This article explores the influence of grade-level team norms and district and school leadership on teachers' data use. Using an embedded-systems perspective to consider teachers' data use in four schools located in two different districts, the research takes the practitioners' perspective on what constitutes data. Findings indicate that…

This paper examines the practice of online discussion in a course specially tailored for in-service teachers who are pursuing their basic degree qualification at a teacher training institute. Analyses of postings to the asynchronous electronic discussion group were made according to the type of postings as proposed by Poole (2000). Four focus…

Much has been written about collaboration and co-teaching in secondary settings, including the importance of understanding one's partner's teaching approach; determining readiness to co-teach; clarifying roles, responsibilities, and expectations; scheduling shared planning time; and effective communication, including constructive dialogue and…

Words Work! and Community Action Head Start have been working together for seven years to provide training, consultation, mentoring, and resources to teachers in pilot classrooms as they learned to implement effective early literacy strategies. In its work with teachers, Words Work! developed a culture "where ongoing assessment, reflective…

Professional Development Schools (PDSs) can potentially affect the quality of teaching and learning of students in Grades K-16. The authors describe the collaborations among teacher education, arts and science, and K-12 classroom teacher faculties involved in a 5-year PDS partnership at Kansas State University. A 15-member language arts team…

School-university partnerships are a fundamental link to strengthen teacher education reform. The formation of new partnerships in which academic faculty and in-service teachers assume expanded roles holds promise as a primary avenue toward developing content and contextual expertise of preservice music teachers and strengthening pre-K-12…

In spite of the relatively long history of formalized music teacher preparation in the United States, surprisingly little research has focused on the question of how teachers learn to teach music. The authors of this article have proposed a theory of situated learning, building on the idea of apprenticeship. Several models of music teacher…

The rapport among teachers can be a significant determinant of educational quality and workplace atmosphere. A practicum project sought to improve professional communication among staff at an urban, public elementary school where teachers did not have opportunities to meaningfully interact with one another. The staff in this school consisted of a…

This bibliography contains approximately 80 abstracts of publications, dated from 1991 through 1996, concerned with the provision of educational services for students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Each one-page reference includes bibliographic information (author, title, publication date, journal, publisher, place of publication);…

This paper describes the outcomes of a study that tested a path model designed to predict the quality of instructional interactions between teachers and students in 46 heterogeneous general elementary education classrooms in 14 schools. The quality of instruction interactions was measured for three groups of students, students with disabilities,…

This book offers a theoretical framework and practical guidance for creating professional learning communities in schools. It proposes to renew the capacity of the school as a whole to produce positive results for all children. Part 1, "Building Professional Learning Communities: The Cornerstones," discusses the concepts and assumptions…

A team of graduate students and educational administration professors, as part of a field-based doctoral program, discovered the "split and fit" culture during an evaluation of the school's Continuous Progress Primary Program (CPPP). According to Pascale (1990), "split and fit" can work to an organization's benefit. Fit…

This briefing paper discusses integrated curriculum, an approach to curriculum that educators believe will help students draw upon their school learning when facing everyday challenges. Integrated curriculum refers to the fusion of knowledge from different disciplines; the approach to learning and teaching from a variety of world views,…

This paper presents a model of professional development using collaborative coaching and networking which has been used to improve online instructor effectiveness. Components of the model are presented in the context of a ten-year-old faculty development program at a private university in the Southeast. A collaborative coaching checklist is also…

How do you transform your own practice, and the practice of your peers? How do you act as a change agent in a positive, open dialogue with peers? The author seeks to explore this complex, often difficult issue, hoping to encourage others to look at their practice, and the practice of their peers, and ask: "Can we do better?" Can we…