Reports a study of the teaching of basic reading skills in secondary schools. Through systematic observations of classrooms, several key variables were identified which related to reading gains measured by the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. Several administrative practices important to successful remedial reading programs are also delineated.…

The authors sought evidence of two basic elements of the "new" social studies programs: reliance on multimedia approaches and flexible grouping for specified tasks. Although some bright spots were evidenced, social studies in the typical middle-grade classrooms surveyed consisted of whole-class instruction with one basic text.…

The Learning Preference Scale-Students (LPSS) was developed with 1,643 Sydney, Australia, pupils. Internal consistency, test-retest stability, subscale intercorrelations, and factor analysis show that the LPSS has considerable promise as a valid and reliable instrument. Results showed clear and significant sex differences in preferences for grades…

As part of a larger, longitudinal study, examined how effectively teachers were able to establish an orderly classroom climate, an emphasis on basic skills acquisition, and a pupil monitoring system in 28 Dutch kindergartens. Found wide differences in the ability of teachers to establish these curriculum components. (MDM)

Investigates student's opinions of what they believe is valuable for the first class meeting of a course. Reports that a good first class meeting includes a well-organized, focused presentation containing basic course information including requirements, expectations, and information on examinations and assignments. Expounds that faculty should…

Applying industrial organizational theory to classroom management, the authors examined the organization of a complex bilingual curriculum for the effects of shared authority among students and teachers and the effects of shared decision-making among staff. Using a math-science curriculum called "Finding Out: Descubrimiento," the nine…

Surveys were conducted to investigate contemporary thought regarding organizational practices at the elementary level, with particular attention to identifying the extent to which departmentalization was supported by research and actually employed in 24 elementary schools in the Midwest and in 41 Des Moines elementary schools. Four committees…

Working collaboratively can be uncomfortable and bewildering, especially for developmental students. It is common for students to be anxious about their first experience with group work, and often they have a lot of questions about grading, cooperation, and what might happen if the group does not get along. The amount of time and variety of ways…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether collective bargaining significantly affects teacher time, particularly time spent in instruction and preparation. The study was based on recent research indicating that student achievement is affected by the time teachers spend in these areas. Researchers divided the activities performed by…

Two sessions of a kindergarten show and tell (spaced 18 days apart) were observed to compare the participant structure and the content of this shared time. Participant structure was examined in terms of turn taking, spatial arrangement, and teacher management of the event. Content was analyzed in terms of topic and cognitive level. The changes in…

Classroom observation of 28 third-grade teachers illustrated the management and planning strategies that differentiate effective teachers from less effective teachers. Effective managers communicated a workable system of rules and procedures, monitored students carefully, and were consistent in treating inappropriate behavior. Less effective…

The effect of organizational characteristics of classrooms on student friendship patterns is examined. Classrooms which vary in architectural settings, grouping procedures and pedagogical techniques are seen to place differential constraints on student interaction and to produce different patterns of relations. A number of hypotheses are tested in…

Secondary students who read an economics lesson silently scored significantly higher than students who received an oral presentation of the lesson. A significant interaction between lesson organization and student ability level indicated that highly organized economics lessons increase student learning under certain ability level conditions.…

Summarizes the responses of more than 10,000 teachers on the issues of testing and licensing, unionism, professional image, classroom practices, discipline, teacher education, and the federal government's role in education. Notes findings on respondents' demographic characteristics, salaries, and working hours. (SJL)

Data from 47 college classrooms suggest that the extent to which students' perceived actual locus of control coincided with their preferred locus over decisions about topic sequence and instructional materials correlated positively to their appraisals of overall instructional effectiveness. Agreement with classroom decisions also correlated…