This study compared changes in attitudes toward inclusion and efficacy of 98 general and 76 special education students completing their master's degree. Data were collected at the beginning of the program, at the end of the first semester--upon completion of an Introduction to Inclusion course--and at the end of the program. Results indicated…

This qualitative case study explored preservice teachers' (PSTs) beliefs about disciplinary literacy as they engaged in a blog project with middle-school students to discuss historical texts. Twenty-eight PSTs, enrolled in a semester-long social studies methods course and participating in the blog project as a course assignment, constituted the…

The complexity of disposition development for teacher candidates continues to be discussed and debated in teacher education. This study compares two programs and the different ways each approaches the disposition development of their respective candidates. More than 200 candidates from two institutions were surveyed on how and where they perceived…

Researchers studied 34 student teachers from 1 middle school. One group was prepared in a traditional program and another in a program specifically for middle schools. Surveys and videotapes compared their knowledge about middle school teaching and learning. Specifically prepared teachers were significantly better teachers with better skills and…

The coupling of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act has placed a large number of students with disabilities into general education settings. The continued trend toward educating students with disabilities in inclusive settings mandates that teachers be prepared to work with all learners. General…

The effects of three approaches to student teaching seminars were examined. Student teachers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: coping skills training, classroom management training, or general education discussion groups. Analysis indicated that content-specific training positively affected classroom management skills,…

Elementary and middle school students' perceptions of the learning environments in classes of traditionally and alternatively certified teachers were compared via an adaptation of the "My Class Inventory." Results indicate differences for several climate variables (e.g., cohesiveness and lack of friction) in favor of traditionally certified…