This study explores aspects of the hypothesis that communication in cooperative learning groups mediates effects of cooperative learning. The study develops a taxonomy of the cooperative communications of groups of predominantly Anglo and Hispanic elementary school students attending a public school where teachers were being trained to implement…

Verbal and nonverbal dimensions of communication are a vital part of competitive group discussion. Specific nonverbal elements that have been found useful in competitive group discussion include environment, proxemics, kinesics, objectics, and chronemics. For example, equalizing arrangements for the discussion in the best area of a room enhances…

Reported in this document are observations of early childhood education in England, Israel, Seychelles, and China. Specifically, observations focus on (1) teacher behavior, including behavior toward individuals, small groups, and large groups or whole classes; (2) teacher demonstration behaviors; (3) teacher verbal and nonverbal behaviors, such as…

The guide outlines modifications, adaptations, and social interaction approaches for school staff to use with physically handicapped and regular students in integrated classrooms in the province of Alberta, Canada. Guidelines are provided for the following main categories and subsets (in parentheses): lifting and transferring techniques (methods…

A guide to enhancing classroom communication with limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in sheltered English includes ideas for planning and presenting lessons. It gives suggestions for the use of gestures, language style, length of sentence, presentation of the main concept and supporting details, essential vocabulary, the organization of…

Exploring a variety of ways to train students to think critically within the context of writing and literature classes, this journal issue presents cognitive strategies for teaching poetry, short stories, composition, the research paper, and critical reading. The titles of the articles and their authors are as follows: (1) "Constructing the…

Noting that improving teaching effectiveness is a major concern for those working toward educational reform, this annotated bibliography provides references to inform teachers at all levels and researchers about classroom interaction. The 40 references are confined to theory and research on verbal and nonverbal face-to-face interaction between…

A discussion of how teachers perceive students and interact with them points out that one characteristic of an effective teacher is a high level of interactive skills. Selected teacher behaviors which enhance the quality of teacher-student contacts are discussed. It is emphasized that modeling desirable behavior is a primary responsibility for…

Reading research has provided repeated evidence of measurable growth in reading performance and language development in children as a result of reading literature aloud to them. In order to match appropriate literary experiences to a specific audience, the teacher must have a knowledge of the interests, needs, and strengths of the children, and…

The 14 articles in this journal issue provide suggestions for making language study interesting. Specific topics discussed in the articles include (1) metaphors, (2) expressing feelings, (3) grammar for speakers of nonstandard English dialects, (4) medical jargon, (5) grammar in the writing process, (6) the rhetoric of teacher comments, (7) slang,…

This paper suggests classroom activities to develop awareness of language and the sociolinguistic aspects of language proficiency and to help eliminate language prejudice. The exercises are presented in seven categories: (1) examination of connotative and denotative language, names and nicknames; (2) dialects and slang and the status attached to…

This book presents a collection of physical activities for parents and children. Although all of the activities provide some exercise and physical conditioning, the book emphasizes having fun. The book encourages the physical closeness of tickling, snuggling, kissing and hugging (TSKH) as an important part of each activity. Each activity…

Twenty college age males' hand shrugs, face-play manipulations, and frequency and duration of mutual eye contact were recorded in response to a female counterpart who varied her assertiveness and attractiveness in a two by two factorial design. Mutual eye contact, which increased under attractive conditions, was a useful negative correlate of…

In order to test whether constant eye contact, formal posture, and varied vocal inflection increase source credibility and listener comprehension, 144 college students in an introductory speech communication course were placed in groups of equal size that listened to the same informative speech. The speaker presented to each group a different…

These three video-based learning modules, covering job search skills, career planning, and interpersonal communication skills on the job, were designed for use in basic English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. The Job Search Skills module covers topics such as warm and cold behaviors, identifying job skills, job interviews, and application…