A study examined the relationship between teacher's conceptions and practices during writing instruction. A pool of 27 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teachers completed structured questionnaires on their conceptions about writing instruction. From the original pool, 10 subjects were chosen because they held the most disparate conceptions about…

Describes the Group Comprehension Matrix and the Individual Comprehension Matrix, assessment instruments that teachers can use to help them make student placement decisions. (FL)

A survey of sixth-form students to determine the level of A-level textbook use in physics, chemistry, and biology in English schools found that texts are used primarily after the lesson, at the student's discretion, and with great variations between students. Biology texts were used most, and physics texts used least. (MBR)

This collaborative action research project investigated community college teaching, institutional efforts in support of teaching, and effective teacher development practices. Central to this investigation were the perceptions and practices of teachers who produce high student outcomes, interventions that the institutions can provide to support…

Hong Kong English teachers were surveyed as to their beliefs, goals, practices, and judgments about their teaching and the teaching of English in Hong Kong secondary schools. Results are discussed in terms of their view of the English-as-a-Second-Language curriculum, language teaching, classroom practices, teacher role, and teachers' view of their…

Describes a study of the books and authors most frequently assigned as part of Great Books programs (GBPs). Finds that book selections are made by individual faculty rather than through cohesive curricular planning. Reports little evidence that GBPs have been reevaluated in the context of current social concerns or student needs. Includes survey…

Designed for district- and school-level character education committees, "Character Education by Design: A Blueprint for Successful District and School Initiatives" is a how-to guide for developing an effective character education initiative, one that will not only enhance the climate of the school and social behavior of the students, but…

This practicum was designed to develop performance-based assessment tools to document language arts achievement for use in eighth-grade language arts classes. Two eighth grade language arts classes (55 students) participated in the program for an entire school year, maintaining a writing portfolio and a record-keeping portfolio. A video portfolio…

This paper discusses the use of child development charts to assess the social, self-help, gross motor, fine motor, and language development of infants and young children. It examines the roles of teachers and parents in observing and assessing children's development and provides 2 checklists, one for infants from birth through 21 months (at…

This study examined why students decide to enter teaching as a profession through a survey of college students majoring in education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The study used triangulation with a data search, an anonymous survey, and an open-ended questionnaire. The 100 surveys were distributed randomly to junior and senior…

A study investigated the relative effects of ownership opportunities and instructional support on high school students' engagement with assigned writing topics. Subjects, 66 eleventh graders enrolled in five United States history classes, experienced three instructional conditions, writing on one of three topics in each one. The instructional…

Students in an intensive college-level program of English as a second language were surveyed concerning their perceptions of effective language teacher characteristics and behaviors. The 71 students reprsented 15 diverse native language groups at different English proficiency levels. The questionnaire presented 23 teacher qualities generated in a…

An important question in teaching notetaking is how reading and study skills specialists lead students to become self-motivated and self-directed in their notetaking regime. A promising answer to this question can be found in a systematic approach to training students and evaluating notetaking that involves four stages over the course of a…

A study was conducted to determine the competencies which the home economics teachers in Idaho felt were absolutely necessary for a beginning home economics teacher in Idaho to have to best meet student needs. A survey instrument was designed, after consultation with teacher educators and state staff for vocational home economics in Idaho, to…

The author outlines Kohlberg's stage theory of moral development and points out some of its questionable consequences for education. He discusses discrepancies found to date in the empirical evidence. Finally he proposes a new interpretation of Kohlberg's model and suggests some of its educational consequences for home and school. (Author/SJL)