Reviews three books of relevance to early childhood educators: (1) "Distinctions between Self-Esteem and Narcissism: Implications for Practice" (L. G. Katz); (2) "We All Belong: Multicultural Child Care That Works" (Australian Early Childhood Association); and (3) "Words Can Hurt You: Beginning a Program of Anti-Bias…

Implementation of a career ladder in the Cave Creek Unified School District (Arizona), with a five-factor teacher performance evaluation and accompanying placement algorithm successfully dispersed teachers across plan levels. After three years, there have been no teacher grievances filed, and teachers feel ownership and authority over the career…

A research-based positive evaluation methodology for professional development of teachers is presented, and its use in an Australian school is described. The principal is the evaluator and chair of an assessment committee that includes a peer nominated by the teacher, the teacher being evaluated, and the principal. (SLD)

A decision-making model is presented that captures the evaluation function of teaching and brings it into focus for teacher use. The model depicts teachers as decision makers in their various roles and identifies planning, implementation, and evaluation as three major functions of teaching. (SLD)

Summarizes a small-scale project that surveyed 17 faculty members' attitudes toward an appraisal scheme adopted at the University of Ulster, in Northern Ireland. Examines tensions between management's desire to ensure achievement of organizational policies and plans and individual staff members' career development wishes. Rationally structured…

Explores the role of NAEYC' accreditation in improving the quality of early childhood programs. Highlights the importance of the self-study process during accreditation procedures. (HTH)

Summarizes the status of assessment reform, based on visits to 14 schools. Documents key characteristics of various performance assessments (portfolios, on-demand tasks, projects, exhibitions, and teachers' structured observations); determines which factors influence their development, implementation, and effectiveness; and analyzes interactions…

Describes how videoconferencing was used at the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland) as a medium to deliver three modules to continuing education students over a five-year period. Discusses planning and implementation, and the move from conventional teaching to distance learning. Notes professional development reached an effective level and in…

Discusses NAEYC's efforts to advance early care and education providers' knowledge base, skills, and responsibility levels, and the implications of corresponding public policy related to their training. Suggests that the professional training agenda must prepare caregivers to meet the needs of children of various races, languages, social classes,…

Emphasizes the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) mission of enhancing the growth and development of young children. Suggests that the implementation of NAEYC's goals requires the effective involvement of its members and the public. It is important that NAEYC provide its constituents with accurate, easily understood…

Three times in a six-week period, British secondary students gave class presentations and they rated their lessons weekly. Most said that student presentations made the lessons more involving and stimulating. The study illustrated a process of collaborative research among practicing teachers. (SK)

Ongoing contact and peer support are essential to professional growth for educators, and an electronic community can provide a supportive environment. The LabNet project demonstrates that a successful electronic community requires careful design, comfort with technology among users, and commitment; moderators play essential leadership roles in…

Reports on a refresher training program that introduces experienced physics teachers to a reflective lesson-planning model and a more constructivist approach to physics teaching. Three instructional strategies developed by participants in the program and the corresponding suggestions made by their peers are presented and analyzed. (29 references)…

Presents a portfolio assessment model that encourages teachers' professional growth while helping them evaluate their subject-matter knowledge; intellectual and problem-solving abilities; pedagogical skills; curriculum knowledge, insight, and skill; knowledge of learners and learning; and attitudes and dispositions. States that when teachers…

The Leadership Accessing Symposia is a program to provide local school personnel in Indiana with the opportunity to hear and interact with well-known scholars in the field of gifted education. Methods of publicizing the symposia and results of symposia evaluation are discussed. (JDD)