A study was conducted of teachers of disadvantaged children during the 1979-80 school year in Dade County, Florida. The study involved nearly 100 inner city elementary teachers who were identified as being the most effective teachers in their schools. The teachers responded to a lengthy questionnaire which asked very detailed questions about how they worked with their children. Almost all of the questions were open-ended. The most repeated theme to emerge from the study was that structure and organization and careful planning are of primary importance in the inner city classroom. Clear rules and regulations were established from the first day of school and were closely adhered to. Most of the teachers used some type of structured motivational system in their classroom, with positive reinforcement for good behavior frequently taking the form of rewards. Almost all of the teachers emphasized that their success came from their love of children, their respect for children, and the ability to let children know they care about them. The questionnaire with responses by categories is appended. (JD)