The primary objective of this descriptive study was to garner a clearer understanding of how judgements are made by supervisors regarding the success or failure of student teachers. The secondary objectives were: (1) to identify what criteria are used to make decisions about the success or failure of student teachers; (2) to determine if these…

This paper examines the uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding student teaching supervision which may result from the individually idiosyncratic and imprecise use of language in clinical instruction and evaluative judgments. Case study methodology is used to compare the language used and the underlying images of "student teaching" and "effective…

This study focused on the thoughts, related schema, and decision-making of student teaching supervisors as they go about their work of supervision. Twelve practicing supervisors were asked to write their thoughts on a three-stage data gathering, circle instrument. These concepts were weighted to reflect the significance each concept had in the…

A discussion of some of the problems teacher supervisors face includes a description of some of the coping strategy skills they employ (staging, screening, signaling, and systems) and suggests that the problems supervisors typically face must be considered when assigning personnel to field supervision or preparing supervisors. (CB)