The study reported in this article delineates preservice teachers' perceptions of readiness to effectively teach elementary language arts before and after a site-based methods course. Their perceptions are also compared to those of inservice teachers in public elementary schools. Results indicate that perceptions of comfort and confidence for…

The purpose of this study was to describe elementary preservice teachers' difficulties with understanding algebraic generalizations that were set in an authentic context. Fifty-eight preservice teachers enrolled in an elementary mathematics methods course participated in the study. These students explored and practiced with authentic, hands-on…

Lack of confidence towards science is a major factor in the avoidance of teaching science at elementary school. This paper reports the results of a survey that asked 28 pre-service elementary teachers what they believed contributed to their confidence towards science and the teaching of science during a second year science unit where an holistic…

The need for an engaged, informed citizenry is central to the dream of democracy by Thomas Jefferson. The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) places citizenship education "at the heart of social studies" and suggests that social studies teachers must prepare students to develop a "reasoned commitment to fundamental values, such as life,…

This paper reports the results of a study conducted by the instructor of a pre-service mathematics methods course for the purpose of improving her teaching practice and course design. Novice teachers who graduated from the course were questioned about their math anxiety levels and use of approaches and strategies in their own math programs. They…

The objective of this study was to examine the nature of preservice teachers' evaluations of elementary mathematics problems using the Mathematical Tasks Framework (MTF), a model designed to discriminate among tasks according to their cognitive complexity. We also tested the relationship between mathematics content knowledge and problem length on…

In this essay, the idea of "method" in teacher education is explored. Using the author's own teaching as the site for this inquiry, and drawing on comments from her students, the paper proposes three ways to think of method: the methods of subject matter and the different approaches required; the methods of manner, including personal…

A study hypothesized that pedagogical beliefs, as well as method course experience, would be important and related influences on how preservice teachers used portfolios. During a year-long study, 20 elementary education majors were followed as they moved through methods courses into student teaching and their first year as classroom teachers.…

The portfolio procedures a teacher-educator uses in an undergraduate course in teaching reading in the elementary school have proven successful in helping students begin to articulate a philosophy of literacy instruction and assessment. The process also contributes additional benefits to students' levels of self-esteem, self-confidence, and their…

Fifty-seven elementary education students enrolled in methods courses were asked to respond to an open-ended questionnaire to identify what knowledge and skills had been learned as a result of participating in field experiences required in the courses. Students provided 516 individual statements, with 245 being knowledge statements, which included…

This paper provides guidelines on how to develop complete lesson plans using information from selected published articles and a standard lesson plan outline. The technique is designed as a culminating project for a methods and materials health education course or a teacher inservice activity. Students select a journal article that describes an…

Try as she would, one instructor of preservice teachers could not convince her students that such skills as reading and vocabulary are not good indicators of how well a secondary student will write, especially in the case of minorities. One of the hardest sells to new teachers is that students--at all levels--should write extensively, regardless…

This study examined the characteristics of graduate education students enrolled in an advanced methods class and their response to a micro-teaching approach. Conducted over 5 years beginning in 1987, the study involved 112 graduates micro-teaching 12 model lessons in groups of 4, in 10 academic areas of the curriculum. Participants were tested at…

This report describes the first year of an ongoing intervention study and the learning of a group of practicing teachers working together with researchers to make changes in the ways they teach mathematics. When reflecting on their beginning efforts, the researchers found that several assumptions in their planned interventions were not borne out…

Future teachers were surveyed on their perceptions of the impact of their teacher preparation program upon their success in student teaching. Forty-one undergraduate elementary education majors were surveyed before and after the student teaching experience. Preliminary results suggest that prior to student teaching, these prospective teachers…