An award-winning educator discusses experiences that taught her to be sensitive to student experiences and encourage them to think. She explains why she doesn't like grades, how the ethics of care is thoroughly relational, and that it is important for kids to be attached to their geographic place yet develop skills that enable them to communicate…

The author relates his experiences in the undergraduate teacher education program at one of only two public higher education institutions open to Blacks at the time. The curriculum is described, and his experiences during student teaching and his first teaching jobs are detailed. (IAH)

Reports on what factors teachers say have influenced their beliefs and instructional practices concerning reading. Finds that both subskills-oriented and whole language teachers identified their classroom experiences as teachers as the single greatest influence on their beliefs about reading and reading instruction. (RS)

The experiences of two Colorado high school English teachers (one public and one private) are compared. Although the schools are similar socioeconomically, many differences impact the job, teacher responsibilities, and quality of life. In general, the private school allows more teacher creativity and individual time with students. (SM)

Interview data from a study investigating perceptions and attitudes of teachers toward their work provides the basis for this article which examines the metaphorical language teachers use to describe their experience and sketches an outline of the meaning of work as perceived by teachers, school systems and society. (IAH)

Explores the experiences of four Canadian prospective primary teachers during an eight-week practicum. Suggests that subjects' conformity to cooperating teachers' practices was not passive acceptance of the status quo, but rather a response to their interpretations of the constraints of being a student teacher. Contains 46 references. (Author/SV)

Debunks two myths: the United States spends more on its schools than other nations; and money makes no difference in student achievement. The United States provides more school services than other countries do. Research shows a strong expenditure/academic-achievement correlation. Test scores rise when districts use money to reduce class size and…

A white male professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks taught an experimental section of a composition course with a reading list composed almost entirely of American Indian and Alaska Native authors. Vocal controversies about the readings were attributed to fundamentalist views, lack of experience in reading literature, sensitivity about…

Student teachers can become obsessed with classroom management issues if preservice programs do not prepare them adequately for classroom realities. The paper looks at one student teacher's struggle with classroom management issues and recommends teaching student teachers management issues and providing corresponding opportunities to experience…

Suggests using lesson plans in a lesson series as a means of reflection to help inexperienced or preservice teachers utilize their experience to effect self-development in teaching. The author discusses preparation of reflective lesson plans and demonstrates their use in effecting teaching improvement. (11 references) (CK)

A study of 14 experienced high school physical education teachers' views of and rationales for effective teaching used critical incidents, the Q-sort technique, and informal interviews. Analysis found that most teachers defined effective teaching as a hierarchy of pedagogical practices in which organization, management, discipline, and control…

This article describes characteristics of special education teachers based on data collected and analyzed by the federal government. Tables, graphs, and text present data on the teaching force by age, ethnicity, gender, full certification in main teaching field, highest degree, teaching experience, and likelihood of becoming a teacher again. (DB)

Reports a study that examined eight Canadian elementary schools that were implementing cooperative learning, describing the context and design of the cooperative learning project, identifying nine common concerns of elementary teachers beginning to implement cooperative learning, offering suggestions to staff developers for supporting teachers,…

Reports a study of 13 teacher education institutions that examined practices for selection and evaluation of cooperating teachers. Survey results indicated that student teacher placement procedures and selection of cooperating teachers remains relatively unchanged. The most important selection criteria were principal's recommendations and teaching…

This issue focuses on problematic interactions between ethnic and racially diverse students and monocultural students. Declining or stable enrollments in four-year colleges by students of color mean that no major change in the experiential backgrounds of teachers appears likely, leading to strong concerns about fostering multicultural…