The growing cultural and linguistic diversity found in P-12 public schools requires focused attention from advanced-level educator preparation program providers. Practicing teachers earning an advanced degree at the specialist or master's level benefit from theory and research to support diverse learners, but praxis--where theory and research…

This article illustrates how action research can be used as a model for professional development with middle grades educators in rapidly changing and technology-intensive schools. Drawing upon ten years of using this model, the authors present three examples of educator action research to highlight five characteristics of effective projects: (1)…

Twelve lessons were learned from the Kern/Eastern Sierra Writing Project (KESWP): (1) successful teachers of writing can be identified and their practices demonstrated to others; (2) writing is an important way to learn as well as to communicate--the process of writing is as valuable as the product; (3) teachers of writing must write; (4) most…

This report describes a training program designed to assist 15 Southeastern states in preparing quality early intervention personnel to serve young children with disabilities and their families. The goals of the project are described, including: (1) increasing states' progress in implementing the personnel preparation component of Part H of the…

Described is a one-day program providing those persons implementing Individually Guided Education (IGE) programs with a simulated experience of applying an Instructional Programming Model (IPM) to a curricular area. The goal is to develop the major concepts and skills necessary to operationalize an IPM. Information is provided on the program…

Two instructional coordinators, working with elementary teachers in low-socioeconomic-status schools describe how they reviewed research on two relevant instructional areas (strategies which increase students' time-on-task and direct instruction) and condensed their findings into a form usable by teachers--an inservice slide/tape presentation.…

The spiral approach has long been used by curriculum designers to deepen students' knowledge of scientific and mathematical concepts and to bring students to higher levels of abstraction. The benefits of a spiral approach, however, can also be extended to teacher education. This paper describes a spiral activity employed by the "Kidumatica"…

This article describes a model of inservice training for regular and special educators (K-4th grade), with a focus on updating teachers on recent research developments in preventing and treating reading and writing disabilities and translating this knowledge into classroom practice. The effectiveness of the model is discussed. (Author/CR)

Growing Thinkers is a teacher in-service program, designed and instituted in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District, which focuses on the development of higher-order thinking abilities. The three overall goals of the program are: (1) to recognize and further develop excellence in teaching; (2) to enhance the development of higher-order…

The design and effects of a data-based approach to training school staff in the implementation of innovative programs are discussed. The rationale and design of the Data-Based Staff Development Program, which has been developed to train school staff to implement the programmatic and personnel changes required to effectively establish and maintain…

Through colleague consultation, teachers develop a collaborative relationship conducive to interclass visitation, observation, and discussion. This helps teachers to become more critical and reflective of their teaching. Clinical supervision is suggested as a method of helping teachers find meaning in their teaching. (Author/DF)

Describes an interactive-teaming model for delivering inservice education to teams providing services in early-childhood educational settings. Explains the model's critical features and how these features link with an interactive teaming format. Results of preliminary participant evaluations are also presented. (Author/DB)

This article describes the first year of a 3-year professional development program designed to train two rural elementary schools to implement a model for preventing reading failure. The model provides a continuum of instruction from the general reading curriculum to intensive reading instruction for students with diverse learning needs.…

This final report describes accomplishments and activities of a 3-year federally supported project to train and support special education teachers to implement the "Steps to Self-Determination" model and curriculum. Initial training workshops with a total of 18 participating school districts (from Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Utah) were…

Presents a framework used in shaping two major mathematics teacher education research and development projects, built on a framework for mathematics learning derived from a social constructivist view of learning and incorporating aspects of French didactical theory. Describes interconnections between different domains of teacher knowledge.…