Differential effects of university supervisors and cooperating teachers as observers on the verbal behavior of student teachers were studied. The tape-recorded data showed remarkable stability over the three observer conditions--no live observer present in the classroom or either the university supervisor or the cooperating teacher present.…

Teacher effectiveness in identifying children "at risk" for learning problems was studied with five Head Start teachers. Results showed that, after training in classroom observation techniques, paraprofessional teachers are capable of identifying developmental delays in children. (PHR)

Describes a process for training ethnographers to participate in classroom field research. Discusses four principal objectives: (1) to facilitate an understanding of the research's conceptual focus; (2) to establish the technique and intellectual orientation for a common ethnographic approach; (3) to instruct ethnographers in ethnographic…

Expands D. Durkin's definition of reading comprehension instruction, reanalyzes several observational studies of comprehension instruction, and concludes that an alternative and more plausible definition of comprehension instruction than that used by Durkin leads to a much higher estimate of the time teachers devote to comprehension instruction.…

Article is a description of an evaluation conducted by the center for New Schools for an innovative program in the Cleveland Heights, Ohio schools. The rationale for the use of ethnographic methods and problems that arose from the CNS experiences are discussed. (RW)

This study compared three methods for assessing relational aggression (RA) and physical aggression (PA) in preschool children: a teacher rating scale; a peer nomination measure; and a direct observation measure. Results showed intermethod agreement between peer and teacher ratings of RA for girls and PA for boys. All three methods indicated boys…

Describes how principals can provide the instructional leadership necessary to meet higher academic standards required by state standards and high-stakes testing. Suggestions include establishing goals and objectives, promoting a culture of learning, reordering priorities, emphasizing professional development, and focusing on results. (PKP)

Primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong collaborated in peer coaching through classroom observation. Teachers reported that time constrains and psychological pressures (concern that observations were used for evaluation) limited participation. Avoidance of administratively imposed contrived collegiality required school cultures that…

An extensive descriptive study of high school physical education programs in 15 urban Canadian high schools collected and analyzed data to provide insight into student (N=225) activity as an indication of physical education quality. Motor skill and cognitive development activities were observed and analyzed. (IAH)

Develops an 18-category Explanation Appraisal Schedule (EAS) for the analysis of teaching effectiveness in the expository mode. Describes the validation procedures with the worksheet of the EAS. Reports that the EAS provides a discriminating instrument for use in analyzing teaching effectiveness. (Author/YP)

An observation technique is presented that is designed to give teachers and future teachers a means of furthering their own training in teaching second languages. This technique is based on an approach that links theory and practice with an emancipatory process and complements already available observation schemes. (67 references) (Author/MSE)

Presents questions that should be asked of any school program using teacher observation and that should serve as standards to measure the realization of teacher autonomy in the professional growth process. Suggests that a school's supervisory program should combine administrative-, peer-, and self-direction. (MS)

This study observed a classroom of 15 students (ages 3 to 11) with behavior disorders, using amount of teacher attention to generate hypotheses about problem behavior function which were then validated in individual functional assessments. For 14 of the students, accurate hypotheses were efficiently generated by noting how teachers distributed…

Notes the importance of skilled classroom observation, and examines how early childhood teachers can improve their classroom observation and recordkeeping techniques. Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of methods of recording teacher observations, such as 3x5 cards, audio- and videotapes, and spiral notebooks. Elements of daily observation…

Offers suggestions for administrators when they observe content area classrooms with a whole language thrust. Discusses instructional goals, sharing the learning-teaching process, classroom organization, classroom library, writing, and importance of meaning. (SR)