One of the best ways to learn how to be a better teacher is by watching, listening to, and experimenting with the practices of great teachers, including those in your own school. "The PD Curator" is about how professional learning experiences can become more inclusive, participatory, cohesive, and effective--and about the role teachers…

Although research indicates that retention has little educational value for children, the retention process and rate continue to escalate. Retention consequences are devastating and pervasive. The paper discusses decisions regarding retention and notes positive alternatives (e.g., parental involvement, modifications in instructional practices and…

This self-help manual provides information to districts and schools wishing to investigate or implement a beginning teacher mentoring support program. The manual describes one model of mentoring, the Beginning Teacher Support Program, that was researched in Montana schools from 1992-1995. Chapter 1 introduces the purpose and organization of the…

Intended for use by individuals, teacher education institutions, private and corporate educational, vocational, and social agencies, and the general public, this guide presents the International Reading Association's recommendations for the preparation of teachers concerning knowledge of the reading process and reading instruction. The document's…

This handbook was developed as a guide for student teachers, supervising teachers, and cooperating teachers participating in the student teaching program at Incarnate Word College (San Antonio, Texas). Section 1, the introduction, lists the six objectives of the student teaching program. Section 2 delineates program guidelines and policy. The…

Noting that most teachers find their own learning experiences in Reading Recovery very challenging, occasionally difficult, and sometimes frustrating, this paper explores the sources of these tensions and ways to maximize teacher learning while reducing anxiety and frustration. It discusses the nature of professional development (fidelity to…

A theoretical framework for the preparation of teachers through clinical laboratory experiences is presented. Four teacher roles and six purposes of clinical experiences are identified and arranged on an intersecting matrix, which can be a basis for designing clinical experience packages that integrate theory and practice. A sample package is…

This introductory-level training program is designed to develop in classroom teachers the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for functioning as successful mentors to novice North Carolina teachers. This includes background and perspectives for mentoring in North Carolina; Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC)…

Describes an English instructor's experiences teaching at a private, English-language university in Bangkok, Thailand. Illustrates the difficulties the author faced in dealing with differences in cultures and learning styles and indicates the generative potential of such difficulties. Notes that the instructor's solution was to use a combination…

Draws on 13 years experience teaching behavior-disordered students to identify effective teaching methods. Discusses the importance of honesty, fairness, consistency, persistence, intuition, praise, and humor in the teacher-student relationship. Provides eight guidelines for developing a workable and suitable classroom reward system. (JHZ)

Guidelines are presented on the roles and responsibilities of teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, school administrators, university faculty supervisors, and university coordinators of pre-student teaching clinical experiences. A list is provided of l3 broad goals relevant to all levels of the clinical experience. A general classification…

This paper discusses preschool teacher competencies and personality traits but makes no attempt to establish a picture of an ideal teacher. Five personal qualities necessary for success with young children--good physical and mental health, fondness and respect for children, a sympathetic understanding of their capacities and ways of growing, an…

These guidelines describe the role and duties of all participants in field experience programs for prospective teachers at Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama). Requirements for entry, retention, and exit from the program are described, and policies regarding the placement of students in local schools are listed. Outlines are presented of what…

The East Longmeadow/University of Massachusetts Professional Development School collaborative began in 1985 as a collaborative effort to transform East Longmeadow High School into the equivalent of a teaching hospital for preservice teachers. Eventually Birchland Park Middle School (Massachusetts) joined the project. The objective has been to…

At the heart of the secondary teacher education collaboration between the East Longmeadow School District (Massachusetts) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst are the faculty at East Longmeadow High School and Birchland Park Middle School who have prepared to be mentors for student teachers. This volume contains reflections by these…