Explores the ability of 5 children aged 1 month to 30 months to initiate and maintain topics of conversation. The data demonstrate that at the beginning of development children simply attract attention to themselves as the topic of conversation and that later, as their interests broaden, their topic repertoire expands. (Author/SED)

Investigates the relative influence of speech and pointing gesture information in the interpretation of referential acts among children averaging three and five years of age and adults. (HOD)

Nonverbal messages provide information to students about the instructor's preferences for interpersonal support, genuineness, and power, and have a direct impact on students' motivation to learn and attitudes toward content. (Author/MSE)

The onset and development of preschoolers' awareness of sex role stereotypes, gender labeling, gender identity, and sex-typed toy preference were explored in 26-, 31-, and 36-month-old children. Family characteristics that affect early sex role development also were investigated. (Author/RH)

Reviews literature on teachers' nonverbal behavior in the classroom. Focuses on nonverbal expression of teacher expectation, nonverbal expression of attitudes toward certain students, students' perceptions of teachers' nonverbal messages, and the effects of teachers' nonverbal behavior on student attitudes and performance. (CB)

Examined oset and acquisition of language comprehension and production in a language delayed child through analysis of a daily diary. In addition to confirming that the gap between comprehension and production was greater than that found in normal children, data from these observations can also be used to add to a general understanding of the…

A computer-aided system for recording and analyzing the behavior of a dance teacher was developed. This article explains how the system was used to research and design a catalog of dance teacher behavior, presents a detailed four-dimensional dance teacher behavior profile, and discusses implications for teacher education. (Author/PP)

Describes code shifting study in communicative behavior of hearing child interacting with deaf child and mother, both of whom signed. Hearing child knew signing, but did not sign at home. Although communication change occurred, code shifting was influenced more by motivational variables and by hearing child's own flexibility with language than by…

An analysis of the kinds and uses of laughter in five adult introductory foreign language classes is presented. The importance of this form of nonverbal communication in the teaching situation is examined in the context of classroom ritual's effects on learners' nonverbal behavior. (MSE)

This article reports on the utility of sociometrics for the teacher, particularly in determining who will not reject a generally rejected classmate. A study on teachers' ability to predict such students indicated teachers were not very good at predicting either rejectees, or accepting students. Implications and suggestions are discussed. (NG)

Examines the verbal and nonverbal behavior patterns associated with two speech styles, one formal and the other informal, among factory workers. Available from: Mouton Publishers, Box 482, the Hague, Netherlands. (AM)

This research study aims to find out the experiences of Turkish EFL (English as a foreign language) teachers in the United States regarding the differences between their understanding and use of personal space and that of Americans, and to discuss how the issue is closely related to foreign language instruction. The study will center around a…

The paper reports on a case study from a teaching experiment on the construction of meaning of integral at secondary school level, starting from the cognitive root of area. In the considered activity, students are faced with some graphs of functions and are asked to work in group to trace the corresponding integral functions. The analysis…

This research study examined the nature of nonverbal teacher-student interaction in a second-grade inclusive classroom. The purpose of the study was to compare the nonverbal behaviors of children who are considered average in ability with those who are perceived as cognitively challenged, while they are engaged in general classroom instruction in…

Educators have conquered e-mail and surfing the net; now they are striving to provide quality distance education. Classes often form discussion groups and use listservs to facilitate interaction. A discussion group is little more than a mailing list. Messages can be mailed to the list address and are copied to each person on that mailing list. The…