Historically, science was introduced into the school curriculum to enable students, who were entering university to study science related subjects, to gain some background knowledge before beginning studies at the university level (Fensham, 2008, p 14). Unfortunately this view is still very prevalent among policy-makers and teachers today. And…

A common problem faced by new teachers is lack of supervisory support and learning on the job through trial and error can often dishearten the rookie enough to abandon the job and often the profession. Suggestions are offered on how to redress this problem and a starting point could be the implementation of what the Alliance for Excellent…

Tips to help new music teachers are presented. They include: learn the lay of the land; establish good relations with your superiors; use teaching methods with which you are familiar; get acquainted with the community; and beware of local politics. (RM)

Over the last three decades there has been a major shift in how practicing educators think about intelligence. One great driving force of this change can be attributed to "Frames of Mind: Theory of Multiple Intelligences," written by Howard Gardner in 1983. Gardner's book is conceived around the premise that every human being maintains seven (now…

Discusses improving attendance of staff and administrators by providing various financial and recognition-oriented incentives including savings bonds, plaques, and a year-end trophy. Rewards for perfect and near-perfect attendance resulted in a 16 percent improvement in total staff attendance and improvement in 90 percent of individual schools.…

Discusses how to motivate students to learn history. Suggests using primary sources, relating subject matter to what students already know, and avoiding lectures whenever possible. Recommends formulating goals in advance, preparing reading lists, preparing questions for students, and assigning individual projects. Argues that such a course will…

Recommendations concerning faculty recruitment, screening, selection, orientation, and development are presented as developed by the New Faculty Subcommittee of Miami-Dade Community College. The recommendations include the following: (1) the college should establish and fund the position of Recruitment Coordinator, adopt an organized recruitment…

The key to educational excellence is rethinking a new role for excellent teachers that embraces the classroom and extends beyond it into leadership activities. Among current policy initiatives are attempts to integrate stronger teacher roles into guidelines for incentive plans and to use teachers' strengths in the decision making process at local…

Argues that theater students must be encouraged to keep competition in perspective. Points out that too often program growth and support are dependent upon the number of honors that participants receive. Emphasizes that competition should be engaged in for its positive learning potential or should be abandoned as a student activity. (KO)

New mothers and beginning teachers face many of the same types of feelings and experiences as they learn to cope with their new roles. Implications for changing the conditions of support for new teachers and suggestions for involving more individuals in teaching are offered. (DF)

The key to initiating a training program for new composition instructors or teaching assistants (TAs), or for successfully maintaining one already in place, is to understand that TAs need to be acclimated to the discourse of composition. In addition, departments must clearly define the theories and goals underlying composition instruction, and…

This book offers a range of proven support strategies designed to help new faculty members thrive. Suggestions range from campuswide programs for nurturing newcomers to projects that help them to help themselves. Outlined is a structured mentoring program to build collegiality through social support networks. Also presented are specific techniques…

Self-management theory proposes that an individual organize activities around a set of goals that are carefully considered. These goals can help students develop a positive self-concept which in turn correlates with higher achievement. Primary grade teachers generally have ways in which to help learners see themselves as worthy, while in the…

Every child deserves a quality education. Providing competent, caring, qualified teachers in schools organized for success is the way to get there, but the devil is in the details. By tinkering on the edges, adopting piecemeal approaches to attracting, supporting, and retaining highly qualified teachers for the students who need them most, the…

Proceedings of the 1984 National Conference on Academic Advising are presented, including three main addresses, brief overviews of workshops, detailed outlines of topical sessions, and abstracts of 58 conference papers. The conference highlighted advisors' involvement in critical teaching functions. General session titles and authors are as…