Proposes that general education curricula often have difficulty remaining faithful to goals of student empowerment. Provides case study of first year composition (FYC). Suggests that a strong commitment to reflection and revision of programs will create curricula that are more questioning and less comfortable with their own assumptions. Proposes…

Considers the importance of teachers changing their practice from the traditional norm. Offers insights into how this change can be achieved. Discusses conditions necessary for supporting improvisation and change. (PA)

Presents a complex dimension of teacher to student relationships that should be treated with some necessary personal depth. Relates the interactions of two very different students with their composition instructor. Considers how the issue of mother as teacher (and, by extension, woman as nearly everyone's first teacher) has abided with humans…

This book shows how learning circles (small groups of learners who come together to support each other in learning) can make great improvements in teaching quality. Teachers can form learning circles based on six key conditions that promote healthy communities of learners and successful professional development. The six conditions are (1) building…

Based upon the idea that the only hope for substantial curricular reform and for adoption of reflective inquiry in American schools is for teachers to redefine the basic pedagogical concepts that they have inherited, this book discusses how to teach students to reflect upon what they learn in school. The three major sections of the book discuss:…

The framework of reflective ideas and tools presented here, and in the companion, "Leading for Learning Sourcebook: Concepts and Examples," supports leaders' efforts to improve student learning in schools and districts. Overall, the framework sees to enable powerful, equitable learning for all students. Its ideas and tools highlight five…

This book examines the issues involved in creating reflective learning environments and raises questions that will help guide individuals' development as facilitators of learning. Section 1 looks at reflection as the core of learning. Section 2 describes the three stages in the reflective process: creating, observation, and analysis of the…

This article shows how teachers can implement behavioral observation and assessment using a structured rubric narrative log format to understand a student's problem behaviors and find ways to encourage more positive behavior. Advantages of narrative observations for functional behavioral assessments are specified and include exploring one's own…

A university supervisor used a "Stages of Concern" activity to promote reflective practice in preservice teachers. She wanted to show student teachers early in the semester that changes could be predicted, followed, and charted through their practicum to assess professional growth. The "Stages of Concern" model provides an…

This collection of papers delves into reflection as a concept and provides specific, replicable tools for professional practice. Each chapter draws on a particular school situation, demonstrating the value of teacher reflection and describing the nuts and bolts of the process, offering protocols for handling many different circumstances. After…

Examines how Bloom's Taxonomy can be used by Montessori teachers-in-training as an explanation for the level of proficiency exhibited by supervising teachers. Focuses on the process of becoming a skilled Montessori teacher in the context of the taxonomy and how supervising teachers and training programs can guide student teachers to deeper…

Stresses the importance for teachers to analyze their Intelligent Questioning (IQ) and Responding to Answers (RSA) scores. Provides three methods for measuring IQ and RSA: Flowchart for Asking Effective Questions, Questioning Observation form, and Flanders Technique of Interaction Analysis. Contends that by improving these teaching skills,…

This book supports primary teachers' early professional development and learning, tackling key questions and concerns that new teachers might face in their early careers, such as: How will I get through the first term? When will I feel like a "real" teacher? What can I expect from my first years in teaching? Drawing on the experiences of beginning…

Portfolio assessment is valuable for promoting reflective practice in student teachers. This paper describes how a university supervisor required her student teachers to select three professional goals at the beginning of their practicum and provide the proof that they achieved them by the end of the semester. The supervisor began by showing the…

Action research is, quite often, the method of enquiry employed by undergraduate and postgraduate students in higher education who are studying for accredited courses. In recent years, students studying for taught doctorate (EdD) degrees with their focus on practical aspects of education are also adopting action research as a method of study. This…