Describes a teacher education project designed to prepare student teachers for mixed ability teaching. The procedures of developing the materials and training methods for this project based at the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester, The United Kingdom are also presented. (HM)

Elementary education majors might be better able to guide children in self-directed learning if they are exposed to such an experience in their formal training. A reading methods course stressing self-directed learning is described and a bibliography is provided. (JMD)

Achievement scores of student teachers in the areas of science, humanities, and social studies on tests of five process skills are compared. Fifty-four subjects were assigned to treatment (auto-tutorial) and control (lecture-discussion) groups. Subjects experiencing auto-tutorial instruction were found to achieve significantly higher than those in…

Defies the assumption that laboratory teaching skills are gained by preservice secondary science education majors through their undergraduate science programs, and presents expertise areas which every teacher should possess. Outlines activities for each skill which can become part of a methods course under the direction of science educators. (DH)

Reports on a survey of secondary school English teachers and English methods professors that was conducted to determine what they considered the actual content of English methods courses was and what they felt ideally should be included in the courses. (HOD)

Five preservice teachers' perceived sources of teaching decisions were studied as they proceeded through a secondary mathematics education methods course and through student teaching. Sources cited most often included methods course content, school textbooks, suggestions made during teaching episodes in the methods course, past teachers'…

Discusses the need for preservice elementary teachers to experience inquiry first-hand, suggesting that they engage in problem-solving rather than just "talking about" it. A typical teacher education program is described with suggestions to incorporate inquiry-oriented experiences. An inquiry-oriented activity using sand and funnels is included.…

The value of using more than one data collection procedure to investigate an educational question is illustrated. A semantic differential instrument provided an index of the direction and intensity of teachers' attitudes, but an unstructured interview provided a more detailed portrayal of their opinions. (RM)

Examines six randomly selected reading methods textbooks to determine the authors' perspectives on commercial reading materials and their use in elementary school classrooms. Concludes that most authors are relatively uncritical in their advocacy of commercial materials. (FL)

In an examination of methods courses for students of vocational agriculture education, concern is expressed about whether Vo-Ag teachers are mastering techniques which invite student participation. A national survey in which methods course syllabi were analyzed for emphasis on developing competence in teaching techniques is described, and…

Describes the use of three educational innovations--prototypes, simulations, and protocol materials--in teacher education programs. Sample lessons and evaluations of each of the innovations are provided. (Author/DB)

This study examined the relationship between a constructivist/hands-on elementary methods course in science and preservice teachers' dispositions toward science content and teaching. The study investigated how an active learning and teaching style in science methods courses would affect preservice teacher self-efficacy and attitude. Data came from…

An exploratory study described the ways in which a university supervisor constructed meaning about the program goals, assessment system, and her role as a supervisor relative to a newly reconceptualized elementary student teaching program and literacy methods class. The supervisor worked in a teacher education program in a large urban university…

This study investigates the development of an understanding of scientific inquiry by preservice teachers as a result of their participation in a five-week elementary science methods class. The study was done in response to changes in state standards for teacher education in Texas and focuses on the effectiveness of a one-hour methods course in…

Noting that both the college and the collaborating schools gain from early field placement (prior to student teaching) in education programs, this paper presents a prototype for early placement practicums based on 10 years experience in providing practicums for reading methods courses for Medgar Evers College, City University of New York…