Investigated elementary preservice teachers' perceptions of a 1-week international teaching experience. Students traveled to Mexico to teach in a bilingual school and tour cultural and historical sites. Data from pre- and post questionnaires and interviews and a 1-year followup indicated lasting positive effects of this experience, in which they…

A University of Sydney (Australia) study investigated novice and expert college faculty's concepts of teaching effectiveness, self-efficacy regarding teaching, and criteria for self-evaluation as teachers. Differences were found in all of these areas, and implications for achieving excellence in teaching are discussed. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 114 institutions of higher education with early childhood education programs found that approximately a fifth of associate, master's, and doctoral degree programs and approximately a third of bachelor's degree programs required coursework in preschool mainstreaming. Less than 25% of the programs required field experiences in…

A study of 1,261 doctoral students in chemistry, civil engineering, microbiology, and sociology investigated student experiences with research, employment, and personal misconduct in academic departments, including the effects of departmental structure, department climate, and academic discipline. No disciplinary differences were found, but…

Examined fourth graders' affective experiences and achievement outcomes in small-group learning in mathematics. Students reported that personal experiences changed with increased exposure to their small group and were adaptively reconstructed upon delayed reflection. There were no results associated with individual student gender; group gender…

Highlights problematic relationships between society, teachers, students, and schooling as exemplified by structural and cultural inequality, unequal power relations, domination, racism, sexism, and hegemony in American schools. After describing how some institutions prepare educators for diversity and equity, the paper explicates the curriculum…

Maintains that, in spite of state efforts to reduce educational inequities, stratification actually increased during the Soviet period. Removing gender preferences for men corrected some inequity. However, parents' education, occupation, and geographical origin contributed to the stratification. Contains a concise history of Soviet educational…

Articulates the ideological and social relationships reinforced by the spatial design of urban children's schools in the early 19th century. Describes the purpose and function of the four types of schools: Sunday, monitorial, infant, and workhouse. Includes numerous illustrations from a variety of sources. (MJP)

Examines the attitudes, experiences, and practices of parents towards reading, and how this affected their children. Although many parents actively promoted reading at home, they lacked confidence in their abilities and expressed a desire for training and assistance. Discovers a need for greater communication between parents and teachers. (MJP)

Compared student teachers' attitudes toward working in urban schools before and after student teaching. Participants rated interest and comfort levels for teaching in four very different schools. Respondents had difficulty envisioning themselves teaching urban students. Attitudes shifted more favorably toward urban teaching among students who had…

Florida Atlantic University restructured its undergraduate teacher preparation program to provide a bachelor's degree in elementary education with an English as a Second Language (ESOL) endorsement. The program prepares graduates to meet the needs of ESOL students in regular elementary classrooms. It integrates ESOL competencies into methods…

A study tested the accuracy of a general model in predicting college predisposition among eighth-grade students of diverse ethnicity at schools characterized by high minority enrollments and high participation levels in subsidized school lunch programs. Results suggest models using broadly aggregated student data may overlook important…

Part of the practicum curriculum for Children's Studies at Edith Cowan University, Australia, this program gives students field experiences in rural situations, which are especially relevant to the course's ecological approach. Describes some of the unique child care situations found in rural communities, and how students, staff, the university,…

Explores young children's mark-making in a domestic play setting. Suggests mark-making indicates aspects of the relationship between semiotic and conceptual development. Focuses on contexts in which mark-making occurs and on the authenticity of the learning events in which children participate. (DLH)

Surveys of approximately 1,800 students aged 12-13 in England, France, and Denmark and in-depth study of 18 students in each country found "constants" in pupil concerns about education's link to work, teacher respect for students, and interesting teaching; and national differences in students' school attitudes, importance of…