This booklet discusses what teachers may encounter in their first year of teaching, presenting information from teachers themselves. Information comes mainly from a series of discussions held among winners of the First Class Teachers Award sponsored every year by Sallie Mae, a corporation dedicated to education. Focus group discussions with…

This book offers suggestions and ideas in definite and practical terms for teaching, evaluating teaching, and improving the school. Problems and possible solutions are discussed in the areas of: (1) classroom order and discipline; (2) teaching the basics; (3) dealing with written work; (4) planning for the class, the unit, and the year; (5) study…

Teacher performance areas, criteria for evaluating them, and specific descriptors of behavior satisfying each criterion are supplied in this document. Performance areas and criteria for teacher evaluation were selected by the five school districts participating in the School Improvement Model project. The teacher performance areas selected for…

The guide is designed as an analysis of current practices in teacher education to help educators deal with learning and behavior problems in the regular classroom. Special emphasis is directed to Teacher Corps staff. Chapter 1 reviews the concept of collaborative planning and notes its importance for the special education coordinator at an…

Four papers address issues related to affective competencies needed by teachers of visually handicapped students. In "Role of the Home and Parent in Enhancing Self-Concept," T. Galloway, a parent, describes her experiences in coping with her multiply handicapped child's disabilities and in helping him to feel good about himself. C. Leonard…

Addressed is the need in social work education to identify the skills required for effective practice, to develop instruments to measure these skills, and to design an approach to teach them effectively. In the first chapter, "Identifying the Worker Helping Skills," 27 communication, relationship, and problem-solving skills are described. The…

This kit has been designed by teachers at the Atlanta Area Center for Teachers (Georgia) to offer beginning teachers support and suggestions as they begin the challenge of their first year of teaching. Because most new teachers in Georgia must participate in Competency Based Teacher Performance Certification, this package has been sequenced…

Peer collaboration assumes that, given a systematic strategy for solving classroom problems, general education teachers working together can develop effective instructional and behavioral interventions for their students with mild learning or behavior problems. The article describes the four steps in the peer collaboration process, its…

Describes the steps in a systematic approach to: identification of most important competencies for industrial trainers for agency use in developing instructor competencies to select, train, and evaluate trainers: determining need for trainer competencies list; identifying competencies; establishing criteria to judge competencies; and testing…

The author outlines the qualities of excellent teachers and points out that excellence itself is rare in many occupations. He also describes the difficulties teacher's face including the low status they hold in our society. He presents nine steps to follow to achieve excellence in education. (MD)

This monograph is designed assist to teacher preparation institutions that want to use standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to help teachers prepare for their National Board Certification process and simultaneously improve their advanced programs for teachers. Part 1, "Rationale for Using NBPTS Standards as a…

Information to help parents evaluate the coaches of their community's sport activities is provided, including qualities they should look for in coaches. Also included is a checklist that can help parents evaluate the maturity of their own attitudes and behavior where their children's sports are concerned. (PP)

Dealing with parents, colleagues, and administrators may be easier for teachers who use communications techniques gleaned from the corporate world. Topics include choosing appropriate language, maintaining harmony while making progress, and establishing a professional image. Four teachers briefly discuss benefits of training, through IMPACT II…

Examines the use of portfolios for assessing preservice teachers. The article describes portfolios as an alternative assessment approach, examines the preservice teacher's domains of knowledge and performance that can be assessed by portfolios, and explicates the general features used to operate a portfolio system. (SM)

This set of standards describes and defines characteristics of basic skills work in Britain. An introduction describes the structure of the standards. A chart displays the standards, phases, units, and elements. A glossary is provided. Following a format used in National Vocational Qualifications, the standards are based on an analysis of the…