This digest examines the ways in which self-talk, or inner speech, can help change people's health states. The digest first examines research theories that underpin the concept, then discusses the development of a positive mental attitude, and finally offers some conclusions as to how individuals can best face challenges through taking an active…

This digest presents seven strategies that an assessment director may use to improve test administration practices. These strategies highlight clear communication, the responsibility of the Building Test Coordinator, and rewarding and reinforcing quality. The strategies are: (1) focusing on communication; (2) designating a building test…

Summarizes ERIC documents offering suggestions for ways to conduct effective parent-teacher conferences. (FL)

This digest describes some of the problems researchers face in communicating educational research data to general, nonresearcher audiences. Accessibility is one problem. Most research on effective educational practices does not filter down to the people who contribute or control funding. Another problem is that of readability. In the rare event…

The 33 sources cited in this annotated bibliography are intended for forensics coaches and participants. References are organized as follows: the philosophy, rationale, and mechanics of forensics education; major theoretical works and textbooks; and issues related to theory and practice. Information on "ERIC First Analysis," a…

Chapter 11 in a volume on school leadership, this chapter draws from the work of many authorities to define and classify conflict and present techniques for its management in schools. Emphasizing that conflict can have positive or creative as well as negative or destructive results, the author notes that all conflict need not be resolved. He…

This teacher's handbook on intrapersonal communication provides a selection of exercises for classroom use to help students get in touch with their own mental processing. The exercises are presented with introductory comments, a statement of goals, instructions, materials, and analysis. A brief description of what the exercise demonstrates,…

Chapter 8 in a volume on school leadership, this chapter is a revised version of "Communications in the Open Organization." It offers suggestions from a number of authorities for administrators who want to learn how to communicate more effectively with a variety of groups within and outside the school. It begins by explaining the human…

This review encompasses the present status, development, and background of conversation theory (CT) and of a protolanguage, Lp, which is its formal dual. Included are discussions of CT methodology, results obtained using CT and related methods, present epistemological status of CT and of Lp, and ongoing theoretical and empirical research. (MBR)

This digest explains why teacher comments on report cards are important, offers suggestions on how to construct effective comments, points out words or phrases to be cautious about using, and indicate sources of information for report card comments. Teacher comments are important in that they often convey information that is not completely…

Intended for teachers in communications and the language arts who are contemplating alternatives to teaching, this booklet provides a basic approach to communication consulting with fundamental definitions and practical guides to basic consulting principles. The first section of the booklet briefly discusses approaches to consulting and sources of…

The communication processes involved in parent/teacher or parent/teacher/student conferences are addressed in this booklet. Noting that teachers handle most conferences without difficulty, the booklet concentrates on "problem situations," such as when parents and teachers disagree, when misunderstandings occur, or when a student is not performing…

Long distance, or wide area, computer networking can change teaching and learning dramatically. Teachers and students with access to a computer, a modem, and phone lines are freed from the physical limits of a school building and time schedules. They can communicate with peers and gain access to electronic resources, making individualized…

The activities included in this book are based on current theory on effective oral communication and are intended to increase students' repertoire and use of effective oral communication behaviors. Specifically, the book's activities are designed to (1) appeal to students of all ability levels; (2) provide for student interaction and involvement;…

This digest uses a question-and-answer format to address issues that parents should consider when thinking about the total communication (TC) approach for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. Total communication is explained as the use of any/all modes of communication (manual, oral, auditory, and written) depending on the needs of the child.…