Investigated how eight teachers untrained in holistic scoring rated elementary school students' compositions about baseball. Teachers varied in knowledge level about baseball and were classified as having either an academic or a cognitive-developmental teaching approach. Findings are discussed in terms of a classroom competence model of writing.…

This review presents evidence that student nonverbal behavior may be an important component in the formation of teachers' impressions, attitudes, beliefs, and reciprocal behavioral expressions. Results of the studies are considered within the research on impression formation, communication theory, and classroom activity and participation…

Teachers with relatively high scores on the Defining Issues Test of moral development, contrasted with teachers with relatively low scores, had a more democratic view of teacher and student roles, and saw rules as protecting the rights of individual students as well as the group's rights. (NH)

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)

Based on teacher estimates, this discussion focuses on the importance of test content coverage in terms of instructional and curricular validity; students' opportunity to learn test content; and the relationship between test content covered in class and student performance on a standardized achievement test in reading. (JS)

Often too little attention is paid to the implementation of a new curriculum developed with considerable expenditure of both funds and energies. It is suggested that a greater fidelity of use would be achieved by a multilevel approach to implementation spanning several years. (JS)

Explores strategies used by fifth-grade teachers who exemplified three different classroom orientations (learning-oriented, work-oriented, or work-avoidance) toward student motivation and learning. Raises questions for future research and highlights strategies that support motivation to learn. (NH)

Reviews representative instructional studies of inference training, reciprocal teaching, and process training. Discusses both the concept of explicit comprehension instruction and potential difficulties in classroom implementation. Raises two important curricular concerns. (NH)

Examines variation in the methods used to assign students to classrooms and teachers in a small but highly diversified sample of elementary schools. Gives explicit attention to parental influence on pupil assignments as well as to effects of having an unusually incompetent or excellent teacher at a particular grade level. (NH)

Reports findings of a survey of elementary school teachers' preferences regarding the criteria and processes for master teacher selection and rewards for master teachers. Although there were variations in response, teachers valued extrinsic/ancillary rewards more than intrinsic rewards (professional, collegial, and creative). (NH)

Examines how teachers' conceptions about teaching mathematics influence the manner in which they plan instruction in mathematical problem solving. Results demonstrate that teachers had a limited knowledge of teaching techniques and that teachers' concerns focused more on collection of materials and resources than on how to teach problem solving.…

Presents a theoretical analysis of how class conditions such as textbook organization and content, compositional characteristics of classes, instructional time and teachers' beliefs can influence the mathematics content that teachers introduce. Looks at implications for further study of teacher decision making, textbook content, and organization.…