Describes the evaluation of a training program in the Netherlands to enhance the professional competence of residential child-care workers in dealing with difficult situations involving adolescents. Pretest and posttest data from 35 adult subjects and 20 controls indicate a significant increase in knowledge and behavior after the program. (SLD)

Reports on the impact of being in a Professional Development Schools network on seven Utah schools (four elementary, one junior, and two high schools) over five years. Identifies and analyzes the catalysts that promoted teachers' professional development and school reform, as well as the road blocks to effective reform. (SR)

Describes a study on the extent to which different children hold animistic notions and the meaning of those notions. Explores the idea of preservice science teachers as researchers. (DDR)

Presents a 48-item selected annotated bibliography of recent research in the teaching of English (most published in scholarly journals between July and December, 1997). Organizes the annotations into sections on assessment; bilingual education and foreign language education; discourse processes; family/workplace literacy; professional development;…

Professional associations in the library/information science field are viewed from the perspective of the value they bring to the field. Research and professional development are reviewed in this context based on the efforts of ALA (American Library Association), ALISE (Association for Library & Information Science Education), ASIS (American…

Discusses the need to market distance learning packages and face-to-face courses. Provides 12 tips to assist those who are developing educational programs in assessing the importance of trigger leaflets. Also focuses on design techniques that can be used in trigger leaflets. (DDR)

Discusses the development of Math Attack, a project designed to make middle school mathematics engaging, fun, and useful to middle school students by involving them in problems solving. Describes the effect of the project in helping students learn to think and communicate mathematically and helping teachers develop skill and confidence. (JPB)

The director of the Chicago Academy for School Leadership addresses the kind of leadership that would have kept her, a former English teacher, from failing a struggling African-American student 30 years ago. A culture of collegial support, mentoring/coaching, results-driven professional development, and instructional leadership would have helped.…

Examines aspects of initial teacher education and continuing professional development in Scotland against the backdrop of McCrone Report recommendations on teaching conditions. Discusses teachers' attitudes toward their own professional development; the nature of professional knowledge, skills, and values; and some principles to promote genuine…

Traces the context in which the minority English-language community in Quebec is coming together to take ownership of the reforms in its schools. Provides a glimpse of the English-speaking community and focuses on the Linguistic Boards, school governance, and curriculum reform. Discusses the context and model of implementation for reforms in…

Sixty-one junior and senior high school teachers responded to measures of perceptions of inclusion, needs for effective inclusion practice, and knowledge of inclusion. Teachers felt inadequately prepared for inclusion and indicated their primary need was for more specific inclusion training. They also believed that reducing workloads would be of…

Three factors tied with secondary student success in content-area reading are demonstrated: validated teacher-focused and student-focused interventions, integrated and comprehensive service delivery systems, and well-designed, data-based professional developmental programs. The key role that school administrators play in ensuring each of the…

Presents staff development activities to enhance parental involvement in Head Start programs. Outlines specific activities, format, contexts, materials requirements, and instructions addressing the following areas: (1) staff role in empowering parents through involvement; and (2) understanding and recognizing empowered parents. (SD)

Summarizes case studies developed by a group of collaborating educators. Investigates ways of speaking that encourage students to formulate insightful questions about science topics and express their own ideas during reflective discussions. (Contains 68 references.) (Author/YDS)

Reports on an evaluation of Library Power, a national project to improve school library media services in elementary and middle school media centers. Major findings are reported related to impact on student learning, facilities and collection development, professional development and collaboration, and administrative support. (MES)