The study of variance in observers assessing movement control in children with mild mental retardation found that observers who received informal training needed to observe twice as many trials to reach an acceptable standard of reliability compared to the observers who received competency-based training. (Author/DB)

Reported are results of a study on how teachers plan for evaluation of their own instruction and how they implement such plans in the classroom. Subjects were 292 first year elementary and secondary teachers. Results suggest the relationship between evaluation plans and actual in-class evaluation was quite strong. (IAH)

Three approaches for providing feedback for improving the classroom instruction of preservice teachers are feedback from pupils, systematic feedback from classroom observation, and self-analysis of classroom lessons. These approaches provide student teachers, cooperating teachers and supervisors with data for improving the preservice teaching…

Describes a study that investigated issues related to timing of feedback in writing instruction and explores answers to the following: (1) What would English-as-a-Second-Language learners like to have emphasized in feedback and when? (2) While revising, do learners respond to feedback on both content and language use? and (3) What are the…

Discusses the advantages of the clinical supervision of teachers, emphasizing the role of the principal in the observation itself. The advantages to both teacher and students of acknowledging the principal's presence and including him/her in the lesson are indicated. (SM)

Five major steps are involved in evaluating school reading programs: clarifying evaluators' role, data collection, data analysis, data reporting, and followup. This article explains these steps and presents a checklist for guiding the measurement of motivation, clarification, application, and satisfaction components. (MLH)

Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is an integrated set of measures for the assessment and identification of school-age children with emotional disturbances and behavioral disorders. This review summarizes the technical qualities of the BASC and critiques its usefulness for practicing school psychologists. Concludes BASC a desirable…

This article examines the function of silence in both preservice and in-service teacher education classroom observations, workshops, and feedback sessions. Teacher educators and teacher trainees need to be aware of the effects of silence in oral and written discourse. (19 references) (MDM)

Describes a study of eighth graders that examined the effect of the use of a linked multiple representation software program on student conceptions of algebraic functions, including graphing techniques. Results of classroom observations and paper-and-pencil tests are discussed, and the adapted curriculum used in the experiment is described. (17…

Faculty members of the University of Illinois' College of Education and teachers in the Urbana School District are collaborating to improve elementary teacher education. Key elements of the program's Language and Literacy block are its integrated, holistic approach to language instruction and reliance on classroom videotapings to improve student…

Systematic observations in 46 third- or fourth-grade classrooms found little differentiation in instructional and curricular practices, grouping arrangements, and verbal interactions for gifted and talented students in regular classrooms. Across 5 subject areas and 92 observation days, the observed students experienced no instructional or…

Reports on what British junior level teachers in the United Kingdom are doing in terms of giving formative/diagnostic feedback on literacy at Key Stage 2 classrooms. Finds that teachers made judgments about and provided feedback on a wide range of literacy events, even thought these interactions may not have been viewed explicitly as assessment.…

Mastery or "second chance" learning is easily adaptable to the principal's modeling through the classroom observation/supervision process. The five-step process (preobservation conference, performance of observation, postobservation conference, professional growth plan, and observation) helps teachers own the classroom observation process and…

Describes a study of seventh graders in Australia that was conducted to investigate the extent to which interactive video-based teacher ratings of social skill represented a valid measure of the actual classroom behavior of students. Correlations between the teachers' ratings and observed behavior are discussed and further research is suggested.…

Examines ways in which day-care center directors can share perspectives with classroom teachers and build good director-teacher relationships. Notes that the sharing of perspectives about the environment, a child, or an activity nurtures a collaborative effort between teacher and director, in which a common task becomes the focus for increased…