Developmental framework identifies four phases in the knowledge and application base for teaching elementary physical education: acquiring a knowledge base; integrating subject areas within the major's knowledge base; applying knowledge; and evaluating teaching experience. The steps influence preservice teachers' teaching abilities so they…

Relates the experiences of a group of five teachers of freshman English who formed a group to discuss their teaching. Considers both teaching composition and talking about teaching composition. Traces the way this project allowed the participants to rethink what their circumstances were and what framed their own ways of seeing themselves. (SR)

Reflects on the author's experiences teaching a course on great documents in American history to high school students, concentrating on teaching the Declaration of Independence and the "Federalist Papers." Countering the students' tendencies toward superficial reading and encouraging deep analysis are the teacher's primary goals. (SLD)

Explored teachers' self-reported assessment practices and the influence of teaching experience, grade level, and subject area on those practices. Surveys of 893 teachers in 34 schools indicated that they used observational assessment and performance tasks more frequently than traditional assessment. Experienced teachers, elementary teachers, and…

Ordinary, daily teaching experiences form the essence of teachers' practice. Using a guide to reflect on those experiences, either individually or with colleagues, is a step toward self-improvement. The Guided Reflection Protocol helps teachers examine what happened, why it happened, possible meanings, and implications for practice. (MLH)

Characterizes the recent situation in Finnish vocational education in order to highlight the relevance of a research project on changes in vocational teachers' conceptions of their work. Presents reasons why teachers are of special interest, examples from the project's oral history collection, and some lessons already learned from the study. (DSK)

Two elementary school teachers puzzled over their students' fascination with using a paint spinner to make art, and feared that the "mindless" spinner was using valuable class time in which creative activities were intended to promote innovative thinking. Years later, a former student explained how the spinner accomplished the teachers' goal. (SV)

Investigated the relationship between Lebanese teachers' characteristics, personal and general teacher efficacy, and perception of teaching concerns. Surveys indicated that experience and personal efficacy related negatively to perceptions of teaching concerns. Gender, grade level taught, and general efficacy did not relate to perceptions of any…

Describes the process for gathering and organizing products of teacher activity in the form of a portfolio. Discusses typical products and documents to be included and the reflective questions that are used to select entries. Notes that portfolios are considered to provide insight to the content and method of instruction and a qualitative…

An autobiographical narrative of a Puerto Rican bilingual teacher reflects on the social and educational impact of bilingualism, biculturalism, and bilingual education on her life. It also aims to redefine the American dream to more adequately reflect the contemporary multicultural character of a bilingual American. (Author/SV)

Discusses the Matched-Team Configuration, a multiple placement approach to preservice teacher education that makes connections between university teacher education programs and local middle schools. Describes six connections made by the program, noting their effectiveness for student teachers and middle school students. (JPB)

Beginning and veteran teachers are experiencing gross professional neglect. Teachers have been passive far too long about their own professionalism. The National Education Association is currently working with seven teacher-preparation institutions to reinvent teacher education and professional development. As Columbus, Ohio's peer-review program…

Articulates qualities that distinguish those who teach more than competently. Describes circumstances, experiences, and structures that are likely to promote development of these qualities in early-career teachers. Identifies issues that administrators and senior faculty confront to provide such experiences for junior faculty members. (RS)

Observes that the relevance gap between educational practice and research is often seen as a methodological problem, but communicative and social issues are also important. Uses economics ideas about tacit capability and Jurgen Habermas' account of communicative action to explore social problems in the relation of educational practice to research.…

Examines the extent to which psychology students are prepared to teach by assessing teaching assistant (TA) training from the perspective of both TAs and department chairs using U.S. survey data. Focuses on (1) the prevalence and scope of TA training that psychology departments provide and (2) factors associated with differing amounts of training.…