The increased popularity of lesson study in the United States--an approach to professional development initiated in Japan more than a century ago--is due in large part to findings from the 1995 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) video study and the subsequent book, "The Teaching Gap" (Stigler and Hiebert 1999). "Lesson…

This monograph addresses planning and developing curricula for low income and minority gifted learners. Issues discussed include collaboration among professionals working with these students, choice of school program delivery models, involvement of parent and community support systems in nurturing potential, and curriculum interventions directed…

This book examines research on what is occurring in the United States with mentoring for first-year teachers, focusing on statewide mentoring programs. After an introduction, "Why Mentoring?", the four chapters look at: (1) "Mentoring Definitions" and "First-Year Teachers"; (2) "Procedure for This Mentoring Research"; (3) "State Department of…

Educators are familiar with working together to produce curriculum packages, to team teach a unit, to host a parent event, to put on a school-wide concert, or to plan a conference. Collaboration in art education as presented in this publication is a team effort that is slightly different and beyond ordinary collaboration. Collaborative art-making…

Examined the impact of school-centered portfolios on professional learning and collaboration. Data from interviews with an urban elementary school principal, staff developer, and teachers indicated that a wide range of conditions contributed to professional learning and collaboration through teaching portfolios (conditions supporting professional…

Examines constructive conflict within the context of a comprehensive Midwestern U.S. high school engaged in significant reform efforts, focusing on constructive conflict as a means to promote individual and organizational learning and growth. Data from observations and interviews indicated that to produce superior results, principals and teacher…

Describes strategies for effectively supporting beginning teachers, including low-intensity strategies (e.g., orientation and collegial collaboration) and high-intensity strategies (e.g, providing release time and selecting and training effective support providers). The paper also notes important supportive conditions and describes challenges to…

Two educators recount critical dilemmas in the development of a secondary level interdisciplinary teaching team, discussing three phases in the development of the team: consolidated, laissez-faire, and shared power. Lessons learned include: it is difficult, if not impossible, to separate issues of interpersonal relations from substantive team…

Describes efforts by the consortium Associated Colleges of the Midwest to support interinstitutional faculty collaboration and development. Focuses on three programs: the Global Partners Project, an information literacy grant, and an academic collaboration grant. (EV)

Positive teacher interaction can facilitate collaboration in schools. Teacher groups led by facilitators can work to solve problems as they arise. Problem solving can involve at-risk students, new students, new teachers, and school problems. Facilitators design group activities to provide maximum positive interaction. The activities promote…

Teachers are separated by isolated classrooms and tightly packed schedules, rarely working with colleagues on matters related to teaching and learning. This paper describes benefits of collaborative team structures in schools, discusses potential pitfalls, and notes that the challenge is to develop teams with a high group IQ that can work…

Describes the experiences of two elementary teacher-researchers as they explore science teaching and learning in their two nongraded primary classrooms through the process of complex instruction. Concludes that, because the teacher's role in conducting complex instruction activities is multifaceted and complex, successful implementation of complex…

Conceptualizes teacher leadership, examining what leadership is, how teachers are leaders, and how to promote teacher leadership. Teacher leadership should not emphasize simply empowering teachers, but also accomplishing purposes that lead to high quality and socially conscious democratic education. This means leadership must occur in multiple…

One area in which educators can get a good return on their time investment is helping collaborative teams focus on and become proficient in developing local classroom assessments for all students in the same grade or course. Six steps to working collaboratively are described (e.g., analyze state and local curriculum guidelines, establish…

A growing number of teachers are connecting in virtual chat rooms. Teachers have several options for online interaction, including posting queries and responses on a message board, using Web sites' mailing lists, and going to chat roms that offer live, supervised discussions. Web aficionados point out that valuable professional information gets…