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.

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)

Reviews research on student grouping, focusing on these types: tracking; grouping within classes (reading and mathematics); ability grouping for just one or two subjects; and classes for the gifted and handicapped. Asserts that ability-grouped class assignment is the most harmful form. (KH)

This document summarizes the first wave of data collection and findings for the elementary, middle, and senior high schools participating as pilot sites for the Positive Attitudes in Tennessee Schools (PATS) Project. Following an overview of the goals of the project, the school improvement change model used by the project, and the research and…

Describes several ways to create a classroom environment conducive to reading, including designing reading bulletin boards, creating reading and writing centers, and establishing "discovery spots" to encourage young readers. (MM)

From observation-based effective schools research, five essential correlates have been identified: (1) purpose; (2) measurement; (3) leadership; (4) expectations; and (5) climate. This paper briefly describes all correlates and then focuses on climate and expectations as applied to improving science instruction. Although climate originally…

The purpose of the study reported was to determine the best ways to manage interest centers in the elementary classroom. The study considered six techniques of assigning students to interest centers--teacher assignment, in which children were asked by their teacher to work at the center on a certain day; daily sign-up, in which children were…

Summarizes in an interview Sidney Hook's personal experiences as a student and teacher in the New York City school system before the era of progressive education. Reflects on the contributions and failings of progressive education. (PS)

The Learning Preference Scale-Students (LPSS) was developed with 1,643 Sydney, Australia, pupils. Internal consistency, test-retest stability, subscale intercorrelations, and factor analysis show that the LPSS has considerable promise as a valid and reliable instrument. Results showed clear and significant sex differences in preferences for grades…

Investigates student's opinions of what they believe is valuable for the first class meeting of a course. Reports that a good first class meeting includes a well-organized, focused presentation containing basic course information including requirements, expectations, and information on examinations and assignments. Expounds that faculty should…

Working collaboratively can be uncomfortable and bewildering, especially for developmental students. It is common for students to be anxious about their first experience with group work, and often they have a lot of questions about grading, cooperation, and what might happen if the group does not get along. The amount of time and variety of ways…

It was concluded the 3-group achievement plan did as well as the flexible grouping plan and less time was needed for planning and implementation. (Author)

The implementation and evaluation of the effects of a seven-period day on students and teachers, especially on student achievement, is the purpose of this study. A three-part methodology includes two applications of the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) to teachers; administration of the School Attitude Survey (SAS) to students and teachers;…