP)