Sometimes, the incidental, in-between, hang-loose, unstructured times in classrooms are teachers' and students' best times together. Examples are songs sung together before the bell rings for assembly, the anecdotes children share before daily morning exercises begin, and the complicated hand/clap/chants students teach each other in the "free…

Lists the factors to be considered when planning an effective second-language study program in the United Kingdom. These factors include important new vocabulary words, language skills and grammatical structures; student ability; basic, core and extension material; student evaluation; timings for each activity; and extra resources and materials…

Describes a study that examined block scheduling's effects on student and teacher performance and attitudes at a large Texas high school. While the 2-hour Algebra I block had a higher failure rate than the traditional 50-minute algebra class, the block classes were comprised of students who have traditionally struggled in mathematics. Maximizing…

Studied how doctoral students experienced their working conditions as they worked toward PhDs in Sweden. Survey responses of 278 doctoral students and interviews with 6 female students show their attitudes about their PhD work and describe the advantages and limitations of research freedom and demands on their time. (SLD)

Discusses results from a study in the United Kingdom of secondary school student teachers and their use of ICT (information and communications technology). Considers difficulties with access to computers; lack of active support and role models among serving teachers, including teacher-mentors; and competing demands on student teachers' time.…

Findings are reported from a longitudinal study of first year doctoral students at Reading University. The study examined three major issues: the planning and carrying out of various stages of work during the first year; the learning environment, particularly opportunities for development of collegiality; and supervision. (IAH)

A taxonomy was created to measure skills used by consultants and time engaged in various consultation activities. A case study involving use of the taxonomy is reported, with data focusing on: (1) student outcome, and (2) the consultation process, which is described in terms of participants, phases, and behavioral activities. (Author/JDD)

After experimenting with multiyear teaching assignments during the late 1980s, the Attleboro (Massachusetts) Public Schools now require all classroom teachers from grades one through eight to spend two years with their classes. Preschool jitters diminish, kids gain a strong support system, and teachers gain an extra month of teaching time during…

Seventy agricultural faculty members at the University of Arkansas were surveyed on their perceptions about teaching. Results indicate that faculty believe good teaching does not receive the recognition and compensation it deserves, and that faculty are not rewarded for time spent on student advising. (LZ)

Reviews time-saving approaches that can help academic librarians (or small libraries lacking collection development librarians) to maintain collections. A sidebar provides information on locating subject publication lists and appendices offer guidelines for collection weeding and sampling. (JMV)

Before attempting block scheduling reforms, some issues must be addressed, including information retention, transfer students, advanced placement offerings, electives, coordination of teacher and student schedules, and cost effectiveness. There are problems surrounding academic pacing, staff development needs, and time's interaction with other…

Describes a successful mentoring program for beginning teachers developed at a Baptist (K-12) school with 700 students and 11 new faculty members. Program mentors were experienced, but not lead teachers. The most frequently discussed problems between mentor and protege were discipline, classroom management, and the frustration of never having…

This discussion examines ways to increase time on task of students with mild disabilities, focusing on teaching behaviors (e.g., gaining attention, questioning, and monitoring students), instructional management, and behavior management. A self-evaluation checklist of 24 teacher tasks during group instruction and seatwork is provided. (DB)

Describes a study of female elementary school library media specialists that investigated the effects of field dependence/independence on cooperation between library media specialists and classroom teachers. Perceived levels of cooperation in planning and teaching library media skills are discussed, and implications are suggested for both…

This time-motion study of eight internal medicine residents found that, when the physician was the patient's primary medical manager, physician-level skills were required 50 percent of the time, whereas use of an alternative model in which a midlevel practitioner performed day-to-day patient monitoring dropped the rate to 20 percent. (Author/DB)