This paper summarizes research conducted to assess how and to what extent teachers actively use and manipulate the physical classroom learning environment as part of their instructional design. A structured interview and participant observation were used to gather data from several teachers at all grade levels, including national board certified…

In order to ascertain students' preferences for the number of times a class should meet each week, 375 questionnaires administered to students during the 1989 summer session at Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus (Ohio) were evaluated. Results indicated that 49% of respondents preferred classes meeting twice each week, and 29% preferred…

Investigates the relationships among classroom organizational features, teacher characteristics, and classroom activities in 32 urban Mexican preschools. Suggests that complex interactions among these variables determine school quality. Includes 13 references. (SV)

Nine handicapped and nine nonhandicapped preschoolers were observed in three settings that differed in grouping, supervision, and teacher direction. Handicapped children spent less time on-task and interacted more frequently with adults and less frequently with peers than did nonhandicapped children. Furthermore, handicapped and nonhandicapped…

Noting that the design of the classroom used for early childhood and kindergarten classes can contribute in powerful ways to the education of young children, this paper applies principles of architecture to the organization and shaping of the interior classroom space. The paper maintains that five principles, when applied, create a climate of…

The relative effectiveness of a nongraded approach and a traditional graded approach was studied. Seventh-grade pupils in six junior high schools were the subjects. Results did not provide evidence of the superiority of either schooling method. However, the different environments may impact differentially on pupils. (MP)

Discusses literacy experiences in a multiage classroom, noting different kinds of groupings and showing how the teacher grouped and regrouped the children on a typical school day. Argues that flexible grouping is an effective organizational approach appropriate to any classroom. (SR)

A survey of 304 graduate teaching assistants (TAs) concerning classroom management issues found: more U.S. TAs than international TAs reported experiencing classroom management problems; years of TA teaching experience were significantly and positively related to number of problems and concerns reported; and TA type, teaching experience, and…

Proposes a paradigm, built around such parameters as teacher-preferences for teaching strategies that are teacher-centered with cognitive objectives and strategies that are student-centered with affective objectives, predicting the quantity-quality aspects of "openness." By trial and error, teachers develop managerial skills compatible with…

Through a literature search and survey of 79 schools, the authors gathered answers to these questions about middle school reading programs: What practices are recommended by reading specialists? Are programs developmental and/or remedial? How do programs function in terms of participants, staffing, specialized remedial facilities, instructional…

Examines achievement in individually competitive and cooperatively reward-structured environments during a seven-week class period. Reports no differences between the two treatment groups at posttest. (Author/YP)

Examines how kindergarten children's concepts of work and play affect their classification of school activities. Finds that children classify the activities as either play or work on the basis of absence of the teacher, location of activity, level of noise permitted, and the materials used. (RS)

Structural characteristics of classroom activities and student and teacher engagement behaviors were investigated. Observer teams collected data on the structure of activities, student engagement behaviors, and teacher behaviors in arithmetic and reading lessons in six elementary classrooms in a middle class, suburban school district. The…

Describes research testing the hypothesis that complex technologies (or teaching methods) generate more complex organizational structures. Uses two sets of longitudinal data from San Francisco elementary schools. (CK)

Whether random or nonrandom assignment to classes provides achievement benefits for students in grades 1 through 3 was studied with students, 499 randomly assigned and 658 not randomly assigned, from the Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) study. Results favor random assignment by grade 3 as measured by Stanford Achievement Test and Basic…