This case study was conducted to construct an in-depth description of the ethos, i.e., pattern of orientations and sentiments, of three Iowa teachers who have been selected as state winners in the Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers, Encyclopedia Brittanica, and Good Housekeeping Maagazine. Using an…

Findings of a study that investigated whether or not ability grouping can be implemented more effectively are presented in this paper, with a focus on exploring possible instances of high quality instruction in low ability classes. Methodology involved observation, teacher questionnaires and interviews, student tests and questionnaires, and…

Research on second language learning has shown that several myths about how children learn languages exist. Among these mistaken ideas are that: (1) children learn second languages quickly and easily; (2) the younger the child, the more skilled he will become in acquiring a second language; (3) the more time students spend in a second language…

This packet of materials, which draws on findings from research conducted by the Scottish Council for Research in Education, is designed to help Scottish teachers improve discipline in the primary school and classroom. The packet contains three booklets: (1) "Action on Discipline throughout the School," which concentrates on promoting…

This packet of materials is designed to help Scottish teachers improve discipline in the secondary school and classroom. Based on research conducted by the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE), it serves as a starting point to review discipline policy and practice. The packet contains three booklets: (1) "Action on Discipline…

A collection of essays on the comprehension of text brings together perspectives of different disciplines on discourse. Articles include: "Naturalistic Texts and Naturalistic Tasks" (Herre van Oostendorp, Rolf A. Zwaan); "Psychological Studies of Naturalistic Text" (Arthur C. Graesser, Joseph P. Magliano, Karl Haberlandt);…

This paper examines remediation as the product of perceptions and beliefs about literacy and learning. It illustrates some ways teachers inadvertently participate in constructing inaccurate and limiting notions of learners as being cognitively defective and in need of "remedy," and thus limit classroom learning. It combines an empirical,…

Reporting on a study designed to evaluate West Court High School (WCHS, a pseudonym) in Louisiana, this document discusses quantiative and qualitative aspects of the study; the development of interview protocols for the administrators, teachers, students, and parents who participated; and the sociograms developed to assess the interaction patterns…

This workbook is intended for teachers participating in the Gender/Ethnic Expectations and Student Achievement (GESA) program. GESA is based on the premise that teachers need to confront gender, race, and ethnic bias in their interactions with students in order to ensure quality and excellence on an equitable basis. Participants attend a series of…

This study sought to determine whether parents of gifted daughters would emphasize social variables and parents of gifted sons would emphasize accomplishments and achievement (academic variables) in comparing their child to others and in making decisions about activities in which their child would participate. Parents (N=107) of boys and girls…

This document outlines 44 strategies for meeting the educational needs of urban areas by the year 2000. The strategies are based on six goals for urban education adapted from the national education goals issued by President George Bush and the National Governors' Association. The strategies were proposed by representatives from more than 70…

In order to compare the differences in cognitions of experienced and beginning teachers, the perceptions of six experienced teachers, six student teachers, and six probationer teachers (in their first year of teaching after college training) were studied at various times during the course of a school year, using a variety of methods (interview,…

We all possess assumptions about ourselves as well as others. We may not think about or be aware of these assumptions, but they play a significant role in determining our expectations and behavior. Even seemingly hidden assumptions have a way of being expressed to others. Not surprisingly, people begin to behave in accord with the expectations we…

A study of Newfoundland's and Labrador's Direct Home Services Program (DHSP) for families of developmentally delayed infants and preschool-age children evaluated current efforts and obtained data for use in the development of strategies for future interventions. The study had six purposes: (1) to examine parents' early experiences pertaining to…

The criteria that elementary school teachers use to guide their decisions concerning content, sequence, and instructional strategy in geography and their frames of reference toward geography were examined through interviews and classroom observations. Research indicates that the teacher determines the curriculum that the students actually…