To ensure due process in teacher evaluations, administrators should follow 13 guidelines, including making teachers aware of the school district's expectations and its evaluation plan, obeying requirements in contracts and state and local laws, and helping teachers correct their deficiencies. (RW)

After criticizing traditional inservice programs that rely on hastily prepared presentations by outside experts, the author proposes a two-part plan for a comprehensive ongoing inservice program based on needs assessment and close cooperation with a local university. Part II will appear in the November 1981 issue. (SJL)

Inservice training is essential for science teachers to keep abreast of changes in their field in subject matter, curriculum development, and instructional techniques. Training methods could include computer assisted instruction, microteaching films, university course work, on-site instruction, home study, and instruction from special interest…

The author considers ways that an incompetent teacher's colleagues and the school administration can deal with the problems such a teacher poses. The positions taken by professional associations on incompetent teachers are cited. (SJL)

To improve instruction, a cadre of assisting professionals, trained in clinical supervision techniques and philosophy, must be developed in each school system to work with teachers as colleagues in a nonevaluative, supportive role. (Author/MLF)

A model of teaching qualities is presented to provide teachers with a self-check aimed at improving their effectiveness. The activities and suggestions offered are designed to increase awareness of skills and characteristics of effective teachers. (JMF)

Undergirded by a constructivist framework, the Foxfire teaching approach helps teachers and students develop ownership for learning. The paper summarizes the 11 Foxfire core practices and describes a Foxfire course for teachers. Teachers' responses to the training demonstrate that having the approach modeled is a powerful tool for changing their…

Describes the experiences of a secondary teacher participating in a six-week National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship at Oxford, England. Reports that the teacher went back to her duties renewed through change. (RS)

Responsible administrators are obligated to confront poor teacher performance. Guides principals through 12 steps to take in the confrontation process that include the following: gathering information, waiting for a specific incident, developing a file, meeting with the teacher, helping the teacher to improve, and working with the teacher union.…

Examines 10 assertions about education from both the "common sense" perspective, and "cybernetics" or systems theory. Urges educators to examine unexamined assumptions. (MM)

Teacher dialogs are a powerful staff development tool, involving a few teachers who meet during school hours on a regular basis to discuss instructional issues using a constructivist approach. The article examines ways to schedule time to maximize teacher learning and presents a model of staff development based on constructivist thinking. (SM)

This article uses a "bomb" analogy to offer teachers guidelines for evaluating failed lessons. Suggested factors to consider include pre-lesson planning and preparation, introduction of the lesson, appropriateness of objectives for student levels, lesson time, teacher presentation, and behavioral aspects. (DB)

Assessment can assist key steps in the development of effective school improvement planning (SIP) programs. The article refers to an SIP Action Guide, highlighting four occasions during use of the Action Guide when assessment processes are key (assessment within action plans and assessment to identify strengths, concerns, and possible causes). (SM)

Developmental framework identifies four phases in the knowledge and application base for teaching elementary physical education: acquiring a knowledge base; integrating subject areas within the major's knowledge base; applying knowledge; and evaluating teaching experience. The steps influence preservice teachers' teaching abilities so they…

Presents eight real-life examples of schools that use time wisely and efficiently to support faculty development, including early release of students, time banking, extra "specials" periods, paraprofessional support, weekly meetings, early teacher arrival, meeting while students are out doing community service, and blocking before- and…