Describes a study of the teaching of junior secondary French in Queensland schools. The key questions in the study regarding how communicative Australians are and should be are considered through empirical data collected in four junior secondary French classes over two years. The study involved observation and analysis of classroom interaction.…

Four boys (ages 5 to 12) with developmental disabilities and severe challenging behaviors were evaluated using two functional assessment procedures: different analog probe conditions, and direct classroom observation of the child's behavior, antecedents, and consequences. Results raised questions about the reliability and ecological validity of…

Results of a study indicated that poor readers did not differ from good readers in starting to work on assignments, having necessary materials, or engaging in disruptive behavior. However, poor readers were off task more and volunteered less than good readers. (IAH)

The Code for Instructional Structure and Student Academic Response--Special Education (CISSAR-SPED) is an observation system which assesses the ecobehavioral processes within learning environments. Use of CISSAR-SPED with 12 students with autism or developmental disabilities provided both molar and molecular descriptions of special education…

The objective of this study was to develop a scale to assess college-level teaching effectiveness in order to provide effective feedback for faculty in a nonthreatening atmosphere. (JOW)

Evaluates the impact of a four-year early childhood teacher education program in which preservice teachers were trained to identify and understand the roles of teachers through classroom observation, readings, and discussion. (DE)

Reviews "Full Service Schools: A Revolution in Health and Social Services for Children, Youth and Families," by Joy G. Dryfoos, and "Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment: A Functional Approach to Working with Young Children," by Toni W. Linder. (HTH)

Suggests that when teachers study their children in systematic ways to enhance classroom management, they are participating in action research. Discusses how data for action research are collected, for example teacher diaries and student portfolios. Presents two examples of action research: one on block play and the other on curriculum…

The Student Record of Behavior (StRoBe) is an instrument that provides information about students' behaviors in the classroom. Researchers had preservice teachers use the StRoBe during their field experiences. The students believed it helped them focus on specific school behaviors, clarify behavioral patterns, and integrate what they observed with…

Eleven adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and 11 nonhandicapped peers, and their teachers, were observed in vocational education settings. The behavior of the two student groups did not differ significantly nor did the behavior of teachers toward the students differ. Implications for mainstreaming in vocational education classes are…

This study of book interest behaviors of preschoolers focused on four year olds who exhibited a low interest in books in classroom contexts. It was found that providing access to books without teacher mediation did not result in increased book interactions or changes in the childrens' book interests. (18 references) (LRW)

Describes a pilot gender issues course in the University of Ottawa's Bachelor of Education program. The course considers the role of gender issues in adolescent and teacher development, the school curriculum, organizational structure, and interactions. Evaluations indicated that the course was strongly supported by most students, although some…

Reports on a pilot study that attempted to uncover, through classroom observations, how experienced social studies teachers explore and reinforce student understanding of concepts that comprise the adopted curriculum. Particular attention is paid to the use of metaphors, analogies, and similes as examples or reinforcements of verbal or written…

Discusses a case study of how experienced social studies teachers convey the concepts that comprise the curriculum. Reports that researchers observed 3 teachers for 20 hours each. Describes a preference among the teachers for anthropomorphic, familial, and popular culture references. Explains that visual representations were used only as passing…

Introduces a system for recording and using classroom observation (consisting of cycles of teacher entries based on classroom observation, related hypotheses about students' strengths and needs, and regular checking and revision of the hypotheses) that was developed for elementary and middle school students who have difficulties reading. (SR)