WOWW: a solution orientated approach to enhance classroom relationships and behaviour within a Primary three class

A Working on What Works (WOWW) approach was utilised over six sessions in a mainstream Scottish primary class to enhance classroom relationships and behaviours. The aim of the intervention was to manage everyday classroom problems within a natural classroom environment. WOWW incorporates positive psychology and implements a solution-focused approach. The quantitative results illustrated an improvement in the teacher ratings and class ratings for the class goals set by the class teacher, and helped the teacher to feel more confident in her class. From the qualitative comments, class teacher and pupils reported a positive experience of WOWW and noticed a difference within the classroom. In summary, WOWW influenced a positive change to relationships and behaviour within the classroom.     

Working on What Works: enhancing relationships in the classroom and improving teacher confidence

Working on What Works (WOWW) is a solution-oriented classroom management intervention. Following an outline of Berg and Shilts’ WOWW programme in the United States, this paper reviews and evaluates WOWW, which has been implemented as a classroom intervention strategy in a Scottish local authority since 2007. Qualitative analysis of the comments of children and teachers from 12 classes suggests that WOWW may be an effective classroom management intervention that helps teachers to feel more confident and also produces tangible improvements in the way children work and behave. Children also report positive differences in how they perceive their class and teacher.     

Teachers' behaviour and practices in the classroom

The theory behind this study yielded the predictions that successful teacher–pupil interaction in the classroom is essential to the educational and social development of pupils and that teachers' understanding of their own behaviour is therefore of paramount importance. The study examined the behaviour and practices of 20 teachers, 10 in small schools and 10 in large schools. The teachers were grouped into three categories: empathetic teachers, non-empathetic teachers and uncommitted teachers. This study contributes several significant findings to the literature on teacher–pupil interaction in the classroom, most importantly that personal characteristics appear to be a good predictor of teacher competence and that there appear to be relationships between particular personal characteristics on the one hand and teachers' classroom practices on the other. These results seemed to be unrelated to class size and schools type.     

Addressing challenging behaviours in the general education setting: conducting a teacher-based Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA)

When a student demonstrates a challenging or problematic behaviour in the classroom, the climate and the instructional experience can change dramatically for both the students and the classroom teacher. Before resorting to sanctions and punitive consequences, there is a series of steps a classroom teacher can conduct to reduce and replace the challenging behaviour with desired and positive behaviours. The Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) is a systematic data collection process used to ascertain information about a student demonstrating a challenging behaviour(s). Typically reserved for students receiving special education services, the FBA can assist students in the general education curriculum as well. More importantly, the FBA process can be of great use in helping the classroom teacher better understand the challenging behaviour, the triggers for the behaviour and the reinforcing consequences of the behaviour. This paper will review the fundamentals of the FBA process, advantages of the process, and practical steps the classroom teacher can use to conduct an FBA.     

民主的课堂气氛,一种理想的课堂教学状态

民主的课堂气氛是实现有效教学的重要条件,是提高师生课堂生活质量的重要保障民主的课堂气氛表现为课堂人际关系的融洽,师生间的积极互动与交往,教师与学生生命价值的提升。教师、学生、教学环境等是影响课堂气氛形成的主要因素。营造民主的课堂气氛,需要教师更新教育理念,树立教育威信,形成教学艺术风格,提高课堂调控能力,创设良好的教学环境。     

The characteristics and quality of pre-school education in Spain

We examined 25 four-year-old pre-school classrooms from a random sample of 15 schools within a large urban city in southern Spain. Observational measures of classroom quality included the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised, the Classroom Assessment Scoring System and the Observation of Activities in Pre-school. Findings revealed that, on average, classroom quality was low in regards to space and materials, developmentally appropriate activities and instruction; however, classrooms were relatively high on positive climate and productivity, and teachers demonstrated positive relationships with families. The observed ratio of children to teachers was high across classrooms. Results from regression analyses indicate that a higher ratio was associated with lower quality language modelling, teacher feedback and personal care routines available in these settings. Qualitative data from teacher interviews highlighted the importance of a pre-school education for children's development and school readiness, but also emphasised the challenges teachers faced with the new government-subsidised, universal pre-school programme, including increased class sizes and a lack of staff and resources. Implications for maintaining high-quality programme standards are discussed.     

Classroom talk: co-constructing a ‘difficult student’

Background: Research on teacher–student relationships has focused logically on classroom talk. Investigations of classroom talk range from broad consideration of the structures of such talk to a somewhat narrower focus on the interpersonal dimensions of such talk, and their consequences for student achievement and motivation.

Purpose: This study explores a relationship that the teacher defined as ‘difficult’, and attempts to understand, through analysis of classroom talk, how the complexities of full-class discussion contributed to the manifestation of a difficult relationship.

Sample: The analysis focuses primarily on one teacher and one student in a 31-student, grade seven (age 12–13) English/Language Arts class. The study was conducted in a seventh-grade language arts/social studies block class in Midwest Middle School (a pseudonym), a middle school of around 700 students in a mid-sized suburban community in the Midwest, USA.

