According to a recent Washington State survey, middle school educators need more than general training in teaching and administration to meet young adolescent students' needs. Respondents desired more knowledge about young adolescents' emotional, social, and intellectual development, and appropriate teaching and discipline techniques. Includes…

Administrators involved in school improvement programs are finding that supervision is the essence of instructional leadership. Effective supervisor leadership requires constant searching for ways to integrate several core elements of school improvement--classroom instruction, curriculum development, classroom management, and staff development.…

Since little is new in discipline theory, principals should take advantage of the information lull to educate or reeducate their staff concerning available classroom management information and skills. Evidence suggests that teachers badly need such training. Includes eight references. (MLH)

Research suggests that current methods of obtaining and training substitute teachers benefit neither substitutes nor students. A staff development program that is continuous, addresses substitute teachers' expressed needs, creates lines of communication, and provides continuously accessible resources is needed. Includes three references. (MLH)

Many teachers indicate they would appreciate more administrator feedback about their classroom performance but don't receive it. Principals must take the time and effort to help teachers improve their instructional skills. Presents four findings from research on administrator feedback. Includes six references. (Author/MD)

A teaching style classification system that can aid in the evaluation of teachers is outlined. It allows the evaluator the use of systematic and orderly evaluation practices. (MD)

Classroom measurement devices, when tailored to fit a teacher's particular instructional objectives, are essential for optimal teaching and learning. Teachers use test data to assess students' progress but often fail to analyze tests for validity. This article shows how locally and correctly developed assessment tools may serve a variety of…

In a program designed to teach students specific behavior skills that will help them to function better in the classroom, appropriate behaviors are systematically monitored and reinforced. (Author/MLF)

If secondary schools are to fulfill their purpose and goals, administrator preparation programs should be structured to include more hands-on activities, such as simulations, inbasket exercises, videotaped scenarios, and casebook examples. Additionally, these programs must address key questions regarding classroom practice, culture, and climate.…

Based on a survey of Ohio's elementary and high school principals, this article proposes a specific, selected set of effective teaching elements: classroom climate, questioning, set induction (to spark student motivation), stimulus variation, reinforcement, and closure. Principals will find these elements practically based, observable, common to…