In California, the state is responsible for ensuring equality of educational opportunity for all of its students. Yet, with respect to English learners, the state has largely failed even to assess the conditions of education for these students. It has not adequately monitored their educational opportunities in terms of access to critical resources…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Taking Care of Novice Teachers: Researchers Suggest How Administrators Can Keep Their Newer Teachers Teaching and Maintain a First-Rate Faculty (Reino Makkonen); (2) Assessing…

The Public School Forum of North Carolina Study group has attempted to look at new investments that would use state resources more strategically by focusing them where they can make the most impact on students who most need additional support. In previous studies, the Forum supported, inprinciple, many of the ideas that are being set forth. In…

In the nation there are four or five million children who have educational needs so unusual that they require special help from the schools. Such children include those with physical handicaps, mental retardation, serious social or emotional problems, or giftedness. Progress is being made in providing for these children, but educational provisions…

The effects of prior beliefs on student teachers' construction and utilization of new educational knowledge bases were investigated. Students participated in either conceptual change or direct instruction programs. Although conceptual change outperformed direct instruction, results suggest that conceptual change can improve performance but only…

A case study of a Chinese teacher educator illustrates one method of researching the development and expression of teachers' personal practical knowledge by collecting fieldnotes, interviews, conversations, journals, autobiographies, stories, personal artifacts, oral histories, letters, and chronicles. Analyzing this information involves…

This paper reviews the current status of technology use in education, identifies future needs, and offers guidelines for meeting those needs. It notes that teacher educators who are comfortable with technology will graduate technological leaders for schools that hire them. (SM)

The effects of sequential behavior feedback on preservice physical educators' practice teaching were examined. Performance competencies of teacher trainees were analyzed using an alternative opportunities for appropriate action measure. Results indicated that exposure to sequential behavior feedback increased preservice teachers' use of effective…

Discusses the future training of early childhood educators, focusing on techniques for teachers to build prosocial skills, develop aesthetic appreciation, inculcate acceptance and inclusion, and develop a curiosity for learning among children. Also discusses the political status of early childhood education. (MDM)

Describes a student teacher portfolio designed for use as an interviewing tool. Researchers examined hiring practices to determine what prospective employers wanted to know about teacher competencies, then created appropriate portfolio categories (self-assessment, philosophy of classroom management, special projects and activities, and planning,…

Surveys the barely developed and chaotic field of theater teacher assessment and finds that a piecemeal, state-by-state approach dominates. Briefly summarizes assessment in 11 states, revealing few guidelines and a variety of practices. Discusses proposed improvements from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. (MJP)

This study investigated relationships between teacher training and competence in Malta. Education officers, preservice teachers, and recent graduates were surveyed about teacher preparation, attitudes, and skills. Most beginning teachers had positive attitudes toward teaching. With increasing years, teachers felt more disillusioned and unsure…

Increased emphasis has been placed on student teachers' practical experiences in Scottish schools resulting from government policy specifying teacher competencies, student teachers' views of their learning experience, and research into the nature and contribution of practicing teachers' knowledge. Addresses implications concerning this shift of…

Investigated the nature of pedagogical competency in student teachers identified as outstanding in mathematics, comparing their planning, teaching, and post-lesson reflections. Data from interviews, observations, and field notes found many commonalities among student teachers. They were not yet skilled in improving activities and explanations to…

Describes a cognitive intervention that offered novice student teachers access to the thinking underlying an expert teacher's practice, examining the implementation and impact of the cognitive intervention, which involved two 2-hour workshops held between participants' first and second practicum experiences. Workshop transcripts indicated that…