A learning cycle lesson consists of three phases: concept exploration, concept introduction, and concept application. Describes the application of the learning cycle model to the design of inservice and preservice teacher education curriculum. (MDH)

Contends that the National Geographic Society's Teaching Geography Project is an inservice teacher education success story. Describes the origins, objectives, and development of the project. Summarizes the impact of the project and contends that its success is the result of the workshop format and guided practice in instructional strategies. (CFR)

Describes LANGUAGE, a literacy curriculum for students in middle and high schools, and the teacher retraining that prepares teachers for it. Curriculum components are outlined for a structured approach that incorporates phonemic awareness and whole language aspects. Program evaluations have supported the effectiveness of the curriculum. (SLD)

Relates experiences in providing on-site Internet workshops to the newly networked Native-Alaskan village of Galena. Discusses a handbook of K-12 Internet resources, the collaborative relationship at the core of Internet innovations, creating an online course on brokering Internet learning resources, and the three biggest advantages the Internet…

The National Writing Project, formed in 1973, is a network of 157 local writing projects committed to improving the teaching of writing. It breaks with "top-down" educational tradition by creating a "third space" in which teachers share their expertise and experiences across grade levels and curricula, and by encouraging…

In discussing the preparation and development of U.S. science teachers, this paper presents a historical overview of events leading to the present situation, describing the current national challenge for science-teacher educators and concluding with some examples of promising practices aligned with recommended reforms. Each subsection begins with…

Describes "Project Facilitate," an inservice education program that provides educators and parents with a comprehensive overview of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). The program involves the use of four self-instructional content manuals: AD/HD general knowledge base, legal issues and AD/HD, assessment of children with AD/HD, and…

Describes the origins and development of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, noting challenges it faced; critical documents guiding its work; five core propositions central to its work; the role of teachers in defining and improving their profession; and the partnership of teacher unions, local school districts, and schools in…

Presents an interview that shares the perspective of North Carolina's governor, Jim Hunt, who was a founding member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). In the interview, Mr. Hunt offers insights on the role of states in National Board Certification and reflects on the future of the NBPTS. (SM)

Four authors provide a profile of one school district's efforts to recruit and support a teacher willing to meet the challenge of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. A partnership among the district's teacher union, the superintendent, a school principal, and the teacher emerged to produce the district's first…

Examines a professional-development center established by a consortium of Seattle school districts that integrates technology into constructivist classrooms. Interviews with participants and program directors and observations of teachers participating in seminars and interacting with students and teachers provided data on four elements deemed…

Discusses leadership issues that arose during the creation and offering of an Internet-based course for high school chemistry teachers including course organization, recruiting students, and technological support available to participating students. (Author/WRM)

Edmonds School District (Washington) was a winner in the 1999 National Awards Programs for Model Professional Development. Teacher participation in district decisions, district funding for professional development at six times the national average, mentoring for new teachers, research into best practices for professional development, and teacher…

Discusses the whole literacy curriculum, which encompasses ownership, the writing process, reading comprehension, language and vocabulary knowledge, word reading and spelling strategies, voluntary reading. Outcomes of a five-year implementation effort in Hawaii indicate curriculum can improve literacy achievement of students of diverse…

Assessed junior high school teachers' work satisfaction and perceptions of teaching difficulties before and after participation in a faculty inservice instructional change project. Pre- and post-inservice surveys indicated that satisfaction remained stable, whereas dissatisfaction declined over time. Students were the main source of difficulty.…