Student Achievement: A Factor in Classroom Dynamics?

Abstract

This study examined differences in interaction patterns between teachers and high and low achieving and high and low expectation students. Records of verbal teacher‐student interactions, both public and private, were obtained through videotaping ten grade 3 and grade 6 classes during mathematics and language lessons. Teachers tended to interact most frequently with high achieving and high expectancy students, particularly at the grade 6 level, but consistently spent more time waiting for and interacting with low achieving and low expectation students.