The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among teachers' goal orientations, structure (amount of directiveness provided by the teacher), and observable classroom behaviors to determine: (1) if teachers with different goal orientations differ in verbal and nonverbal affective responses; and (2) if teachers with different goal…

To determine if there was variability in scheduled and engaged time in reading among classrooms and in management style among teachers and to see if these factors accounted for differences on a standardized reading achievement measure, a study was conducted involving 13 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade reading classrooms. Pretest and posttest data…

The instructional organization patterns used by experienced teachers in coping with classroom environmental demands is described. Observations of teachers in natural settings were conducted using both a self-designed observation schedule and brief narratives to capture the nature of the classroom climate. Results suggest that teachers use…

Examined are two dimensions of leadership style (task-orientation and person-orientation) as they also define teacher style, specifically, as a function of context (grade-level, teacher experience, and socio-political differences). The Teacher Opinion Questionnaire was utilized to obtain opinions of ideal teacher behavior. Subjects were…

This study of teacher decision-making behavior investigated ten elementary teachers' teaching styles, decision-making behavior, and concepts of students. Each teacher was videotaped six times at intervals over the school year. The teachers viewed the tapes and at various points were asked to describe what they believed they were thinking about at…

This study, third in a series of seven, was written by two kindergarten teachers in different schools. A description is given of the two schools, the community in which they are located, and the physical layout of each of the teachers' classrooms. The characteristics of the teachers and their pupils are described as are the types of distractions…

The effects of training and participation on sources of variance in a set of ratings of college classroom teaching effectiveness were compared. College students (N=96) were randomly assigned to four cells of the experimental design. Subjects in cells (A) and (B) participated in the construction of a set of behaviorally-anchored rating scales…

This paper describes the data collection, data analysis, and findings that point to the importance of instructional context as a factor in understanding the concepts teachers use when they process information about pupils in their classrooms, and the predictions they make about pupil success in learning. Three aspects of context are examined: (1)…

This paper applies a developmental perspective to locus of control studies. Contingency awareness established during infancy and early childhood is viewed as the basis for the development of locus of control expectancies. Expectancies of contingent reinforcement involve a cognitive component and can be viewed in Piagetian terms as the development…

Classroom behavior of elementary level teachers who display contrasting styles of socialization was analyzed. The Classroom Management Questionnaire, an instrument designed to measure socialization style as derived from Aronfreed's Induction-Sensitization Paradigm, was administered to a sample of elementary teachers. Those scoring one standard…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if preservice elementary teachers could exhibit an increase in businesslike behavior in their classroom interactions with pupils without negatively affecting teacher warmth, after undergoing a training intervention focused specifically on businesslike behavior. Previous studies indicated a positive…

This paper reviews 25 selected studies of parent teaching strategies. The studies selected for review were major studies in the subject area which: (1) involved direct observation of parent-child interactions (parents interacting with their own children) in a structured situation; and (2) employed an unusual method to study parental teaching…

Three different socioeconomic groups of mothers were studied to determine the similarities and differences of their responses to typical behaviors of their children, aged one to four, in order to gain insight into differences in the socialization process. The three groups were: (1) black, low-income, inner-city mothers of 35 children (Group I);…

In recognition of the fact that there are individual differences and preferences among teachers, the teachers at the Las Posas School in Camarillo, California were given the opportunity to use the methods they found most comfortable. This resulted in a variety of open classroom situations, with alternatives for parents, students, and teachers.…

Most students majoring in elementary education at Illinois State University are enrolled in the CORE Program. These prospective teachers are required to complete three on-campus unified "cores" or semesters of work which focus upon the arts, communication skills, and natural and social sciences. The fourth core or semester is devoted to clinical…