A multiage-grouping success story

How children organize themselves in play reflects groupings found in society. Multiage grouping in schools reflects the same. Multiage grouping is grouping children of multiple ages, at least one year apart, for instruction. With renewed interest in this practice comes anxiety for teachers who contemplate such a change. Some questions teachers often ask include: How do I get started?, and How do I organize the day? This article is the success story of one teacher as she began her multiaged classroom. Perhaps her story can answer some questions and serve as a beginning model for others.     

Predictors of the developmental appropriateness of the beliefs and practices of first,second, and third grade teachers

This study identified classroom characteristics and teacher characteristics that were related to the self-reported beliefs and classroom practices of first, second, and third grade teachers. Teachers (n = 277) representing 77% of the potential subjects completed and returned The Primary Teacher's Beliefs and Practices Survey, a measure based on the developmentally appropriate standards advocated by NAEYC. Factor analyses of the survey supported the use of four proposed subscales: developmentally appropriate beliefs, developmentally appropriate activities, developmentally inappropriate beliefs, and developmentally inappropriate activities. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that classroom characteristics (class size, grade level, number of children with disabilities, and number of children on free or reduced lunch) and teacher characteristics (perceived relative influence and area of certification) predicted teacher beliefs and practices. After controlling for the classroom variables, teacher characteristics added significantly to the prediction of developmentally inappropriate activities.     

Beyond discovery: a case study of teacher interaction,young children and computer tasks

The integration of computer technologies into everyday classroom life continues to provide pedagogical challenges for school systems, teachers and administrators. Data from an exploratory case study of one teacher and a multiage class of children in the first years of schooling in Australia show that when young children are using computers for set tasks in small groups, they require ongoing support from teachers, and to engage in peer interactions that are meaningful and productive. Classroom organization and the nature of teacher–child talk are key factors in engaging children in set tasks and producing desirable learning and teaching outcomes.     

An Investigation of Science Teaching Practices in Indonesian Rural Secondary Schools

This study reports on teaching practices in science classrooms of Indonesian lower secondary schools in rural areas. Using six schools from three districts in the province of Kalimantan Selatan as the sample, this study found that most teaching practices in science classrooms in rural schools were teacher-centred with students copying notes. However, the study also found unique teaching practices of an exemplary science teacher whose teaching style can be described as both student-centred and teacher-centred, with students encouraged to be active learners. Four features of exemplary teaching practices were identified: The teacher managed the classroom effectively; used a variety of questioning techniques; employed various teaching approaches instead of traditional methods; and created a favourable learning environment. Data from classroom observations, interviews with teachers, and students responses to a questionnaire were used to compare the exemplary teacher and his colleagues. This study identified internal factors that may affect teaching practices such as a teachers content knowledge and beliefs about teaching. Compared to the other teachers, the exemplary teacher possessed more content knowledge and had a relatively stronger belief in his ability to teach.     

Predictors of developmentally appropriate classroom practices in kindergarten through third grade

This study was designed to (a) test the psychometric properties of a new observation measure of developmentally appropriate classroom practices in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, and (b) determine how well classroom and teacher characteristics predict developmentally appropriate classroom practices. Teacher-reported and observational data from 69 classrooms provided support for construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater agreement of the Assessment of Practices in Early Elementary Classrooms (APEEC) measure. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that classroom characteristics (grade, class size, number of children with disabilities), teacher characteristics (education level, years of experience) and teacher beliefs (developmentally appropriate beliefs and developmentally inappropriate beliefs) accounted for 42% of the variance in observed classroom practices. With all variables in the model, teacher education, grade, and beliefs in developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practice accounted for most of the variance in observed classroom practices.     

