This booklet is designed for elementary and middle school teachers to use in teaching students how to improve their test-taking skills. The authors draw the analogy between an athlete preparing for the big race and a young student getting ready for an important test. The central character is an underdeveloped test-taking tiger who, after going…

This homework study was undertaken to assess current homework practices in the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) and the extent to which homework is utilized as a tool for effective instruction. Twelve elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools divided among low, middle, and high achievement levels were…

A conceptual framework of attention can be organized around three functions of attention: determining how much capacity is to be deployed (attention allocation), for how long (attention maintenance), and to which potential information sources (attention direction). Within this framework, several critical distinctions can be made between processes…

Data for this study were collected by observing 60 secondary school English classes over a four-month period. The principals of six schools chose 15 of their most effective teachers to be observed. Four questions were addressed: (1) How do teachers and students spend classroom time together?; (2) What instructional processes are used most often?;…

This report provides descriptive statistical information from Phase III-B of the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study. Within the sample of second and fifth grade teachers in classrooms in public schools in California, approximately six students were identified as target students to be studied during the school year. These students were observed…

Observation of behavior differences between 15 elementary school learning-disabled (LD) and 15 non-disabled girls in the regular classroom showed that LD girls spent less time doing schoolwork, that teachers did not spend more time interacting with LD girls, and that teachers responded less frequently to call-outs from LD girls. (Author/CB)

Uses responses of 77 teachers from eight Illinois rural high schools to 36-item survey to assess amount of time students devote to homework; existence of school homework policy; purpose and type of homework assignments; teacher review, feedback, and grading of homework; and value and significance of assigning homework. (NEC)

Indicates a reasonable range of individual differences in the dark interval threshold (DIT). Reveals a significant interaction between DIT and illumination level in their effect on reading accuracy. Finds that children with a short DIT read more accurately in high rather than low illumination and that this performance was reversed for long DIT…

A recent cost-benefit analysis was made of reduced class size, increased instructional time, computer-assisted instruction, and peer or cross-age tutoring. Tutoring turned out to have the greatest effect on student learning and to be the most cost effective. Implementation of a successful tutoring program is described. (MT)

Suggestions for teachers who wish to increase academic learning time for learning-disabled students include: reducing transition time; shortening recess or free time; creating more teacher-led instructional groups; teaching more and testing less; increasing teacher questioning; increasing teacher enthusiasm; improving seatwork tasks; giving…

A self-monitoring treatment (via taped cues) was used to increase time-on-task behavior of two emotionally disturbed and three mentally retarded elementary grade children, all of whom were easily distracted from class activities. In general, the program resulted in improved attention to task and academic productivity. (CB)

The impact of exposure time, instructional methods, and teacher quality in a family life education program for junior high students was investigated and classified according to intensity. The more intensive the program, the greater the gains in knowledge about teen reproduction and prevention methods. (Author/CH)

Investigated classroom management practices in 26 classes taught by 13 junior high and middle/junior high school teachers using student-on-task, off-task, and disruptive student behaviors as primary criteria of management effectiveness. Effective management practices for general classroom procedures, laboratory procedures, managing student…

Describes a summer school computer-assisted reading program and reports on differences in student attitudes, time on task, and skill mastery resulting from either teacher-based instruction or a combination of computer-assisted and teacher-based instruction. (AEA)

Two experiments were conducted to examine the possibility that varying college students' methods of encoding advance organizers would influence the memorability of the organizers and subsequent reading materials. Results indicated that students dealing with the semantic base of organizers had significantly greater memory for the organizers and…