This document describes some of the prominent beliefs about how students construct knowledge. These beliefs are guiding principles that teachers can use to implement instructional strategies that facilitate learning. Instructional examples in mathematics and science follow each principle to help the reader envision how the principle promotes…

A national research project was conducted in Australia on the professional development needs of curriculum writers, industry trainers, and vocational teachers in relation to the development of language, literacy, and numeracy competence in vocational education and training. Data were collected through the following methods: a review of literature;…

Mentoring is a creative alternative to direct instruction and teaching that provides an emotionally supportive relationship for the protege. Skills of the mentor travel with the protege long after the relationship has ended. Mentoring has become a vehicle to enhance the skills and abilities of one's associates, colleagues, and proteges. Typically,…

As more administrators retire, it becomes increasingly necessary to train competent individuals to assume educational leadership positions. Recognizing this need, the Chattanooga Public Schools established an administrator development program to assist in the further training of educational leaders. The program was conducted annually during 3…

This book challenges traditional notions of leadership. It was written to help managers and nonmanagers alike improve their abilities to lead others to get extraordinary things done in organizations. Data were derived from administration of the Personal Best Questionnaire to 550 managers, interviews with 42 managers, and administration of the…

Beginning teachers' experiences in university-based teacher preparation are rapidly replaced by the norms and expectations of the school setting and teachers with whom they work. To interrupt this pattern by which new teachers are pulled from the practices they have learned at the university, teachers must be encouraged to reflect about their…

The study described in this issue of "Look at Even Start" evaluated the Staff Mentoring Sites program, a mentoring program provided as technical assistance in Even Start family literacy programs. Staff from five Even Start programs with successful family recruitment and retention records were selected as mentors. Requests for nominations…

This pamphlet offers practical advice to students who desire to pursue an academic career centered around a commitment to the ideals of classical liberalism. The author perceives a conflict between these ideals and the real demands of the academic environment. Regarding this conflict as a challenge which academics must address, he offers specific…

This study examines the meaning of the concept of "principal support" from the point of view of seven teacher-librarians in two Alberta (Canada) school districts. It also explores the different ways in which these teacher-librarians went about increasing principal support for the school library program and for their role as…

The mentoring of new principals by experienced principals is generally accepted as an important aspect of the transition to the position. Different countries may stress different aspects of mentoring and conduct training at different stages of the preparation process. In the United States and Singapore, mentoring occurs as part of the…

School principals face personal challenges as a result of the effect their job has on their health. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the extent to which eight health concepts, developed by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) team at the Health Institute, were prevalent within a population of school principals. A survey mailed to…

This paper presents findings of a study that identified Mississippi middle school principals' perceptions of middle school functions and characteristics. Three broad functions of middle schools include: (1) to provide a program especially adapted to diverse student needs; (2) to promote continuity of education; and (3) to introduce needed…

This paper identifies four common dilemmas that educators face across the globe: (1) meeting political demands for increased effectiveness and productivity; (2) providing education in ways that are consistent with the realities of diversity; (3) maintaining a focus on moral and ethical practice; and (4) determining the proper balance between…

Although most efforts to improve schools through integration of academic and vocational education recognize the need for staff development, most staff development efforts fall short. The reasons these efforts often do not succeed include the following: teachers have little authority to make decisions about the improvement process; the programs do…

This publication describes Venture Capital grants, which are awarded to Ohio schools for school-improvement efforts. Originating in the business sector, the concept of Venture Capital represented corporate earning or individual savings invested in a new or fresh enterprise. The grants are designed to be long-term, evolving efforts focused on a…