Inclusion,Exclusion, and Ideology: Special Education Students' Changing Sense of Self

The inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream of general education remains one of the most contested topics in public education today. This qualitative study considered this issue from the perspective of included as well as excluded special education students over an extended period of time. More specifically, it sought to understand how 11 developmentally handicapped students made sense of their experience in a variety of inclusive and segregated classrooms in four urban school settings. It followed these students in two elementary schools and two junior high schools over a period of 6 years. The information from participant observation as well as teacher and student interviews supports inclusive schooling. It suggests that, as the students moved into and out of traditionalist and inclusive classrooms, they presented a changing sense of themselves in relation to ideological beliefs and practices within particular schools and classrooms. Students in inclusive classrooms constructed a sense of themselves that was significantly different (and more positive) from those in either segregated or traditionalist classrooms.     

Teacher Evaluation and Effectiveness in Hong Kong: Issues and Challenges

This article first provides an overview of teacher effectiveness and evaluation in Hong Kong. Several studies related to classroom environment and teacher behavior in selected subjects are referenced, as are recent studies of teachers instructional leadership. Finally, the preliminary use of the Revised Classroom Observation Instrument (RCOI) from the Louisiana School Effectiveness Study in three secondary schools is reported. The results from using the RCOI in Hong Kong indicate that some items may be irrelevant in the Hong Kong context (e.g., physical characteristics), while more items may be needed to reflect good teaching in Hong Kong (e.g., questioning skills). In addition, the potential use of teacher profiles to drive staff development and school improvement is explored.     

Hatching Butterflies and Other Mysteries: A Story of a Teacher Learning to “Let Go”

As a teacher deals with the frustrations of classroom management and her fears concerning control, she finds what it means to let go to the process of living and learning with young children. Her method of dealing with issues of classroom community involves teacher reflection on action, listening to stories of children, and telling stories of her own.     

Urban Pre-service K-6 Teachers’ Conceptions of Citizenship and Civic Education: Weighing the Risks and Rewards

To effectively help urban pre-service teachers to provide civic education opportunities in their future classrooms, teacher educators should know how urban pre-service teachers themselves conceptualize citizenship and civic engagement. Through the research question—how do urban K-6 pre-service teachers currently enrolled in an urban education teacher certification program at a 4-year university construct key concepts and ideologies about citizenship and civic education?—we examined how 15 pre-service teachers understood these concepts. Using three conceptions of citizenship—personally responsible citizen, participatory citizen, and justice-oriented citizen (Westheimer and Kahne in Am Educ Res J 41(2):237–269, 2004)—our analysis demonstrated that urban pre-service teachers’ conceptions of their students’ lives significantly influenced their ideas about civic education in elementary schools. Although the participating pre-service teachers overwhelmingly promoted personally responsible citizenship, we found the participants to heavily weigh developmentally appropriate practice and classroom context when considering the risks and rewards of promoting justice-oriented citizenship in elementary classrooms.     

Nurturing Mathematical Promise in a Regular Elementary Classroom: Exploring the Role of the Teacher and Classroom Environment

This article presents findings from a case study of an in-classroom program based on ability grouping for Year 2 (ages 6–7) primary (elementary) children identified as high ability in mathematics. The study examined the role of classroom setting, classroom environment, and teacher’s approach in realizing and developing mathematical promise. The teacher’s approach was found to be fundamental to revealing and developing mathematical promise. However, a large regular classroom with a range of ability, along with some common beliefs that link mathematical prowess with competence in numerical calculations and that dominate the classroom environment, pose some major challenges for the teacher as well as obstacles and threats to the development of mathematical promise. The article illuminates these issues and suggests possible solutions.     

Sympathiebeziehungen unter Peers im Klassenzimmer: Wie gut wissen Lehrpersonen Bescheid?

