Forty lessons given in secondary schools were observed and described in terms of the eight dimensions of a teaching rating scale: preparedness, pace and flow, transitions, cognitive matching, clarity, business-like, withitness, and encouragingness. The study indicated that this approach provided a useful heuristic device for the constructive…

Three functions that might explain why analogies are effective reading aids are described. Six experiments using elementary, secondary, and college students are reported which address the use of analogies as reading aids. Performance improvement, reading time, effects of restrictive time conditions, and aptitude treatment interactions are…

Discusses field-dependent and field-independent perception, their link to learning characteristics, Herman A. Witkin's work on individual perception, and how this is instrumental in determining teaching style. A chart displays characteristics of field-dependent and field-independent students and teachers, motivation tips, and what teachers in each…

Research supports the belief that most students can learn, but each child concentrates, processes, absorbs, and remembers new and difficult information in a different way. Teaching failing students in ways that complement their learning styles increases their standardized test scores in several academic areas. Instructional practices useful with…

Describes ways the teacher can analyze the reading growth and locate the instructional needs of a child and suggests how this knowledge may be applied in the introductory, guided reading, and followup phases of the reading lesson. (CM)

Explores the ways in which foreign students differ from their American counterparts, and how these differences may affect the foreign students in a tutorial or one-to-one conference. (AEA)

Describes how student teachers can be made aware of the varying writing behaviors they may find in their classrooms. (AEA)

Suggests implementation of wide reading programs so that social studies teachers can accommodate various reading levels in their classrooms. Options include parallel texts at different levels, tapes of readings at lowest levels, and individual reading of articles and books at different reading levels. (KC)

This study of sixth graders showed that deductive teaching was significantly more effective than inductive instruction for some pupils. (MM)

Recent research in science education examines learning from four foci: (1) concept learning; (2) developmental; (3) differential; and (4) problem-solving. These perspectives provide a framework for identifying mechanisms of change in knowledge/thinking processes. In-depth coverage of several science topics may benefit students more than fleeting…

Most university pedagogy involves emptying useless or subversive knowledge from a student's head and filling it with relevant and productive information, and all students are taught the same. Pedagogy should involve teaching students to hear what a text says to them, raising the level of reflection, and encouraging students to take charge of their…

Elliot Eisner, Lee Jacks Professor of Education and Art, Stanford University, imparts his thoughts about the salient features of schools he believes America needs, for example, having principals spend about one-third of their time in the classroom. (PKP)

Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory describes how learners see and interpret information. Past studies have analyzed learning styles of certain professions and majors. This study evaluated whether student learning styles differ by major. The Marshall and Merritt Learning Style Inventory was completed by 531 students. Differences were found in…