Teachers who lack the professional development needed demonstrate less self-efficacy. Teacher pedagogical and content understanding are important factors related to the impact on student engagement and achievement. This study was designed to attempt to understand teachers' perceptions of the impact of professional development and which format…

Many out-of-school time (OST) sites are incorporating literacy time in their programming to capitalize on the benefits associated with literacy instruction. Afterschool is a perfect opportunity to foster a love of reading in children. Expanded learning in afterschool programs can make a difference in both short-term and long-term academic…

Teaching is a complex activity that requires making ongoing multiple decisions and sporadic, responsive actions all while performing preplanned prescribed tasks. Evidence of certain aspects of teaching can be best assessed with a well-designed observation instrument. This instrument was designed to assess the enactment of the essential elements of…

Research supports the effectiveness of matching instructional methods with student learning preferences (Dunn et al., 1995; Pascarella and Terenzini, 2005). Several challenges exist, however, for mathematics departments to design classroom learning experiences that allow students to learn mathematics and learn how to study math through their…

The Greenwich, Connecticut, public school system is training teachers and administrators in the use of structured cooperative learning groups as part of a district-wide strategy to explore a variety of effective teaching practices. The cooperative learning program and its impact on teachers and students is described. (MT)

Complete your review of where science education in the U.S. is heading with this wide-ranging look at secondary-level science curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Through lively examples of classroom practice, interviews with award-winning science teachers and science education experts, and a thorough review of the research, discover how…

This article describes the training process developed for teachers when the Columbus, Ohio, public schools decided to introduce Student Team Learning in the middle schools and the intermediate elementary grades. (MT)

Describes the college's approach to the requirement for writing courses beyond freshman composition. The main avenues to enhancing writing across the curriculum are (1) guidelines for advanced writing courses, (2) tutoring, (3) workshops and inservice activities, and (4) liaisons among writing faculty and the program's coordinator. (HTH)

This handbook serves as a guide for administrators and lead teachers in a staff development program for improving the quality of instruction in high schools in Oregon. The staff development program is divided into a 2-day basic training program and a 3-day advanced training program. In the first session, participants learn to establish learning…

Developing a model to improve student academic learning time and achievement and to develop local resources to continue the program after the funding period required a staff development program that enabled teachers to use specific direct instruction teaching behaviors. The staff development program is described and recommendations are made. (MT)

Supports the argument that reading and writing ought to be taught together "so closely that students can't tell where one leaves off and the other begins" and seeks to persuade the reluctant teacher by (1) giving reasons for interweaving composition and literature seamlessly, and (2) outlining one procedure for doing so. (NH)

An imaginative characterization portrays English teachers as one of four types: "Mighty Stonehenges,""Mad Mods,""Limpid Gazelles," and "Neo-realists." Of these types, the first three represent respectively the "ivory tower traditionalists,""latter day saints in the spell of experimental programs," and obsequious followers who jot verbatim…

An innovative physical education course incorporating unique field experiences, high levels of participation, and reinforcement of individual responsibility was designed and implemented in a pilot project. When compared to traditional physical education classes, mixed results were obtained for various physical fitness measures and knowledge…