Uses ethnographic case-study data to examine affective interaction in two racially diverse urban elementary classrooms. Subjects are 56 fifth and sixth graders and their teachers. Results suggest that teachers can foster racial harmony in the classroom through small group work. (CM)

Successful implementation of Public Law 94-142 demands that teachers have the skills necessary to plan an objective-based, individualized program. Research supports the use of individualized instruction in mainstreamed physical education classes. The concept of learning time gives teachers a way to evaluate their own teaching and their teaching…

Use of the Teaching Strategies Observation Differential (TSOD), a 10-category system for observing and classifying teacher classroom behavior, is discussed as it relates to training preservice elementary school science teachers. Contends that skill in the use of TSOD helps preservice teachers become more effective in bringing about desired pupil…

Presents the findings of several studies of evaluation processes and identifies a model that helps to make explicit the components of the evaluation process. Suggests rules of thumb for conducting successful evaluations. (Author/JM)

This paper provides an overview of the different patterns of behavior problems that teachers are likely to encounter in the classroom. Different systems for categorizing learning and behavioral problems are considered. Suggestions for informal observation of classroom behavior are included. (Author/BE)

Observations indicated that, in contrast to children attending preschool half-days, preschool children attending full-days spent significantly more time on tasks directed and guided by teachers, interacted more positively with peers, and engaged in more physical activity. Teachers rated full-time students, especially boys, as more aggressive and…

Classroom behavior was observed over a six-month period in 68 junior high school classes to determine (a) the temporal stability of the behavioral indexes and (b) reliable trends over the school year. A certain deterioration occurs in late spring and observations obtained in midyear are less likely to be distorted. (Author/GK)

Classroom interaction patterns between male and female students perceived as either high or low achievers were examined in the fall, winter, and spring. Expectation and sex results were consistent with previous findings. Results suggest that teachers make major socialization efforts early in the year. (Author/GDC)

Two myths concerning the value of preservice field-based experience are explored: (1) Practical school experience contributes to the development of better teachers; and (2) Teacher education's institutional structures are totally coercive and students passively conform to school bureaucracies' conservative norms. (JN)

A study of fifth-grade students showed high achieving students spent less time interacting with teachers, so their instructional cost was lower. Lower achieving students demanded more teacher and aide time, resulting in higher instructional cost. A measure of instructional cost based on productive use of time is proposed. (JAC)

Mathematics lessons in 15 primary 5 classrooms were tape-recorded and coded to describe how teachers structure lessons and communicate with students. Few differences were found between experienced and probationary teachers. (f=fiche numbers). (CP)

Classroom observation of 13 college language courses and analysis of student questionnaire and teacher interview responses indicated that teachers varied widely in use of target language with a mean of 67.9 percent; language type, departmental policy, lesson content, and teacher training affected target language use; and students were generally…

Discusses study that was designed to examine the effects of microcomputers on the ecology of secondary special education classrooms and explains the MICROS Observation System, which was used to collect observational data. The effects of microcomputer use on student behavior and teacher behavior are described. (25 references) (Author/LRW)

The quantitative synthesis of 89 correlations from 16 studies of behavioral ratings and classroom observations suggested significant problems in the areas of the construct of behavioral disorder and criterion-related validity of widely used measures of social behavior. A "components of variance" model is proposed to aid in educational decision…

Presents a step-by-step approach designed to help early childhood teachers learn to use materials in interest areas to facilitate children's development. (BB)