Are teachers aware of how well each of their students is embedded in the sympathy-based peer network of the classroom? In this research, we asked students of 39 classes (N = 821) from different types of schools and grades to nominate the three peers they liked most within their class. At the same time, the 39 classroom teachers were asked to reproduce the nominations they thought every single student would undertake. Using the Jaccard coefficient, we compared the similarity of the social networks that emerged from students’ and the respective teacher’s nominations. Results showed that on average, teachers identified 30.1% of the peer nominations correctly. Elementary school teachers were better attuned to their students’ sympathy relations than secondary school teachers. Teachers’ accuracy in identifying peer relations was predicted by the extent to which they intentionally observed peer interactions in the classroom and by their beliefs whether teachers are accountable for the quality of peer relationships in the classroom. Future studies should further investigate whether students profit in their social and academic development from their teacher being highly accurate in the perception of the classroom’s sympathy peer network.     

Tell another story,teacher!

The classroom is still. The children are watching the teacher, wide-eyed. The teacher is dressed in a red cape and hood. Softly she begins: Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Red Riding Hood ...Kay Singley is a former Kindergarten Teacher who lives in Moulton, Iowa.     

Science Activities That Work: Perceptions of Primary School Teachers

Many primary school teachers in Australia tend to be reluctant to teach science, partly because they are not confident in science and have limited science background knowledge. However, quite a number of primary school teachers still manage to teach some science. When they plan to teach science, many of them use the term science activities that work. Such activities seem to be related to science pedagogical content knowledge for some primary teachers. In order to better understand what the term activities that work means, twenty teachers from several schools were interviewed and asked what they understood by this expression. Themes that emerged suggest that activities that work are hands on, are interesting and motivating for the children, have a clear outcome or result, are manageable in the classroom, use equipment that is readily available, and are preferably used in a context where science is integrated into themes. Implications for curriculum and for preservice teacher education are considered.     

Examining Differences in Students’ Beliefs and Attitudes: An Important Element of Performance-Based Assessment Systems for Teacher Preparation Programs

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) program review process increasingly emphasizes the importance of performance-based assessment of early childhood teacher preparation programs. As part of the effort to address performance-based assessment requirements, the teacher educator program described in this study examined students’ beliefs related to developmentally appropriate practice, attitudes toward children, and perceived competencies at different points in the program and upon graduation. One hundred eighteen students and 78 recent graduates participated. Results suggest that students’ beliefs are more consistent with developmentally appropriate practices and with a progressive or child-centered approach at later points in the program. In general, participants felt they were more competent in what they know about early childhood practices than in how they implement the practices. Students nearing completion of the program and those who had graduated reported that they knew more about early childhood practices than students enrolled in early courses in the program, and graduates felt they were more competent to implement early childhood practices than students not enrolled in the program. Results are discussed in terms of implications for examining teacher preparation programs.     

Role of teacher characteristics and school resources in early mathematics learning

The authors investigated the degree to which school-level teacher characteristics and resources are related to the mathematics learning of kindergarten children using a sample drawn from a large US database. Kindergarten-level teacher characteristics were operationalised as collective teacher efficacy, teacher experience and teacher preparation; kindergarten resources were operationalised as efforts that schools make to reach out to parents, classrooms with mathematics manipulatives, and classroom technology. Kindergarten students learned more in mathematics over a year in schools where teachers’ collective efficacy was high. School resources yielded a range of significant yet mixed results in young children’s mathematics achievement. Notably, younger students and students entering kindergarten with lower levels of mathematical skills benefited greatly from classroom resources. Overall, the presence of classroom technology as a school-level resource was positively related with older kindergarten students’ learning. Based upon the findings, organisational and policy implications are discussed.     

Writing for Change: Developing Class One textbooks and readers in Andhra Pradesh,Southern India

Ongoing work in Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Project (APPEP) (Southern India) has resulted in the production of a new Class 1 textbook, teacher textbook and eight supplementary readers. These important and innovative new classroom materials have been produced as a result of training and workshops involving resource persons from the Telugu Academy, Telugu University, State Centre for Educational Research and Training and lecturers in District Institutes of Education and Training. Additionally, for the first time, primary school teachers were co‐opted on an equal basis to work on the materials.

