1. Introduction: purposes and perspectives on classroom observation research; 2. Using multiple perspectives in observations of diverse classrooms: the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP); 3. The standards performance continuum: a performance-based measure of the standards for effective pedagogy; 4. The uses of the classroom observation schedule to improve classroom instruction; 5. Development and use of a classroom observation instrument to investigate teaching for meaning in diverse classrooms; 6. Patterns of language arts instructional activity and excellence in first and fourth grade culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms; 7. Using classroom observation as a research and formative evaluation tool in educational reform: the school observation measure; 8. Observing school restructuring in multilingual, multicultural classrooms: balancing ethnographic and evaluative approaches; 9. Socio-cultural activity settings in the classroom: a study of a classroom observation system; 10. The influence of school reform on classroom instruction in diverse schools: findings from an observational study of Success for All; 11. Future directions for classroom observation research.