Although preservice teachers are familiar with classroom life, they are largely unfamiliar with teachers' intentions and reasoning. Those completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) have just one year to acquire new insights into teaching. This article investigates whether their school-based learning can be enhanced by preparing them…

Utilizing technology to connect three geographically separate institutions within the same state and drawing on Bhabba, and Zeichner's notions of third space, four teacher educators developed an opportunity for the middle-level teacher candidates from each university to simultaneously observe a live classroom teaching event virtually while…

Peer-related social competencies can have a major impact on classroom success. While some students can learn these social competencies through observation and imitation of others, other students require intensive intervention in social skills to be able to interact appropriately with others. This article presents social narratives as a behavioral…

This article presents findings from an exploratory empirical study of teaching residents' opportunities and learning within the overlapping contexts of English as a Second Language (ESL)/special education classrooms and high-need urban schools. Utilizing documentation from the first year of a teacher residency program, our findings illustrate the…

This study investigates college student perceptions of instructor credibility based on the content of an instructor's Twitterfeed and student beliefs about Twitter as a communication tool. Quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized to explore the effects of three manipulated Twitter feeds (e.g., tweeting social topics, professional topics,…

This study aimed at examining an unorthodox approach in which teacher trainees observe experienced teachers to benefit from their professional experience instead of the more common practice in which teacher trainees are evaluated through self-reflection and peer review. The target population was 111 teachers randomly selected by 20 teacher…

It is important as we look at the educational environment to understand that it is a complex system that calls for analyses at multiple levels. One who enters from a single theoretical orientation is at a distinct disadvantage. Particularly when unique students arrive with various emotional and behavioral difficulties, being restricted to a narrow…

The effect of systematically including peer interaction trials during a group training session for two severely retarded adolescent students was studied. For two of the three skills, the student showed incidental learning of the skill presented just prior to the peer interaction trial. (Author/SEW)

Provides instructional techniques, using samples from evergreen trees, to explain to school children the concept of adaptation. The techniques help children develop skills in observation, classification, communication, inferring, and predicting. A teacher's reproducible is included. (GLR)

A study of oral language instruction with 19 trainable mentally handicapped students (mean age 15.3 years) was undertaken. (Author/PHR)

The purpose of this project was to produce a videotape of outstanding cooperating teachers and to use the tape to demonstrate effective methods for maintaining classroom discipline to student teachers. A set of six criteria for effective teaching was defined in terms of student behavior and the criteria were used to select seven teachers, five…

Describes the reaction of seven learning disabled and mildly emotionally disturbed children to reading and discussion of fairy tales. Compared to a control group, the children exposed to fairy tales did show progress. No increase in negative reactions and behaviors was noted. Discusses limitations to the study. (JAC)

Implemented a situated learning model of coteaching in the weekly field component of a secondary science methods course. Students cotaught by observing and assisting their teachers for one period, then taught the same lesson, supported by their teachers, the following period. This resulted in comfort in learning to teach, increased confidence in…

Reports on the use of participant modeling in a study of 56 college-level students to reduce fear of laboratory rats. Discovers that even mild exposure reduced fear significantly. Finds that women were more fearful initially but that their fear reduction was equal to that of men. (CFR)

This book provides elementary teachers with ways to use focused observation to help plan thoughtful, effective instruction and curriculum for their students. The recommended strategies can be implemented in a variety of situations, grade levels, and teaching environments. Three chapters present stories related to: getting along in the classroom…