This guide is intended to help the reader understand: the value of teacher induction programs designed to orient, support, train, and assess novice teachers; what makes induction programs work; the essential ingredients of an effective induction program; and how to get started improving efforts to support and assess novice teachers. Six sections…

When planning the growth of Montessori schools, planners should add the concept of evolution to those of organization and management in order to embrace Maria Montessori's notion that the purpose of education is to fully develop human potentialities. The evolution of Montessori schools must be understood and encouraged through the process of…

This document consists of the twelve issues of the quarterly journal "Adjunct Info" during the three-year period 1994-1997. Individual issues contain articles, editorials, columns, teaching tips, and suggested resources related to management of adjunct and part-time faculty. Major articles include: "A Message to Managers: From an Adjunct" (June…

This book provides educators and administrators with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in peer assistance and review within the context of teacher evaluation, describing how to develop and implement an effective teacher peer assistance and review program. The book offers the following: components of successful peer assistance and review…

This booklet is an addendum to the conference proceedings of the 20th annual meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 20). It contains three reactions to the research forum: (1) "Mathematizing: The 'Real' Need for Representational Fluency" (R. Lesh); (2) "Mathematics Teacher Development: An Alternative…

This how-to guide and workbook helps planners and participants who want to develop an exemplary mentoring program or upgrade an existing one. It is designed to help readers: obtain broad-based commitment and participation from key individuals and groups; understand and work within the larger environment in which a mentoring program operates; form…

This 1998 technical report looks at California Early Literacy Learning (CELL), a staff development program designed to help elementary teachers strengthen their teaching of reading and writing. Reading Recovery and other research-based teaching methodologies have been organized into a framework for classroom instruction, and training in the…

This paper uses data collected through focus group interviews over two years to explore the relationship between teachers and tests. In the first year of data collection, two focus groups were organized; one group was composed of 7 elementary school teachers and counselors and the other group was composed of 12 high school teachers. The…

Using data from a longitudinal study of beginning music teachers in Michigan, this paper examines how policy makers and induction program designers can provide for the content-specific induction needs of music teachers. The study examined beginning music teachers' early teaching experiences, how school districts and communities supported their…

This journal is intended for classroom teachers and provides a collection of essays and instructional materials organized around the theme of mathematics and science content knowledge. Articles include: (1) "Watching Ourselves Learn" (Annette Thorson); (2) "Search Smarter!" (Kimberly S. Roempler); (3) "Teacher Education Materials Project" (Joan…

This paper examines the phenomenon of private-practice teachers in public schools. It helps frame the debates surrounding market-driven reforms that are aimed at freeing schools from bureaucratic control and raises several questions about the potential impact of private-practice teachers. It asks whether market-driven reforms within public schools…

Peer presentations are a common way of sharing experience and expertise. But while most teachers are comfortable and confident in a classroom environment, the task of presenting to their peers may be formidable, and one for which they are ill prepared. Giving a peer presentation can help a teacher build his/her professional reputation, develop…

This paper provides a critical analysis of a professional development model that proposes to improve inquiry science instruction by addressing two components of teacher knowledge: pedagogy and science content. Although this represents an improvement over professional development models that focus on a single area of teacher knowledge, this paper…

This study examined the impact of a beginning teacher induction program on involved mentors' teaching competence. Additionally, it investigated the relationship of mentor's self-efficacy to program impact. Approximately 1,600 beginning teachers and 700 mentors from 56 school districts participated in a state-funded induction program in which…

The National Writing Project's (NWP's) mission is to improve writing and learning in the nation's schools. Through its professional development model, the NWP recognizes the primary importance of teacher knowledge, expertise, and leadership. In 2001, the project sponsored over 5,500 professional development programs through its local sites. In…