Classroom Researcher

Suzanne Houff has worked in both elementary and middle schools as a classroom teacher and as a library media specialist. Currently she is associate professor of education at Mary Washington University in Virginia where she instructs pre-services teachers as they work toward initial licensure and a master's degree in education.

Houff presents ideas clearly and interestingly. But even more, she provides the readers with a rationale for why students do what they do. She describes human needs as seen from the perspective of choice theory and integrates them into practical strategies and techniques. Using the need system to motivate students frees the teacher of responsibility to reward and punish. The process puts the responsibility on the students—where it belongs. And yet teachers does not lose authority; they gain respect and enhance their leadership skills. When teachers implement the ideas contained in this book, they develop techniques for managing the classroom and for preventing discipline problems. This book should be read by both new and experienced teachers.

• Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 Background informationChapter 3 ApproachesChapter 4 The Research: Getting FocusedChapter 5 Choosing a Topic: Step 1Chapter 6 Problem Statement and Question: Step 2Chapter 7 Locating SourcesChapter 8 Reading the LiteratureChapter 9 Literature Review: Step 3Chapter 10 The Application: Step 4Chapter 11 Sharing Your ResearchChapter 12 Prepare to Publish: Using APAChapter 13 Next Step: Action ResearchChapter 14 ConclusionChapter 15 Appendix AChapter 16 Appendix BChapter 17 Appendix C