This study is a qualitative analysis and critique of the way culture is conceptualized in a collection of teacher educators' stories of their personal experiences with cultural differences and their characterizations of multicultural education. The interpretive practices revealed in their writings suggest that they hold the concept of culture that…

Noting that play is the natural medium in which children express themselves and develop motor, cognitive, and social skills, this qualitative study examined the contribution of symbolic play and technology-assisted play and the classroom environment to the literacy development of third graders. A literature review of play theory and play-related…

An ethnographic study was conducted at an alternative school for middle school and high school students who had been caught with a weapon in school. At the start of the study, the school's enrollment was 60 students. Data comes from participant observations, action research conducted in a service project, and interviews with staff and students.…

This book looks at language practices in Mexican American households in Tucson (Arizona), using language as a window to peer into the complexities of women's and children's lives in the borderlands. The notion is presented that the complexity inherent in the borderlands in general and in Tucson in particular is a formative factor in the language…

When educators lack the knowledge, understanding and acceptance of their students' language and culture, especially when it differs from their own, a huge mismatch can and often does occur between school and home. What happens to African American children who are raised speaking Black English but schooled in standard English? How do teachers help…

This study documented the leadership messages sent to women in 16 of the National Panhellenic Conference groups' official literature. The purpose of the study was to provide detailed descriptive analysis using excerpts from the official literature to show both traditional and non-traditional (women's ways of leading) theoretical themes as well as…

In reference to a preceding article by Bogdan, outlines an "alternative model" for the teaching of educational fieldwork to graduate students. The course described is an introduction to fieldwork based on the concept of the classroom as the most fundamental unit in contemporary educational systems. (GC)

Walter D. Edmunds created convincing characters of the Iroquois without pretending to know them. Carl Carmer was less interested in digging for the truth about Indians than in writing a story. Edmund Wilson perceived the Iroquois world view intuitively in his writing, overcoming any obstacle to get at the truth. (Author/LC)

Examines teacher expectations of students in the classroom and the ways that students help to create and/or maintain such expectations. An observational study of children's classroom behavior focuses on the behavior of students independent of interaction with teachers. Subjects are 63 fourth, fifth and six graders. (CM)

In this ethnographic study, four context variables emerged as having importance for teacher behavior: lesson type (new material, continuing topic, review); subject matter; size of instructional group (whole class, small group, individual); and time of day or week. Teacher behavior categories analyzed were: diagnostician, designer, facilitator,…

Considers problems and advantages of minority field researchers in the context of recent critiques. Argues that minority researchers have certain empirical and methodological advantages, but also face unique problems in simultaneously addressing ethical, methodological, and political concerns. Utilizes illustrations from field research experience…

Instructional methods are operational exchanges between participants within environments that attempt to produce a learning outcome. The classroom teacher's ability to produce a learning outcome is the measure of instructional competence within that learning method. (JN)

Examines the communicative behaviors of subordinate groups with dominant social groups. Analyzes the following forms of communication performed by and seen from the perspective of a lower-statused person communicating with a higher-statused person: tomming, passing, shucking, and dissembling. (PD)

An ethnographic study of a post-1992 British university looks at how faculty respond to changing policies and take actions that, intentionally or not, have the effect of changing policy outcomes. Argues that greater understanding of academic behavior is needed and that researchers must understand how structural factors (educational ideologies,…

Describes and explicates Navajo educational communication practices at Navajo Community College. Finds that the educational philosophy "Sa'ah Naaghai Bik'eh Hozhoon" is integrated into curriculum and classroom by incorporating the following aspects of Navajo philosophy into lectures and assignments: focusing on a sense of place, on…