In concert with a rising interest in history education, there is concern about the quality of education and certification of history teachers. Many researchers, theorists, and specialists have weighed in on the issue of teacher preparation and certification. To what extent are history teachers prepared and certified to teach the discipline? This…

This document offers a guide to enhance the quality of Michigan social studies teaching. The document draws on two sources, "A Vision of Powerful Teaching and Learning in the Social Studies" (National Council for the Social Studies) and "A Guide to Authentic Instruction and Assessment: Vision, Standards and Scoring" (Newmann,…

As schools attempt to accommodate an increasing range of students with disabilities, linguistic differences, or other unique requirements, teachers worry about their preparation to deal with these differences. General education teachers do not always have the necessary background. Special education teachers may have only limited knowledge about…

Asserts that the lack of adequate geography instruction for preservice teachers has reached the level of crisis. Identifies a number of academic pressures and prejudices that have contributed to this crisis. Discusses a series of established and proposed programs designed to address these deficiencies. (MJP)

Surveys the barely developed and chaotic field of theater teacher assessment and finds that a piecemeal, state-by-state approach dominates. Briefly summarizes assessment in 11 states, revealing few guidelines and a variety of practices. Discusses proposed improvements from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. (MJP)

This publication describes the new legal guidelines for teacher education and licensure in Ohio. The new standards ensure that only those teachers who can perform the work will do the work. The standards emphasize performance throughout the teacher's career. They strengthen Ohio's teacher preparation programs by requiring successful performance of…

Maintains that, while teacher assessment is rapidly growing in the most commonly taught fields of music and the visual arts, it barely exists in the underdeveloped fields of dance and theater education. Examines trends in assessment including content-specific, common accreditation, and performance-based licensure. (MJP)

This issue focuses on what recent research from Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts, and Alabama says about the most significant factor that impacts student achievement: the teacher. After presenting teacher effectiveness data from the four states, it discusses what makes an effective teacher, focusing on the need for strong verbal and math skills,…

Describes an assessment for art teachers developed at the Art Assessment Development Lab. The assessment involves two parts: a portfolio that teachers develop at their school over at least six months and a one-day assessment of the teacher's art content knowledge. (MJP)

This publication presents 11 standards, which represent a professional consensus on the characteristics of accomplished practice and provide a profile of the accomplished health education teacher. The standards are organized around student learning and divided into three categories. The first category, "Preparing for Student Learning,"…

The licensure requirements for technology teachers vary widely from state to state. The goals of the alternative teacher licensure movement have been to allow more individuals to become certified as teachers more quickly and to attract more people with life experiences into teaching without the necessary completion of traditional undergraduate…