In this paper, the author suggests ways to help beginning teachers understand their students without relying solely on the questionable assumptions of developmental theories. She recommends that beginning teachers construct knowledge based upon their personal experiences with children, and develop interpretations in collaboration with others as…

The new teacher attrition rate in the US schools continues to cause concern, and disconnect between the goals of new teachers and of those who shape public education is one important reason behind this problem. Suggestions are presented on how to let teachers connect meaningfully with their students thus giving these professionals the support they…

As the former director of the Compton Fellowship Program, the author has an in-depth knowledge about the program. When she left the position in 1997, she became interested in doing research on the impact of the program. The author knew that she would filter the events and situations that took place through a lens which would influence her…

Attracting worthy teachers to the compulsory education system in Japan requires attention to three issues: teacher salaries, strengthening initial teacher preparation, and expansion and systemization of teacher training. The one-year beginning teachers' inservice training program began in 1989 in response to the third issue. (IAH)

Sets the context for examining a series of articles that highlight California's work on beginning teacher induction, discussing restructuring to connect teaching and learning, knowledge of student learning, teacher performance expectations, standards of practice, the role of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, implications for…

A graduate student at a large research university (later a teacher at a small state college in Arkansas) succumbed to, rebelled against, jumped into, and refrained from many varieties of mentoring and being mentored. Mentoring is like institutionalized parenting, containing exchanges analogous to the range of exchanges that happen between parent…

In this paper on the use of teachers as reflective users of peer clinical supervision, a research and literature review relating to the assumptions of clinical supervision, fostering reflective practice through clinical supervision, and the special potential of peer clinical supervision is presented. Then, a personal account of a beginning…

Studying and understanding classrooms narratively allows researchers to see the unities, continuities, and rhythms in the whole which cannot be discovered by analyzing parts. Narrative links educations to other aspects of the study of human experience and adds insight to the process of becoming a teacher. (MT)

This article is a description of my first year as a history teacher. The purpose of it is to help any preservice teacher who is about to enter a classroom for the first time. I explain instruction patterns and management skills that are vital to any starting teacher. The introduction deals with explaining my situation. It covers the demography and…

These two articles, written in a dialogue format, discuss the characteristics of teacher knowledge which is needed for effective teaching, and how novice teachers acquire this knowledge. (IAH)

Identifies critical dimensions of the social organization of schools associated with teachers' commitment: rewards, task autonomy and discretion, learning opportunities, and efficacy. Suggests policy recommendations necessary to develop a successful teacher induction program. (RJC)

Discusses continuing education and personal support for first-year teachers as necessary extensions of preservice education. Focuses on the role of higher education in this process, and suggests theoretical frameworks that can provide direction for research on ways to enable teachers to continue to learn. (RJC)

Proposes a radical overhaul of teacher certification (licensure) through, for example, the creation of "competitive certification" zones, expanding alternative certification programs, and improving the content basis of licensure examinations. (PKP)

This article reports on a teacher book club consisting of six novice teachers who met over a 2-year period beginning with their first entry into the profession to cultivate their teacher knowledge, identity, and development in a social/supportive context. The teachers met approximately every 6 weeks over the course of the academic year (7 times…

Rationalistic, technical curriculum planning has been the dominant model underpinning student teachers' lesson-planning for a generation or more in England and Wales. In recent years, this process has become embedded in documents that direct initial training. The paper argues that this model leads to a limited view of teaching and learning as well…