Design and methods: The study draws from nine weeks of participant observation, isolating classroom episodes between the teacher and the specific student with whom she had a ‘difficult’ relationship. Interactions were transcribed and then analysed, using a mixed approach which drew upon research methods from conversation analysis (CA), classroom discourse analysis and Goffman's discussion of participation frameworks.

Results: Analysis suggested that the difficulty of the relationship between teacher and student was less the result of particular behaviours on the part of either participant and more the result of complications of interaction in full-class discussions.

Conclusions: In effect, the teacher, the particular student and the other students cooperated to create a difficult relationship. Despite that difficulty, however, other decisions the instructor made in structuring the classroom environment mitigated those complications, allowing the student to feel some success in the class and to continue to attempt to participate successfully in full-class interactions.     

Teacher attention and classroom behaviour1 1

The incidence of appropriate and inappropriate classroom behaviour was observed in ten children classified by their teacher as the worst behaved (WB) in the class and 10 children classified as the best behaved (BB). Teacher positive and negative responses to the WB and BB groups were also observed. The main finding was that the teacher responded at a higher rate to the inappropriate behaviour of the WB group than the BB group. This is not at variance with the notion that teacher attention serves to maintain high rates of inappropriate classroom behaviour. Unexpectedly, the teacher did not respond with positive attention at a higher rate to the appropriate behaviour of the BB than the WB group. That is, contrary to the theory that teacher attention is a major controller of classroom behaviour, there was no evidence in this study that high rates of appropriate behaviour are maintained by teacher attention.

     

Emotion in online college classrooms: examining the influence of perceived teacher communication behaviour on students’ emotional experiences

This research focused on teacher communication behaviour as an influential factor in students’ educational experiences. This study examined students’ perceptions of emotion (involving teachers’ emotional support, students’ emotional work and students’ positive emotional valence toward class and teacher) as influenced by a variety of predicting variables: perceptions of teacher affinity-seeking as well as teachers’ positive behaviour alteration techniques, verbal immediacy and teacher online presence (involving the three factors of instructional design, organisation facilitating discourse and direct instruction). Relying on survey data collected from undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines enrolled in course offerings at a large public university, quantitative analysis examined relationships among existing factors previously studied in educational and communication research. Although this study uncovered multiple significant relationships between variables in the data set, students’ perceptions of their teachers’ verbal immediacy and presence in their instructional design were found to be most predictive relative to students’ emotions in online classrooms. Ultimately this project addresses and emphasises the need to more fully examine students’ emotions and related social experiences with virtual teachers and course content in higher education.     

Bullying victims’ perceptions of classroom interaction

This study investigated bullying victims’ perceptions of their teachers’ support and monitoring when controlling for level of mental health problems, peer relationships, gender, and grade level. Given the nested structure of the data, multilevel analyses were employed to examine these associations. The quality of classroom interaction is highly relevant for bullying prevention and intervention. A survey was administered to 1,571 fifth- to 10th-grade students in 10 schools. The findings revealed that bully victimization was significantly associated with weak teacher instructional support, but no significant association was observed between bully victimization and teachers’ emotional support or monitoring. These associations were negative when peer relationships were not controlled for because victims reported teacher support and monitoring issues less frequently than non-victims. The findings underscore the importance of classroom interaction and peer relationships for bullying prevention and intervention and the need to create positive relationships between teachers and students and among students in the classroom.     

Different approaches to classroom environments based on teacher experience and effectiveness

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to continue looking at the differences in classroom environments for different levels of teachers. Specifically, we wanted to focus on teacher perspectives of classroom management, relationships with students, motivating students, student risk-taking within the classroom, and student self-regulation. The three levels we looked at for this study included highly effective teachers, proficient teachers who have taught for more than 3 years, and new/developing teachers. The results found three major themes with differences in how teachers at each level approached classroom management, relationships with students, and student behaviors within the classroom. The student behaviors within the classroom included self-regulation and risk-taking. The results of this study provide researchers more information regarding the different stages of teaching, information to schools on ways to mentor teachers at each level of teaching, and information to teacher preparation programs on ways to help preservice teachers prepare for the classroom.     

共鸣理论视角下大学课堂教学的关系逻辑

师生互动关系的质量是影响教学效果的重要因素。文章以共鸣理论为分析视角,对大学课堂教学进行了基于关系维度的逻辑审视。首先介绍了共鸣的概念及特征;其次指出了课堂教学异化的原因在于共鸣关系的缺席;最后在以上分析基础上认为,由教师、学生和教学材料组成有效的“共鸣三角”,可以使课堂成为师生有效互动的“港湾”。总之,强调共鸣关系的建构,从而提升师生互动关系的质量,这是有效提升大学课堂教学效果的一种积极思路。     

Using student perceptions to compare actual and preferred classroom environment in Queensland schools

Students’ perceptions of actual and preferred classroom environment were investigated using the What is happening in this class? questionnaire (WIHIC). The WIHIC assesses seven classroom environment dimensions: student cohesiveness, teacher support, involvement, task orientation, investigation, cooperation and equity. A sample of 978 secondary school students from 63 classes in Queensland responded to the WIHIC. For each item on the WIHIC, students recorded their perceptions of the actual (or real) and preferred (or ideal) classroom environment. Results revealed that statistically significant differences between actual and preferred environments, and that the gap between actual and preferred environment was smaller for more positive classroom environments.     

