This clearly written text, based on 25 years of research, considers the factors that are changing today's schools and prepares teachers to meet the challenges and to discover the opportunities for professional growth. Thoroughly revised for streamlined presentation, this top-selling text retains its conversational style and provides research-based effective teaching practices that are practical and realistic. Prior achievement. Ability. Learning style. Culture and ethnicity. Home and family. Instructional explaining, lecturing, drill and practice, and recitation. Indirect instructional group discussion, collaboration, and discovery and problem-solving activities. Self-directed learning. Metacognitive techniques. Teacher mediation. Cooperative learning. Classroom management. Performance assessment. For anyone with an interest in general K-12 methods.