The authors argue that the narrowing of the K-12 curriculum in the past twenty years has changed the relationship between K-12 schoolteachers and the community. Using an ecological perspective as the theoretical lens, the article describes these changes as well as an effort by an economic development organization in Indiana to help rebuild those…

Leaders in the business community often talk about the "skills gap," the gap between the skills needed for good jobs in the economy and the skills that prospective employees possess. Though there is debate as to whether or not such a gap actually exists, the idea of the "skills gap" can be a helpful way to frame instances where…

This paper presents the findings of a study that explored the link between teachers' views on the challenges to inquiry-based science teaching (IBST) practice in the chemistry classroom and their need for professional development. The study used a multiple case study design and collected data using interviews. Participants were purposively…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived information and communication technologies (ICT) proficiency of Turkish mathematics teachers in teaching. This study was conducted using descriptive survey method. The study group consisted of 242 mathematics teachers working at middle (5th-8th grade) and high schools (9th-12th grade) in…

This regional dossier aims to provide a concise description of the European minority languages, Romani and Beash, in education. Aspects that are addressed include features of the education system, recent educational policies, main actors, legal arrangements and support structures, as well as quantitative aspects such as the number of schools,…

This research paper aimed to study the prevailing levels of instructional planning and strategies according to three criteria i) Comprehension, ii) Behavior iii) Performance possessed by the teachers in secondary schools, the relationship among the prevailing levels of the three criteria of instructional planning and strategies of teachers…

Grounded in a research project relating to the use of academic reading to support learning for TESSOL (Teaching English to Speakers in Schools of Other Languages) teachers, this article focuses on the experiences of Mei in a specialised professional learning and development (PLD) programme. Mei's case illustrates how TESSOL teachers' own…

Media and digital literacy are being increasingly recognized as a fundamental competence for teachers of 21st century, but teachers' professional development is still far from coping with this emerging need. This paper aims at providing some recommendations for integrating media literacy into in-service teacher training programs. To this purpose,…

This paper reports on an innovative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme which addressed transition issues and issues with conducting outdoor work and attitudes towards science through 'Shared Learning' days between elementary and middle school transition classes. Teachers supported each other to overcome issues with conducting…

Writing in L2 is considered a very challenging task by both teachers and students. Language teachers play a critical role in facilitating students' L2 writing development. Therefore, it is important to explore their beliefs about writing instruction as their beliefs exert influence on classroom practices. This study draws on the Repertory Grid…

Despite the impetus from professional organizations for science and mathematics integration, few teacher training programs provide opportunities for teachers to develop the knowledge and skills in effective content integration. This study reports on the impact of a graduate course on in-service middle school, math, and science teachers'…

Teachers and school district administrators, particularly in the United States, are increasingly turning to teacher virtual professional development (VPD) to stay current and learn new pedagogical knowledge and skills. With more English learners (ELs) entering public school classrooms, it is essential to find effective ways to prepare educators to…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore in-service teachers' first experiences with imaginary dialogues -- a form of mathematical writing where students are introduced to a written and unfinished dialogue between two imaginary persons discussing a mathematical problem. Students are supposed to continue working with the problem and to…

The purpose of this paper is to describe the historical development of science teacher education in pre-service and in-service education in Japan with a focus on the systemic changes and teachers' professional learning culture. The characteristics of science teacher education generally are elucidated through an analysis of the system and…

This article outlines several forms of instructional practice that distinguished middle-grades mathematics classrooms that were organized around conceptually oriented activity and marked by African American students' success on state assessments. We identified these forms of practice based on a comparative analysis of teaching in (a) classrooms in…