To investigate differences in students' writing development due to teacher modeling, a study examined students enrolled in whole language classrooms in grades 1 and 2 in two separate school districts. Students enrolled in independent classrooms where teachers did not provide writing models were in a school in a lower middle class neighborhood of…

As part of a larger study on the levels experienced by deaf children in acquiring knowledge about printed letters, words, and stories, an investigation was undertaken to discover the effects of a reciprocal teaching method on deaf children's learning of four prereading skills--finger spelling, book reading, story reciting, and word recognition.…

Early Childhood Research & Practice (ECRP), a peer-reviewed, Internet-only journal sponsored by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE), covers topics related to the development, care, and education of children from birth to approximately age 8. The journal emphasizes articles reporting on…

A study of 4 youths (ages 11-18) with autism examined the effectiveness of teaching appropriate affective behavioral responses. Participants were described by teachers as having flat and inappropriate affect. Treatment consisted of modeling, prompting, and reinforcement. The combination of an error-correction procedure and contingent delivery of…

Four curricular formats were examined for teaching employment-related interpersonal skills to 122 secondary students with mild retardation. Compared were the instructional effects of teacher or videotape modeling, behavior rehearsal, and problem-solving. The combination of videotape modeling and problem-solving was most effective in student…

Discusses environmental education, noting that teachers' science backgrounds are not nearly as important as their showing interest in children's experiences and discoveries, respect for environment, and encouragement of close observation of the world. Suggests that to help children understand and appreciate nature, teachers can focus on having…

In this article I argue that greater attention should be given to the law-related education dimension of social studies education. I posit that a basic understanding of law and its role in society and in our lives is fundamental to the social studies citizenship mandate. Law-related education may be incorporated in elementary social studies in…

Three nontraditional intervention strategies are examined as approaches for improving the teaching effectiveness of graduate teaching assistants (TA's) in speech communication. The approaches include the "standard-other model," which demonstrates how others display the desired behaviors; the "self-as-model," which takes advantage of…

Explores why it is both difficult and vital to model nonauthoritarian, student-centered, collaborative learning in a teacher workshop on writing. (SRT)

Because research has found that many students experience science as fragmented, this study examined the impact of modeling by science teachers during faculty development programs on participants' subsequent classroom instruction and on their students' science achievement and motivation. In two programs, liberal arts college science professors…

A study was conducted to demonstrate and evaluate instructional procedures for teaching cooperative leisure skill activities to 23 school-age children with severe learning disabilities. The approach of modeling, social reinfocement, and the availability of cooperative type materials (e.g., games) was effective in facilitating cooperative leisure…

A school district established a Total Communication Project to improve consistency in teachers' role modeling of English with deaf students, which was the primary language of the classroom, and American Sign Language (ASL), which was used as an intervention tool. This paper describes the program, its theoretical framework, and procedures for…

Describes how a shared poetry exercise, combining whole language experiences with process writing techniques, motivates remedial readers. Notes that this technique helps remedial readers achieve success in writing, build sight and meaning vocabularies, and improve reading fluency. (MM)

Introduces introductory psychology students to behavioral techniques for reducing anxiety and avoidance behavior through the use of participant modeling. Employs guided participation as a technique to encourage students to touch a snake. Finds this method provides an excellent introduction to behavior therapies and engages students in the learning…

Describes art as a symbolic language as implemented in Reggio Emilia, Italy, preschools and adapted in U.S. schools. Considers the beauty of the classroom environment, use of materials and tools, use of observation of the child as the source of the curriculum, child-centered planning, teacher-child interaction to guide development of graphic…