One alternative teacher preparation method is the University of Arkansas' five-year Master of Arts in Teaching program, which involves graduate level coursework and a fifth-year public school internship following receipt of a Bachelor's degree in education. Benefits include university/school collaboration, increased field experience, and improved…

Discusses professional development schools (PDSs), focusing on their use in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learning. Examines the context of the PDS movement and describes a successful ESL PDS at Trent Academy, an elementary school in a low income, high crime area of Los Angeles that formed a partnership with a state university. (SM)

The Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative aims to improve math and science instruction in 48 schools in 6 Appalachian states. The three program components are "teacher partners" who act as resources to colleagues; access to educational resources, through a collaboration with five area universities and acquisition of telecommunications…

Preassessment teams are a collaborative problem-solving resource for teachers who have students with learning or behavioral problems. A survey of 48 rural preassessment team members found that they perceived themselves as a very effective support system for their colleagues, but desired more training in designing behavior management strategies…

Faculties must pass through several stages when becoming learning organizations: the honeymoon, conflict, confusion, messy, scary, and mature-group stages. Mature school communities have learned to view power differently, make learning more meaningful for students, and model a just and democratic society. Consensus is the starting point. (MLH)

The experiences of three students (elementary, middle school, and high-school students) with significant disabilities who had been members of an urban general education classrooms for at least 3 years are described. Students were provided with accommodations and modifications, however, there was a lack of connection between Individualized…

Presents a sample dialogue between a science teacher and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher to demonstrate the value of teacher collaborations in improving instructional strategies for ESL students. Considers ways to determine the student's level of learning despite language barriers and to maintain high content levels while helping…

Collaborative grant conceptualization and writing gave depth to a school/university partnership that applied for and secured a grant to enhance, through technology, the environmental education program of a local elementary school. The proposal development process is described and critically analyzed. Lessons learned about collaborative planning…

Describes a partnership between Boston College and its local community, outlining the partnership's development from a simple school-university engagement between a principal and a school of education faculty member to a complex set of relationships involving multiple disciplines, professions, funders, projects, participants, institutions, and…

Examined the outcomes of a 2-year, technology-supported, problem-based learning project which built teacher knowledge through sustained, dialogue-driven collaboration. The qualitative research, involving 28 grade 5-8 teachers, identified key organizational structures for making the most of computer-mediated communication for inservice teacher…

Three Head Start teachers who served students with special needs in their inclusive classrooms participated with an early childhood special education teacher conducting peer coaching sessions. Results indicated that all Head Start teachers increased their rate of responsive statements. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Investigated how collaborative action research projects affected five pre-service teachers' professional development while working with on-site teacher educators within a Professional Development School. Data from interviews, conferences, journals, action research, student writings, and field notes indicated that these experiences helped…

Describes how pre-service teachers at one elementary school participate in Grand Rounds (borrowed from the medical profession). Participants observe master teachers demonstrating model lessons and interacting with students. During a debriefing session, student teachers ask questions and discuss their observations with master teachers. Later, they…

Demonstrates how analyzing the evolution of long-term Professional Development School (PDS) problems can serve as indicators of PDS growth, identifying three persistent problems (building trust and relationships between university and school personnel, reconceptualizing existing coursework to fit in the PDS context, and making inquiry a central…

Shares the insights and experiences of mentor teachers from an elementary-level Professional Development School (PDS), describing the development of the PDS and offering insights about the mentor teacher's role, opportunities, and qualities. Information comes from surveys of and interviews with 11 mentor teachers at the school. A checklist for…