Describes and interprets what 65 elementary and secondary classroom teachers revealed about the techniques and importance of generating student interest in content areas. Finds that generating interest was considered a major aspect of teaching, and the most successful technique was "hands on" activities, including doing, planning, and problem…

Contrasts learning activities designed to achieve teacher planned objectives and learning activities which permit and encourage pupils to find their own objectives. Objective-seeking activities are discussed in detail and criteria for activity assessment are suggested. (MS)

This examination of various bases for choosing teaching behaviors emphasizes the teacher's values concerning aims and elements of education. Research data on teaching effectiveness are described as inconsistent. Prescriptions by experts, modeling, and adherence to a philosophical position are useful only when based on teacher's awareness of…

Discusses the drawbacks of specific behavioral objectives in teaching and argues for more general planning. The dimensions that make up instructional objectives are described and specific and general objectives are contrasted. Positive aspects of general objectives are listed. (SB)

Identifies some specific teacher behaviors or actions that facilitate children's learning and suggests that this kind of guiding emphasizing reflexive behavior needs more analysis and description. (Author/CS)

Recognizing the importance of collegiality in professional growth, this descriptive study examines one aspect of interaction among teachers--the information that teachers exchange about classroom teaching. Suggestions are offered for the development of collegiality and interview guide questions are presented in the appendix. (JS)

Examines elementary school teachers' perceptions of the nature and function of learning activities. Three specific questions were investigated: (1) What do teachers perceive as successful or unsuccessful learning activities? (2) What reasons do teachers give concerning why a learning activity is successful or unsuccessful? and (3) To what extent…

Suggests that typical lesson planning may make teacher's thinking rigid and teacher less sensitive to pupils. Scope of planning should, therefore include specific teacher behaviors. (NH)

Examines a variety of teaching practices in several types of specialty schools that have an instructional emphasis and investigates the attitudes of teachers in those schools. A total of 117 teachers from grades K-6 in eight elementary schools participated in this study. (MP)