Three aspects of the formation and initial development of a professional development school (PDS) are discussed: developing interpersonal and working relationships; developing a common vocabulary and knowledge base; and engaging in genuine problem solving. The PDS is a partnership between Michigan State University and Elliott Elementary School.…

Examined trends in area of career development programs, practices, and research based on program sessions at American Educational Research Association's annual meetings from 1978-87. Findings showed that number of papers and symposia covering specific topics such as "career development,""personnel evaluation," and…

Discusses the Organization of American Historians (OAH) endorsement of the Bradley Commission on History in Schools recommendations. Identifies a gap in the OAH's support of precollegiate teaching, and urges the OAH to take an active role in improving precollegiate teaching. Considers why the OAH should support the Bradley Commission. Suggests how…

The article discusses federal legislation and legal information on rights of physically disabled people to participate in recreational sports. The impact of recreational sports participation for these individuals is discussed, recommending college campuses act as arenas for integrative and adapted sport programing. Goals for recreational sports…

Describes Boston's efforts to abandon adversarial bargaining in favor of a reform-oriented contract establishing a shared decision-making model of school-based management. The model includes significant parent involvement, a mentoring program for new teachers, a voluntary peer-assistance program for veteran teachers, and collaborative…

This article describes the Women in Coaching Workshop which provided opportunities for 43 women to acquire skills and experience needed to assume secondary school coaching positions. Included are descriptions of the format and operational mechanisms for the workshop. Participants included preservice and inservice teachers, college athletes, and…

Argues that, in order to improve education, teachers must be granted greater authority. Reviews the factors that contribute to teacher authority character, moral integrity, membership in a true profession, and salary. Suggests that a strong professional association could contribute to teacher autonomy. (NL)

This article explores the contributions of professionalism to school accountability in the context of a new phenomenon in American education: the professional development school. (IAH)

Content and methods are outlined for an undergraduate elementary social studies methods course. Course topics include structure of the discipline and its place in the curriculum, selecting concepts and facts to teach, how children reason and the implications for social studies teaching methods, instructional planning and techniques, and…

Provides suggestions for new instrumental music teachers to ensure success in their first year in the classroom. Gives advice for working with the principal and other teachers, for establishing a friendly but professional relationship with students, and for developing a personal teaching style. (LS)

An approach to inservice education in the use of computers in the classroom is proposed that takes into account: (1) reactions to innovation; (2) competing demands for teachers' time; (3) adaptation of available software; (4) integration of courses and practical experience; and (5) provision of ongoing support. (SLD)

A staff development program in a Vermont school district relies heavily on teachers' self-appraisal and their desire for self-improvement. To assist teachers, the district has invited university instructors to teach graduate-level courses in the schools, hired consultants to speak, arranged workshops, and organized summer institutes. (MLF)

Presents observations concerning teachers as researchers organized around such issues as the roots of teacher research, the new interest in the topic, how teacher researchers are viewed by researchers, how they conduct research, what conditions support such research, and the value of such research. (RS)

Four college advancement professionals who have been at their present institutions for many years describe their strategies for professional renewal. These include creating variety on the job, using out-of-town trips for a change of pace, and using normal changes in the job over time to keep the work interesting. (MSE)

A self-efficacy quiz for teachers is provided, and guidelines are offered for using the quiz to increase an individual teacher's sense of teaching efficacy. Suggestions are offered for positively altering current beliefs about teaching and students and for addressing a sense of low personal teaching efficacy. (DB)