Examines the inductive approach to learning, which helps ensure an interactive environment where students use their language processes to learn. Preservice teachers can learn to organize their teaching inductively. Such training should include direct experience with the inductive approach, analysis of the experiences, guided practice, and coaching…

Presents recommendations for preparation of mathematics faculty at two-year colleges, including discussions of: minimal and standard preparation, continuing formal education, evaluating credentials, mathematical and pedagogical content, and continuing education. Includes an outline for a course in college mathematics teaching, suggesting topics,…

Intended for teacher educators in reading, this paper provides criteria for evaluating texts for reading methods courses. The first part of the paper discusses some considerations in choosing a text, including course format, how frequently the text will be used, and whether the text will be a supplemental, companion, or principal resource. The…

A competency-based methods course for preservice secondary mathematics teachers is described. Ten competencies, or skills, are identified as necessary for the successful teaching of mathematics. Each student either tests out of or works through a series of modules associated with each skill or competency. The objectives may be either knowledge,…

Describes a tutoring practicum that is an integral part of a content area reading course, focusing on tasks for building the capabilities needed in tutoring and techniques for ensuring that those capabilities are used. Cites formal and informal evidence of the practicum's effectiveness. (FL)

Considers the pedagogy of teaching theater to college students who will be secondary school drama teachers, including available instructional materials and lack of methods courses. Calls for creation of a complete pedagogy for secondary school theater. (PA)

Discusses several approaches to creating an effective text, envisioning a specific audience and determining how much detail is appropriate. Provides examples from seventh-grade English classes and a literacy methods course for middle-grade teachers. Considers some broader implications of the framework that educators are beginning to consider as…

Assesses the overall impact of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign microteaching model as perceived by secondary teacher candidates. Reports that teacher candidates found the model effective for improving their understanding of the different teacher- and learner-centered teaching techniques. (MM)

Presents a dialogue between a university faculty member and an elementary teacher. Explores the rich relationship afforded by collaborative efforts. Demonstrates how the connections of methods courses to classroom settings can strengthen preservice training for beginning teachers. (HB)

Describes how selected case examples are used in a mathematics course for prospective elementary teachers to provide a framework for discussing how children construct meaning in mathematics. The article examines the advantages of presenting cases in videodisc format with access to additional information through associated computer databases. (SM)

A competency-based introductory counseling course, including demonstrations of model counseling, student role-play counseling, information about prisoners, and a counseling practicum using prisoners as a client population, was developed for Roanoke Bible College. Research was then conducted to evaluate the course materials. Findings led to the…

Learning science in today's classroom does not have to be restricted to text-based curricular resources. Web sites present learners with a wide range of science activities in various formats ranging from text-only information to providing authentic real-time data sets and interactive simulations. This paper discusses reasons for using the Internet…

Learning to teach is difficult and depends upon the ability of teacher educators to help preservice teachers move from generality to real world specificity. The article describes a model of reflective thinking that was used in a field-based elementary physical education methods course. It discusses the structure of the model, conditions necessary…

Describes how the special education faculty and the general education faculty at Northwestern State University of Louisiana carried out a co-planning and co-teaching effort in four classes of the undergraduate elementary education methods block. Discusses key questions they considered, presents the model they developed for this process, and notes…

A gap exists between talk about teaching that is featured in most preservice teacher education and the working knowledge and problem-solving expertise that characterize skilled teaching. This gap exists because typical teacher training does not embody the principles of modeling, coaching, scaffolding, articulation, and reflection. Three methods…