A study assesses Wyoming elementary educators' (n=450) knowledge of water topics and the priority given to these topics in their curricula. Results indicate educators perceived they had inadequate knowledge of water topics and failed to give these topics priority in curricula. The need for development of elementary curriculum and workshops with…

This paper presents the results of a survey that examined elementary school teachers' attitudes about social studies (particularly geography) instruction. The responses of newly-hired elementary teachers were compared to those of experienced elementary teachers. The survey included questions such as: Have you ever taken a social studies methods…

Teacher participation in a research project was examined to determine the effectiveness of an individualized mathematics program involving drill and practice in computation processes. The first data set was gathered from a laboratory school (experimental group) where the teachers were accustomed to trying out new programs, and a private school…

This project attempts to refine the Zones of Indifference Instrument, (included in appendix) that measures zones of indifference of teachers to typical directives issued by administrators. As a result of the original validation study, a 78-item, two-factor instrument was developed. These two factors explained 52 percent of the variance. The…

Described is the mathematics achievement of 391 elementary education majors at the University of Arizona. Students were administered two subtests of the California Achievement Test: the Mathematics Computation Subtest and the Mathematics Concepts and Application Subtest. The CAT was administered in a non-standard manner. Students were allowed…

The current state of computer literacy and computer use among Anchorage School District elementary classroom teachers was assessed with a sample of four schools. Computer literacy was considered as the general range of skills and understandings needed to utilize a computer in the classroom effectively. A 17-item questionnaire, administered to 82…

Various collaborative efforts involved in implementing a district-developed science curriculum are described in four papers. "The Design and Utilization of a Concerns-Based Staff Development Program for Implementing a Revised Science Curriculum in Eighty Elementary Schools" (Harold Pratt, Marge Melle, Jim Metzdorf, Susan Loucks) reports…

Determined if subjects' (N=79) cognitive responses to a persuasive communication are more highly correlated with attitude change than the recall of arguments presented in the communication. Subjects were exposed to a systematically designed persuasive communication and then tested for their retention of arguments presented in the communication and…

Describes an inservice teacher education program to provide science process skills without the presence of university personnel. Presents methods of evaluation and the results of the evaluation. (YP)

Twenty special education and 20 general education teachers viewed a videotape of a reading comprehension lesson with a small group of third graders, 1 of whom had a learning disability. Analysis of teacher responses suggested that general and special teacher groups may possess different professional knowledge structures on which they interpret…

Compares science preparation requirements of preservice elementary teachers with standards set by NSTA. Questionnaire was sent to 321 AACTE institutions. Most colleges do not require recommended 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours) of science, and only 20 percent of schools have science content courses designed for elementary education majors.…

A national sample of 441 elementary, middle, and senior high teachers was asked about their homework practices, including their use of adaptations for students with disabilities. Tables present results for frequency and amount of homework, helpfulness of specific types of homework, in-class structures, adaptations, parent communication strategies,…

In spite of the continued focus on problem solving, American elementary and middle grades schoolchildren are perceived to be ineffective problem solvers. This paper reports the results of a survey of (n=744) kindergarten through eighth grade teachers and interviews and observations of a primary and an intermediate master teacher designed to answer…

Teaching a methods class for prospective teachers has traditionally been a solitary venture. The teacher educator plans and teaches the course and evaluates the learning of the students typically without any involvement by classroom teachers, who may even feel that the teacher education course is not relevant to real classrooms. This paper…

The design and implementation of a two-year project on research utilization in elementary teacher education (RUETE) integrates: (1) the application of research on effective instruction; (2) the utilization of processes of adult learning in a systematic manner; and (3) the development of teacher education academies. The first of the study's two…