"Learning the Work of Ambitious Mathematics" project was developed to support prospective teachers learn the work of ambitious mathematics teaching. Building on the work of U.S. researchers in the "Learning in, from, and for Teaching Practice" project, we investigate new ways to make practice studyable within the university…

The value of a practicum as part of a reading methods course is explored through a questionnaire soliciting reactions of pupils and of student teachers. The statements gathered are interpreted as indicating that the experience has a positive effect on the attitudes of all participants. Classroom teachers are urged to allow their pupils to…

A study was conducted to determine the attitudes of undergraduate education students regarding the importance of experiences with children and to examine the effects of age, prior experiences with children, and class standing on their attitudes. The purpose of this study was to seek an appropriate balance among field experiences, methods, content,…

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions and opinions of the 128 students who have matriculated in a competency-based reading methods course at Rhode Island College. The course presently consists of 54 objectives in 14 instructional modules. Alternate learning activities and various postassessment options are listed in each module,…

This paper explores the question of the relative quality of the academic and professional components of teacher education programs from three different angles: (1) a critical assessment of several widely publicized and representative critiques of education courses with a focus on describing the variety of the criticisms and on assessing the…

The Multiple Perspectives Teacher Education Emphasis Area at Michigan State University was designed to integrate teacher candidates' field experiences with the instruction from the methods courses. Field instructors were informed about the specific methods, content, and procedures. Some methods courses were taught within the field setting and…

Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services is redesigning its undergraduate teacher education program. The program places volunteer freshmen in real classrooms for long-term observations and volunteer assistance, eventually leading up to a full range of teaching opportunities. Also, coursework is presented in an…

The Professional Semester program in the College of Education at Northeast Louisiana University originated in 1975 when a need was recognized to integrate practical applications of what was being taught in the required methods courses of the elementary education program. Program accreditation was received in Fall, 1998. This study was conducted to…

The validity of several predictors was examined against multiple criteria of student program success. Subjects (N=437) were selected from about 800 students in the elementary teacher education program of a small California state university. Predictor variables for each subject included: (1) undergraduate grade point average (GPA); (2) subscale…