The role of the computer is examined in Lester Demonstration School, an optional school program offered by the Memphis City School System (an Apple Classroom of Tomorrow site). The student population is almost entirely black and generally considered to be socioeconomically disadvantaged and academically at-risk. Repeated observations were made of two classrooms (fifth grade and sixth grade) on a periodic basis over an 8-week period in the Spring of 1989. Three class sessions which were observed illustrate the different approaches to instruction at Lester using the computer. Each of the three teachers (a mathematics teacher, an English teacher, and a reading teacher) had a distinctive style of teaching, and their instructional methods, while all following the same general model, were molded to the combination of their unique teaching personalities and the material to be covered. All three methods appeared to be effective. The methods used by the math and reading teachers, for example, seemed to use the computer effectively for reducing the teacher-student ratio. By using the computer and applicable software as a teaching aid, they were able to provide learning experiences for all of the class while retaining the instructional benefits to be experienced when instructing smaller groups. Both of these teachers have developed models of teaching using accessible computer technology that seems to allow for more independent tutoring. (GL)