The textbook, which constitutes the only learning material in Class One, is designed to teach children to read and write in Telugu. Previous research showed that children at the end of Class 2 were mostly unable to identify letters or words out of the context and order in which they appeared in the textbook. The current state textbook was basically a writing primer, teaching writing in alphabetic order with reading rarely going beyond single words or sentences.

The new textbook incorporates the necessary ‘reading context’ using rhymes, short stories and dialogue to encourage shared reading with the teacher before individual letters are learned. The order of introduction of the letters for writing has been based on research showing generalisable shapes in letters; alphabetic order is learned as a separate item. The pictures in the book were designed to promote discussion and develop prediction and an understanding of story structure. The content was matched to the child's developmental and psychological needs.

The teacher textbook incorporates ideas for extending learning into activities and exercises and consists of the children's textbook interleaved with teacher guidance. The evaluation shows that this teacher guidance has been used and valued by the teachers.

The eight supplementary readers are at four levels. Level One is for shared reading with the teacher and includes folk stories, songs and a story about a family. Level Two are picture books with simple captions and sentences using only the letters and words already learned by the child. Level Three progresses to more extensive stories including some information based stories. Level Four revisits Level One for independent reading of the same books.

The books have been trialled in 50 sample schools matched on a number of variables to 50 control schools. A pre‐reading test was administered to all children and a post‐reading test measured learning gains. Case studies of the books in use in classrooms were also undertaken. The evaluation to date shows significant learning gains amongst the children in the sample schools, a high degree of teacher satisfaction and interest and approval from parents and children. A resource team including teachers has been trained for further renewal of textbooks throughout the primary years.

This work has been funded by the Overseas Development Administration and they will fund the provision of eight supplementary readers in all Class One in schools throughout the state in 1996. After revision the textbook will be implemented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.     

Head Start Teachers Across a Decade: Beliefs,Characteristics, and Time Spent on Academics

We examined changes in teachers’ beliefs regarding developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 using data from the Head Start Family and Child Experience Survey. In addition, we examined how teacher education, credentials, and professional experience relate to beliefs about DAP and explored how these relationships differ by cohort. We also explored teachers’ reports of time spent in math and literacy focused activities. Findings indicate that after 2003, developmentally appropriate beliefs decreased significantly, while developmentally inappropriate beliefs increased. Results also showed significant increases in the frequency of literacy activity across the decade, while the frequency of math activity was more consistent. Despite these changes, teachers with more education consistently held the most appropriate beliefs. These findings indicate that teacher education may buffer against influences of pushed down curricula and increased accountability. This study also illustrates that policies at the national level have the potential to impact children’s day-to-day classroom experiences.     

Increasing Completion of Classroom Routines Through the Use of Picture Activity Schedules

Teachers spend the first few days of school teaching routines to children that will help transitions in the classroom between different activities. When children have difficulty, they move more slowly and/or require teacher prompting. A picture activity schedule intervention (Breitfelder in Teach Except Child Plus 4(5):2–15, 2008; Bryan and Gast in J Autism Dev Disord 30(6):553–567, 2000) was used to assist a 5-year-old boy in completing three routines within the kindergarten classroom. Results indicated that the picture activity schedule increased the child’s independent completion of each of the three routines, while also decreasing the need for teacher prompting.     

Pupils,Resistance and Gender Codes: a study of classroom encounters

This paper uses classroom observation in two rural comprehensive schools to examine the issue of why girls appear to contribute to their limited life chances by opting into feminine areas of the curriculum. It is argued that both teachers’ coping strategies and pupils’ opposition to education contribute to the reinforcement of traditional gender codes by drawing on exaggerated notions of masculinity and femininity. The concept of resistance is examined and it is argued that pupils’ manipulation of traditional gender codes to contest teacher authority does not constitute any challenge to the reproduction of existing class/gender relations, but rather reinforces the status quo.