New teachers often struggle to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, and the idea of mentoring these teachers during their first years in the classroom has captured the imagination of schools all over the world. Drawn from the experiences over the last twenty years of the New Teacher Center, the book illuminates the subtleties and…

Written by the director and staff of the first, and one of the largest, teaching centers in American higher education--the University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT)--this book offers a unique perspective on the strategies for making a teaching center integral to an institution's educational mission. It presents a…

This book describes a recent trend in the school restructuring movement--the professional-development school. These schools are committed to the acquisition and sharing of knowledge among all members of the educational community and depend on research-practitioner collaboration. In nine chapters, contributors explain the function, structure, and…

As a collection of articles this book is intended for use as a guide for planning and building teacher centers. The beginning articles tell how a combination of convictions, experience, high energy, and happenstance formed the first American teacher centers. The next several articles focus on practical matters such as staffing, needs assessment,…

One out of every two new teachers will quit teaching within five years; however, studies show that comprehensive induction programs can slash attrition rates in half and dramatically accelerate the professional development of new teachers. This book combines an overview of the current state of induction and mentoring with cutting-edge strategies…

The directors of 12 teacher centers describe their experiences as field agents, in multifaceted roles such as catalysts, solution-givers, facilitators, resource linkers, coordinators, or trainers. Ways that the teacher centers have offered help to schools and to teachers are outlined. The directors believe that change is made first on an…

Twenty-six specific examples of change in classrooms as the result of teacher center activities in Vermont are presented. Examples illustrate the effects of cooperative learning, peer tutoring, field trips, and other approaches to teaching. Other unique teaching methods have resulted from work with staff and teachers in various teacher centers.…

This document offers a compilation and analysis of position statements, issued by associations that form the Forum of Education Organization Leaders (FEOL), on teacher education programs, teacher inservice and professional development, teacher supply and demand, and professional image building. Information was sought on: (1) areas of preservice…