Highlights excellent practices and precautions regarding teacher learning communities gleaned from research on diverse collegial efforts during difficult reform processes, noting that simply placing teachers in teams does not necessarily generate collegiality. The paper examines the content of professional discourse, sociocultural resources in the…

A study examined the practices of 121 school-based intervention teams from Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Findings revealed several positive practices by teams from all states; however, teams from Illinois displayed consistent superiority across several measures. Discussion focuses on implications for practice and educational and legal reform.…

Describes the experiences of a Catholic high school that included three students with moderate disabilities in their general-education program. The challenges of inclusion, the need for long-term staff inservice training, and barriers to inclusion are discussed. Suggestions for inclusive schools and schoolwide achievement are provided. (CR)

To prepare their students for successful futures, teachers must be willing to learn continuously, expand their own abilities, and assume ever greater leadership roles. Principals must create an environment that supports teacher collaboration, facilitates professional development, and recognizes the concept of teacher leadership. (MLH)

Suggests that literature circles can provide a stimulating and motivating method of teaching reading, and they help increase student reading performance as measured on a criterion-referenced test. Notes that when students participate in literature discussion groups their reading level and motivation can increase. (SG)

Principals can successfully implement whole language reading programs if they educate staff and parents; engage in effective, inclusive long-range planning; encourage sharing among teachers; incorporate flexibility and experimentation in program development; and create an appropriate program evaluation system. Staff involvement is the key to…

Teacher teams at a new secondary school were observed during their first year working together. Based on observations, interviews, and document analysis, this article describes a crisis in teacher relations (a controversy about grading) and examines the role and effectiveness of collaboration in handling the crisis. (SM)

K-12 teachers completed an inservice designed with a constructivist perspective to foster their professional development regarding student motivation. Participants reflected on their professional expertise and practical knowledge in groups conducted by university researchers. At the end of the intervention, participants showed increased ability to…

This article provides guidelines and strategies that can be employed to examine the experiences and perceptions of cooperative teaching teams, to validate successful collaborative practices, and to identify practices in need of revision. It discusses interviews and surveys, use of best practices checklists, conducting teaching observations, and…

Analyzed the collaboration of a first-grade novice teacher and her mentor teacher while the novice learned to teach mathematics in China. Found that the mentor contributed to novice teacher's progress by implementing a clear, consistent focus; modeling, analyzing, and reflecting on mathematics teachers; and defining and refining the zones of the…

Discusses potential problems with the current emphasis on various collaborative educational partnerships in early childhood education: (1) avoidance of more fundamental educational issues; (2) pretense that collaboration comes at no cost; and (3) diversion from the primary task. Presents examples of effective collaboration and one in which…

Traces the evolution of an elementary PDS that began as a project (the Learning Environment Project, or the Responsive Classroom Project). The project provides insight into the process and developmental stages of the partnership and moving toward the core commitments of the PDS. The idiosyncratic nature of relationships and the need to give them…

Examines the benefits of and lessons learned from one Professional Development School (PDSs) collaborative, noting that PDSs require significant amounts of effort. The paper focuses on two issues: the development of collaborative relationships and the quality development of PDSs so they will not be another passing reform but rather a lasting…

Since teachers have the most direct, sustained contact with students and considerable control over the teaching/learning climate, improving teachers' knowledge, skills, and dispositions is critical to enhancing student achievement. Professional development must also address schoolwide professional community and school program coherence. Two…

Describes the experiences of a successful high school English department that illustrate how teacher collaboration and interdependence can support teacher-driven growth and new instructional behaviors. Some of the department's guiding principals include destratifying, empowering, collaborating, unfettering, and recognizing. Important elements that…