Can Suggestions by Teachers Improve Instruction
Twenty-four experienced teachers each selected a different reading skill and each prepared a set of written suggestions for teaching the skill selected. Subsequently, 24 unsuccessful teachers, i.e., those less able than their peers to effect pupil achievement in the skills, were identified. These unsuccessful teachers were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. One group received the previously prepared suggestions and the other group did not. Later, the two groups of teachers again taught the skills. It was found that all teachers receiving suggestions improved relative to their previous performance, i.e., their pupils achieved more, while only slightly more than half of those without suggestions showed improvement (p < .05). Thus, it was concluded that suggestions for teaching can be helpful to less successful teachers.