Discusses current educational trends and relates them to preservice art education. Reviews research in art education and dance education and makes suggestions on qualifications and certification for dance educators. Provides 10 recommendations for dance education and the preparation of dance education teachers. (CFR)

Describes how one group of students undertook a project requiring them to develop assignments and teaching materials for GNVQ science. (DDR)

Twelve Navajo preservice teachers in the Navajo Nation shared their perceptions of factors that enabled and constrained their completion of a special education teacher preparation program: cultural teachings, family support, language, finances, cultural responsibilities, and lack of educational opportunities on the reservation. Recommendations for…

Provides teacher trainers with a variety of instructional materials, resources, and articles that can be employed to diversify the special-education training curriculum to address the needs of migrant students and families. Online information, videocassettes, and field trips and field work addressing the migrant experience are also discussed.…

Reports on a teacher-education course that emphasized the use of the visual arts in promoting content area reading. Local art museum personnel and teacher-education faculty identified works that could invoke discussions in certain content areas of specialization. Students used these as a basis for their papers. (MJP)

This article reports perceptions of a first-year teacher of students with learning disabilities. First-year challenges are described, as well as views on assessment, accountability, and inclusion. Recommendations are made for new teachers and steps that teacher educators, school administrators, and experienced teachers can take to ensure the…

This paper describes the Early Intervention and Family Support Training Program of the Family, Infant and Preschool Program at Western Carolina Center, North Carolina. The program uses competence-based training to flexibly respond to interdisciplinary needs and interests while preserving essential core content. The paper discusses role…

This article argues that if the policy of inclusion in Great Britain is to have value, impact, and longevity it needs to be considered in the light of the prevailing real-world context of special education-focused teacher education. Recommendations are made for addressing special education in teacher education programs. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article recommends revamping special education certification to support quality education in inclusive settings by aligning special education certification with general education certification, allowing for collaborative teacher training for general and special education at the initial certification level, and providing advanced training for…

This commentary reviews previous articles highlighting key issues relevant to special education teacher certification. It discusses the low percentage of students who complete teacher education courses and are teaching three years later, the need to restructure special education certification, and the promise of distance education in teacher…

Discusses the efficiency of the University of Southern Maine's Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP) in promoting teachers as learners, teaching for learning, and learning to change. Results from longitudinal surveys of program participants indicated that stakeholders considered the strongest dimension of the ETEP to be teaching as a learning…

Discusses the importance of a mentoring program for community college faculty. Identifies characteristics of a good mentor, such as strong communication skills, and those of a good mentee, such as strong listening skills. Argues that a mentoring program is beneficial to the individuals involved, as well as to the community college. (Contains 19…

Describes development of a Temple University course on curriculum in early childhood education that provides 60 percent of instruction on-line. Includes information on course design, instructional methods, course implementation, and student course evaluation. Found that students' views about on-line instruction were positive overall and that…

The town of Greeley, perched on northern Colorado's prairie, is like many other communities across the United States that are experiencing an influx of immigrants. The picturesque town of 85,000 people had a 30 percent minority population as of the 2000 U.S. Census. Estimates place that figure closer to 40 percent today, most of whom are Hispanic.…

There is increasing use of distance-learning technologies to deliver alternative teacher licensure and certification programs for those areas of shortage such as rural and urban areas and those content areas for which it is difficult to find highly qualified teachers. This article reviews those collaborative groups, partnerships, and institutions…