Noting that no one approach to reading instruction is "best" for every child, this booklet discusses the "reading styles" approach, which matches instructional approaches to each child's particular strengths and weaknesses in reading. The first section of the booklet discusses the urgency of the issue of low reading achievement…

This book offers guidelines for action research, a process in which teachers experiment with various strategies at the classroom level. Action research is the process of systematically evaluating the consequences of educational decisions and adjusting practices to maximize effectiveness. Essentially the examination of one's own practice, it…

Teacher educators have become increasingly interested in the beliefs preservice teachers bring to their undergraduate methods courses. S. Lortie (1975) posited that the major influence in shaping future teachers' conceptions of teaching is their previous years of experience as students. A study of students in preservice reading methods courses…

A study examined the degree to which teachers employ or perceive that they employ writing/reading strategies in their classrooms, and their perceptions regarding the degree to which their school system should support that effort. A pilot sample of 15 practicing teachers was drawn from a demonstration school in southwest Louisiana. Subjects, 71 K-8…

This publication describes a new knowledge and skill base for use in a principal preparation program. These essential skills and knowledge encompass 21 "domains," which were defined in "Principals for Our Changing Schools: Preparation and Certification" (1990). The 21 domains, organized under 4 broad themes, blend the…

Qualitative approaches in educational research are challenging traditional postivistic, psychometric paradigms by emphasizing: (1) close contact over detachment; (2) multiple techniques in obtaining data; (3) bottom-up inductive frameworks; and (4) phenomenological approaches. Section 1, "Ethnographic Investigations into High Schools," includes…

Educators at all levels are increasingly being told that classrooms should be places where students are guided through processes of critical inquiry, work collaboratively, and use both written and oral languages as tools for learning. The value of a collaborative, language-centered approach to teaching and learning can be demonstrated by drawing…

Some personal reflections on instructional design and its relation to constructivism are explored. Instructional design in its present form is out of sync with the times in that its orientation, methods, and research base are behavioristic, or positivistic. However, a constructivist theory of instructional design is possible, particularly if…

Based on successful classroom practice, the 31 essays in this book describe methods for teaching English and language arts while increasing students' self-esteem and respect for others, awareness of social issues, appreciation of literature, understanding of connections among disciplines, and involvement in their own learning. Essays in the book…

To provide practical suggestions based on solid theory, this book emphasizes using newspapers in the context of broader classroom methodologies that have proved successful in the education of language minority students. In developing these practical activities, the book stresses three main elements of research in this area: (1) how second-language…

This paper describes the design and outcomes of the University of Houston School-University Research Collaborative, a partnership that uses collaborative research and evaluation as a vehicle for educational improvement. Two of the collaborative's three research agendas are described in detail: (1) the collaborative-level research project,…

This book addresses principles of management and leadership in higher education, particularly leadership at the academic department level. It argues that academic leadership can improve academic outcomes and staff commitment in the current highly competitive and rapidly changing climate of higher education. Emphasis throughout is on the actual…

Instructional Research Online (InTRO) was established in 1994 as a repository of research papers, media, and other artifacts related to research in instructional technology. The World Wide Web site (http://intro.base.org) includes sections on reviews of books and media, original research, links to resources in instructional technology, and…

New discoveries about the brain and how it functions and significant findings from process/product research have major implications for the teaching profession. Connecting these discoveries and findings with classroom methods was the focus of the second annual Making Connections symposium. These proceedings from the symposium provide four…

A series of eight videoconferences was designed to help educational professionals improve schools by applying knowledge gained from research. During the videoconference programs, which are transmitted by satellite to facilities with receiving capacity, viewers can interact by telephone with the program presenters. Each program covers a specific…