Examines social studies teachers educators' perceptions of character education selecting a sample of National Council for the Social Studies members (n=298). Focuses on perceptions of the common themes of character education, scope of character education, and inclusion of character education in methods courses. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents case studies of three Anglo American preservice teachers as they worked with children of color and/or poverty. Asks the preservice teachers to look within to explore their own literary backgrounds in a reading-autobiography assignment. Argues the combination of autobiographical accounts with reflective field experiences helps preservice…

Considers to what degree student teachers use principles and methods from their university-based methods class in their student teaching experiences. Explores the student teaching experience in secondary English through case studies of four students from the methods class. Reveals that the methods class and the methods professor matter, as do the…

Investigates the impact of a required secondary reading methods course on preservice teachers' attitudes regarding the need to teach reading skills to high school students. Finds that students' attitudes underwent significant changes during the course and that they became more aware of the need for teaching reading skills in the secondary program.…

Results are reported from a study designed to identify and describe the implementation and adaptation of content reading methods by six beginning secondary teachers. Findings indicate contextual constraints, as a result of competing demands and little support or reward, inhibit inservice application of preservice methods. (IAH)

Discusses the use of four strategies in a science methods class that demonstrate how to use diversity to improve middle school science instruction. The strategies include sharing teacher/learner backgrounds to promote the notion of a class community, using case study, using multicultural scenarios, and using case study combined with video…

This study used interviews; observations of methods, course meetings, and field experiences; and audiotapes of weekly reflection sessions. Data analysis indicated that preservice teachers made managerial decisions, planned lesson content, considered children's prior learning, and connected their choice of words to children's perspectives but did…

Interviews and observations of student teachers revealed that they rarely used nonexamples to explain concepts, had little exposure to instructional materials using nonexamples, and relied primarily on familiar methods from their own student experience. More intense modeling and practice regimens are needed to ensure acquisition of unfamiliar…

Presents a dialogue between a university faculty member and an elementary teacher. Explores the rich relationship afforded by collaborative efforts. Demonstrates how the connections of methods courses to classroom settings can strengthen preservice training for beginning teachers. (HB)

The perspectives of preservice teachers in utilizing concept mapping as a learning strategy are examined. Preservice teachers were asked to construct concept maps, reflect on the process, and then to record their reactions in personal journals which became the primary data source. Reaction to preservice teachers concept maps and apparent learning…

Describes how selected case examples are used in a mathematics course for prospective elementary teachers to provide a framework for discussing how children construct meaning in mathematics. The article examines the advantages of presenting cases in videodisc format with access to additional information through associated computer databases. (SM)

Preservice teacher candidates changed their thinking about mathematics, mathematics teaching, and children's mathematics learning after completing a mathematics methods course that promoted a nontraditional approach, which focused on teaching mathematics from a student-centered viewpoint. (20 references) (IAH)

Describes a study conducted in a core French methodology course, designed for generalist core French teachers. Describes the challenges generalist core French teachers face, and examines the ways in which students evolved and changed as professionals and as educators during the course. (Author/VWL)

Describes how the author incorporated dialog journal writing (in which university students and elementary school partners hold weekly literature discussions by email) into her reading methods course. Discusses the planning stage, preparation of university students, preparation of elementary school students, the electronic mail discussion, and the…

A social studies methods course for preservice Inuit student teachers in Canada mediated between the knowledge and professional skills required of social studies teachers as presented in the textbook and the knowledge brought by the Inuit students. Using genealogy, concept webs, and timelines, the instructor gave Inuit knowledge as much weight as…