The first of a two volume report on a project to develop a statewide (Kansas) model for inservice and preservice training of teachers of severely handicapped students describes the general approach to the model as well as details its necessary features, the project's organization and its relationship with the State Department of Special Education…

The paper specifies competency domains for multidisciplianry teams involved in vocational and technical education for handicapped secondary learners. Six competency domains (including collaborating with other professions and parents in the student assessment process and identifying available assessment instruments) are listed, and 10 common skills…

The purpose of this study was to identify the professional horticultural competencies that vocational horticultural teachers must perform successfully and to distinguish between those competencies needed by entry level teachers and those needed by experienced teachers. A secondary purpose was to examine differences in the ratings of the…

Teachers' centers are places and programs for staff development that are designed and used by inservice teachers of their own volition to fill their self-identified training and curriculum needs. Centers operate on two basic premises. First is the assumption that teachers, rather than educational researchers, can most accurately assess their own…

This report presents a blueprint for attracting, developing, and retaining skilled and diverse teachers who effectively increase the achievement of all of Virginia's students. The five recommendations are to: (1) develop a comprehensive database to support Virginia's commitment to teacher quality; (2) expand recruitment initiatives to attract…

This guide is designed to help mentor teachers develop effective mentoring strategies, discussing how to provide direct assistance, demonstration teaching, observation, and feedback, informal contact, and role modeling. It offers monthly listings of activities designed to promote interaction between mentors and proteges that correspond to…

This manual assists American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA) affiliates interested in developing peer assistance and/or peer assistance and review programs in their local sites. The first section provides the context in which these programs are developing and their importance to union efforts to increase…

This book is a result of a study on best practices used by teachers. The author presents a comprehensive discussion of how successful teachers handle classroom management and details strategies increasing student achievement, teaching for retention and transfer, assessing student understanding, and more. Features include: (1) Real-life classroom…

This paper presents an analysis of current education services for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the perspectives of children, parents, and educators. It presents results from several pilot surveys that asked parents and educators to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current educational services for students. Guidelines for…

Intended for parents, teachers, or anyone whose contact with children requires an effective relationship, this handbook provides a collection of communication strategies and activities to improve positive relationships with children, particularly younger and older adolescents. Part 1 deals with techniques for communicating effectively with…

Preservice peer coaching is a collegial relationship between student teachers who provide reciprocal, in-class assistance to one another as they attempt to incorporate new teaching skills, strategies, and approaches into their teaching. The typical peer-coaching cycle includes a preview conference, during which the student teachers discuss the…

This technical assistance manual provides information for assessing the impact of increased employment of paraprofessionals on all special educational and personnel practices, facilitating the integration of paraprofessionals into various classroom settings and staffing patterns, and improving the performance and productivity of paraprofessionals…

This paper offers suggestions for using portfolios to assess teacher performance. Key policy decisions that should be addressed prior to preparation of the portfolios include purpose, domains, audience, administrative matters, technical issues, and legal issues. After these policy decisions have been made, guidelines for portfolio design--its…

This booklet contains samples of forms used to evaluate, monitor, and document activities of the 12th Cycle Norfolk Teacher Corps Project at Norfolk State College (Virginia). The forms are contained in five sections: (1) evaluating inservice teachers and teacher interns (five forms); (2) monitoring parent aides (one form); (3) evaluating community…

The purpose of this manual is to identify teaching skills and their justification and objectives in a learning situation and to suggest a few of a wide selection of professional activities and services which meet these objectives and satisfy learner needs. The manual is designed for inservice teacher education activities or supervisory programs.…