重建课堂秩序

课堂秩序是教师在课堂教学过程中所面临的基本问题。由于师生对课堂情境的定义存在一定的冲突,会导致课堂秩序处于不和谐的状态。课堂秩序的形成经过制度化、合理化两个阶段。课堂秩序的重建依赖于教师教学观念、课堂控制行为方式的转变,依赖于教师交往技能的提高、教学策略的改革以及师生之间有效的“磋商”。     

教师文化与课堂文化:关系、表征、运作——基于课堂教学观察

教师文化是学校文化中最具主体意义的亚文化,它的品质样貌直接反映于、影响于课堂教学气场和氛围、教学组织和形态、教学情感和性向、教学取向和价值等等。本研究通过对课堂中教师文化表征的观察、描述、解读、释义,讨论教师文化的"一般"和"个别"品性,意图强调在学校创新进步中构建适应新课程任务的课堂文化,在课堂文化的优化中加速建设先进的教师文化。     

A mixed-methods evaluation of the longer-term implementation and utility of a teacher classroom management training programme in Irish primary schools

Inappropriate, aggressive and disruptive behaviour in the classroom can be detrimental to child and teacher well-being. This study involved a longer-term evaluation of the Incredible Years Teacher [Classroom Management] programme (IYTP) undertaken mainly within disadvantaged schools in south-west Ireland. The IYTP is designed to strengthen teacher classroom management competencies. Eleven teachers, who had previously participated in a group-randomised control trial (RCT), took part in a 12-month post-baseline follow-up assessment. Psychometric and observational measures were administered to assess teachers when interacting with children (n?=?217) in their classes. Qualitative data were collected from a sub-sample of teachers to explore their perceptions of programme impact and utility. The quantitative results showed some significant improvements in teachers’ classroom management, although few changes were recorded on teacher-child observation measures. Qualitative findings indicated continued implementation of proactive disciplining strategies and higher levels of teacher self-efficacy. These results suggest, albeit tentatively in view of the study limitations, that the IYTP can benefit teacher classroom management, as well as teacher well-being, particularly within disadvantaged schools where behavioural problems tend to be more prevalent. The IYTP could prove useful in improving teacher competencies and the classroom environment in the longer term, although a need for further research is indicated.     

Teachers’ classroom management self-efficacy,perceived classroom management and teaching contexts from beginning until mid-career

Teacher self-efficacy for classroom management is an important component of teachers' identity with implications for their teaching quality. Theoretically, it has been described that contextual variables play an important role for self-efficacy development and its consequences. However, little is known about the interrelationships of job resources and demands with teacher self-efficacy, and consequences for teachers' professional behaviors. We extend teacher self-efficacy research by drawing on the Job Demands-Resources model in examining contextual influences on developmental dynamics between classroom management self-efficacy and teacher-reported classroom management, from prior to qualifying as a teacher until mid-career. Participants were 395 primary and secondary Australian school teachers. Longitudinal structural equation models showed teachers’ classroom management self-efficacy positively related to aspects of their perceived classroom management, particularly during early career. Between early and mid-career, the positive relationship between self-efficacy and classroom management was moderated by early career excessive demands. Implications are outlined for teacher education and school administration.     

The relationship between teachers’ emotional intelligence and classroom discipline management

One of the fundamental problems of educational systems in many countries is related to classroom discipline. This reflects one of the worst problems faced by teachers. Classroom discipline management strategies play an effective role in creating positive teacher‐student relationships. One of the factors that influence behavior management in a classroom is emotional intelligence. Therefore, this study analyzing how teachers emotional intelligence influences the management of discipline in a classroom and the relationship between gender, academic formation, and service time of teachers with their emotional intelligence. Its sample comprises 559 basic and secondary school teachers. An Emotional Competence Questionnaire, a Scale of Teacher Efficacy in Classroom Management, and a personal and professional data inquiry have been used as instruments. Results show that teachers who have more capacity to deal with emotion demonstrate a greater management of discipline in the classroom. Most of the relationships in the model are statistically significant.     

教师角色定位与课堂教学重构:教师互动行为研究的启示

教师互动行为是研究师生关系的有力抓手,相关研究结果对我们重构教师角色及课堂教学均有重要参考价值。通过分析我国课程教学情境中的教师互动行为,发现“教师领导型互动”和“学生自主型互动”两种行为是共存的,由此衍生出我国课堂教学中值得期待的四种教师角色:德高望重的领导者、手艺精湛的工匠、医术高明的医生和安排有序的调度员。这些认识为我们进一步实施课程改革和改善师生关系提供了启示。