Educators are responsible for creating classroom environments that encourages attentiveness and curiosity while minimizing distractions and discipline problems. The author of this article suggests several ways for teachers to maintain a classroom's physical organization in terms of physical, academic, and aesthetic ambience.

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 personalizing of the Language Arts instructional program at the Concord High School in Wilmington, Delaware is discussed in terms of a) department organization, b) classroom organization, c) instructional materials, and d) special considerations related to individualizing instruction. (HMD)

Describes some of the ways in which students can be organized for reading and writing instruction. Suggests that educators must first identify the key components of literacy, then clarify a view of instruction and learning. Argues that recent literacy research has analyzed processes and texts but has overlooked the larger literacy contexts. (SG)

Suggestions are offered for organizing classrooms to promote learning by all students, including those with special educational needs. Two case studies illustrate the impact of reorganization of intermediate grade classrooms in terms of time on task, motivation, noise level, teacher-student communication, and other factors. (JDD)

By giving each student a number to keep throughout the school year, teachers can maintain efficient classrooms. The paper describes this classroom management system, in which students apply for classroom jobs. The numbers can be used for homework and classroom assignments, organizing attendance, choosing teams, drawing names, and teacher files.…

The verbal behavior, physical locations, and seat preferences of members of large groups assembled in row-and-column seating arrangements were investigated. Research procedures revealed that location significantly affected the verbalization rate of certain categories of experimental subjects. The findings confirmed previous observations that there…

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…

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)

A review of the literature on the relationship between ability grouping and student achievement reveals that most researchers have found that homogeneous grouping does not significantly affect achievement. A few studies attempted to relate student achievement to teacher ability and instructional strategies; however, they found no significant…

This manual offers suggestions for the first year teacher with ideas and advice compiled from educational literature and questionnaires completed by other first year teachers, principals, and education professors. Topics include: (1) curricular preparation; (2) physical environment of neighborhood and school; (3) school rules and regulations; (4)…

This article describes typical activities in a Gifted Bilingual Class, part of the state-funded Union City (New Jersey) Bilingual Program for students who are academically gifted in their native language, but limited in English proficiency. Some student identification and instructional procedures are noted. (SJL)

Asks whether the common practice that has been termed "Circle Time" and its variations are a useful classroom practice. Analyzes the ways teachers employ circle time. Critiques the practice of circle time. Argues that the quality of learning is dependent on the quality of reflection by teachers concerning their practice, not on gimmicks.…