In multigrade instruction, children of at least a 2-year grade span and diverse ability levels are grouped in a single classroom and share experiences involving intellectual, academic, and social skills. "The Multigrade Classroom" is a seven-book series that provides an overview of current research on multigrade instruction, identifies…

To explore the noncognitive impact of teachers on their students, a review of teacher behaviors and interpersonal variables influencing teaching effectiveness is presented. Four pupil traits are explored--sex, social class, achievement level, and classroom seating--which relate to discrepancies in the frequency and quality of teacher behavior.…

Discusses the inclusion of rules regarding classroom etiquette in an introductory college sociology course. Reports on rules regarding tardiness, leaving early, absenteeism, paying attention, and/or sleeping in class. Concludes that students and colleagues are generally positive about the approach. (CFR)

Examines gender association in the primary classroom and organizational strategies that may influence gender integration. Discusses the effects of strategies to increase gender integration in relation to cross-gender friendships and gender differentiation across subjects. Argues that classroom organization can be influential in the degree of…

Highlights considerations in designing high-quality, developmentally appropriate indoor play environments for all children. Suggestions for arranging classroom space focus on arrangement and accessibility of play areas. Tips for selecting and arranging play materials relate to ensuring diversity of play materials, increasing and maintaining…

Attitudes towards "setting," a form of student grouping by ability, were studied in four Scottish primary schools. A slight majority of students and a slight minority of teachers preferred set classes. Positive aspects of sets included smaller classes and independent learning in lower-ability sets, and positive class atmospheres.…

Students who actively participate in the learning process learn more than those who do not. "Involvement matters," as Tinto (1997) points out, and this involvement can occur both inside and outside the classroom. The importance of students' active involvement in learning is by now well documented and known. Active involvement in class facilitates…

Based on research on verbal behavior and the relationship between teachers' verbal responses and student achievement and success, this document discusses the role of teacher language in motivating students and provides examples of classroom techniques that aid learning. The first section reviews ways in which teachers' use of language can…

This study investigated whether differences exist between classrooms of expert and novice teachers on the cohesion, communication, and flexibility dimensions of the "Classroom Systems Observation Scale" (CSOS). Principals identified 10 expert and 10 novice elementary school teachers from 8 public and private schools. A 50-minute classroom…

Many typical classroom behavior problems--running in the classroom, inability to make choices, failure to stick with activities, fighting over toys, and poor use of materials-- can be traced to how the room is arranged and how materials are displayed. By making a few changes in the classroom environment, early childhood teachers can create a…

Looping refers to the increasingly common practice of keeping groups of students together for two or more years with the same teacher. This booklet, first in a series of "Themes in Education" provides information on the educational practice of looping and includes selected current references on the topic. The booklet outlines the history of this…

This study evaluated 90 junior high level public school teachers' interactive verbal behavior in response to three seating arrangements (row, herringbone, and u-shaped) across four dimensions: frequency of indirect teacher talk, frequency of direct teacher talk, frequency of student talk, and silence or confusion. Results indicate that: (1)…

A design for analyzing the narrative records obtained in four studies examined the character of classroom activities and how they are managed by teachers. Focus was on controlling classroom behaviors, classroom rules, handling of disruptive or inappropriate behavior, instructional leadership, classroom organization, and student engagement.…

This manual was built around eleven "prescriptions" for the successful management of the elementary school classroom. Each section is prefaced by an advisory statement: (1) "readying the classroom"--classroom space and materials should be ready for the beginning of the school year; (2) "planning rules and…

Study results indicate that positive social interactions between nonhandicapped and handicapped students in the integrated music classroom, with increases in nonhandicapped students' acceptance of handicapped students, are not a result of music classroom experiences and music instruction alone, but also of the degree to which teaching conditions…