This paper contends that, historically and today, "readiness" functions as a key symbol in discourses of early childhood. Schools and teachers need to make "ready" for different children in a very different world than that in which many people grew up. The interest in the paper, however, is not only in individual difference but…

The relative heuristic usefulness of three data sources for investigating the relationship between parent attitudes and practices and children's characteristics are evaluated: behavior counts, based on naturalistic home observation; interview and a 24-hour diary; and measures based on an experimental playroom situation. (CS)

Students' evaluations of instructors are indicators of good or bad instruction, but often fail to accurately identify the characteristics of the instruction. An observational system is described which yields relevant information concerning the nature of the instruction. (JP)

This article describes how the system for coordinating the teaching of its beginning languages works at the Department of European Languages and Literature at the University of Hawaii. As well, it describes how some of its procedures have involved and affected the local high school and college community. (Author/RK)

An observational system for classroom interaction based on the nature of science is reported. Author reasons that structure of the discipline must be considered while evolving an interaction analysis system. (PS)

Discusses advantages and disadvantages of recording systems, the major types of systems, of behavior analysis, and three systems in detail; questions of validity are raised. (SP)

Article addressed to preschool teachers, day care workers and Head Start personnel, who are called upon more and more often every day to help identify potential handicaps in the young children they serve. (Authors)

Having reviewed other studies, author describes a behavior modification program in a ghetto school which succeeded only after one teacher was led to change her own behavior. Material rewards were used as incentives to the children. One child originally rated below average and troublesome became the class model student. (PD)

Explains flow-chart system and describes its use in a research study which confirmed a negative correlation between self-concept and amount of teacher talk. (RT)

Presents the procedures, results, and conclusions of a study designed to determine which of several varying patterns of teaching was best for the achievement of the slow learner in a high school biology course (LC)

An overview of the function of observation systems within the context of program evaluation is illustrated by summarizing observation systems used in evaluations of primary education, compensatory education, and Follow Through programs. (Author/CM)