Results of a national survey of 51 social-work doctoral-program directors indicate that although the majority of doctoral programs include preparation for teaching as a program objective, they offer limited formal course work and few opportunities for supervised teaching experience. Recommendations are made for better preparing doctoral…

Examines aspects of the knowledge base that experienced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers draw on in their teaching, primarily in giving explanations of grammar and other language points. Focuses on three categories of teacher knowledge: content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge; and knowledge of learners. (Author/VWL)

Provides an interview with Ken Young, a retired art teacher, who in order to gain students' interest in art history impersonates various artists by researching their backgrounds and dressing up in costume. Focuses on why he began impersonation, his research on the artists, makeup, and his experiences with impersonating artists. (CMK)

Reports on LEA appraisal coordinators' implementation of teacher appraisal based on 1991 Regulations. As coordinators' work is being shaped and increasingly marginalized through legal requirements and state restructuring, incumbents have sought opportunities to promote educational values. Values-based professionalism is being replaced by…

Discusses the author's personal background as it affects her views on early childhood education. Describes her 12 beliefs in praise of developmentally appropriate practice. Beliefs include: (1) the theoretical foundation of developmentally appropriate practice is valid; (2) developmentally appropriate practice encourages academic rigor; and (3)…

An elementary school teacher describes how students in grades five through six developed language-arts and other skills by rewriting Shakespeare plays; learning stage design, techniques, and vocabulary; reflecting on Shakespeare's intentions and their own insights into the plays' meanings; and presenting both original plays and their own versions.…

Describes a 30-year-old new teacher's first year in an Oregon fourth-grade classroom, as he grapples with his students' diverse learning needs, inadequate textbooks, the isolation of being a rookie, and the pressures of simultaneously engaging his students' interest and meeting state standards. Lists four helpful books for new teachers. (SV)

Examines the ontological meaning of experience in teacher education, highlighting a fifth-grade art lesson taught by a student teacher. Based on Dewey's view of experience, the article argues that practical wisdom is a dynamic process, and teacher education's task is to enable prospective teachers to be open to experience and aware of the…

Prospective secondary mathematics teachers lack images of "reformed" teaching that engage students in experimenting, analyzing, conjecturing, justifying, and making connections. The development and investigation of experiences fostering reform-oriented teaching are needed. This study investigated microteaching lesson study (MLS), an experience…

This qualitative study examined the subjective experience of school counseling interns (N = 26) with and without teaching experience. Non-teachers acknowledged a steep learning curve as they adjusted to the school and teacher cultures, but relied on personal qualities and counselor training as they moved successfully into competence. Teachers…

There have been repeated calls for educational researchers to increase their use of interpretive and naturalistic research paradigms to study, understand, and explain what happens in classrooms. A review of educational research literature, however, revealed only a few naturalistic studies of life in the classroom. Encouragingly, it appears that…

We examined the complexities of developing and implementing school curricula that reflect the goals for equality for students outlined in the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Stories of teaching and learning experiences were presented to teacher-researchers as a means of generating discussion about differences in perspective pertaining to the…

Beginning teachers are often given teaching assignments that would challenge even the most skillful veteran teachers. Such assignments can take several forms: teaching in a subject area for which the teacher is not certified; having too many class preparations; "floating" from classroom to classroom; working with low-ability, unmotivated, or…

The effective management of pupils' undesirable behaviours in the classroom represents a major challenge for teachers. In order to better comprehend the difficulties facing them it is important to examine how they perceive pupil behaviours at different stages of their professional development. The present study examined the effects of teaching…

School-based assessment of science students' practical skills has two important roles--as a complement to written papers in public examinations and as a catalyst for enriching the science curriculum in schools. This article describes a quantitative study of the concerns chemistry and biology teachers experience as they engage in the process of…