The interaction process between teacher and students: The labeling of students on the basis of relative characteristics

Achievements of students in primary education have been the object of study over a long period. Both individual and contextual characteristics have pr oved their value for the prediction of these achievements, In this paper a theoretical model of the time and attention division of the teacher is elab orated, From this model, hypotheses are deduced about the labeling of a stu dent as a problem student, and the possible referral of problem students to special education. Relative student characteristics are predicted to be of more importance than absolute characteristics. Hypotheses testing is based on data about 2,340 students in the Netherlands. The hypotheses are confir med. Labeling of problem students is based on the relative achievements and relative behavior of students. while the referral to special education als o can be predicted on the basis of relative achievements.