Considers what constitutes an effective multicultural teacher. Effective multicultural teachers positively acknowledge cultural diversity and use the necessary instructional strategies to enhance learning for all students. Willingness to promote the development of such teachers must become an integral component of teacher education programs. (SLD)

Discusses the importance of the inclusion of disabled students in regular classes as "full members" of their public school communities. Describes the ways in which this inclusion is achieved with a first grade student by means of an individualized education program. (BB)

Reports on data from the three surveys by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education of faculty from 80 institutions. This analysis covers the following topics: demographics, prior experience, field work, scholarship, teaching loads, and likelihood of reform. (SM)

Provides an overview of the issues shaping efforts to reform elementary education in the People's Republic of China. China's school organization and practices invite comparison with aspects of the U.S. system of elementary education. Enduring features of Chinese elementary education are discussed. (Author/BB)

Discusses issues to be considered in efforts to determine whether programs are effective for improving education of all middle school students. Details directions effective programs are taking in mathematics, reading, writing and language arts, thinking skills, science, and social studies. Discusses common components of the programs. (BB)

Problems of fit among five streams of educational reform and prevailing configurations of teachers' professional development are identified. It is argued that the dominant training-and-coaching model is not adequate for the requirements of present reform initiatives. Criteria are presented for assessing professional development policies and…

A unit on butterflies in a first grade classroom gave the children scientific knowledge and incorporated subject areas other than science. (BB)

The authors of an article on staff development for general education teachers serving students with learning disabilities respond to a commentary. They stress the involvement of teachers in the development and research process on Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) and Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS). They also note independent teacher…

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…

This monograph describes elementary teacher education in South Korea and aspects of Korean society that have contributed to the uniqueness of this educative process. Within the context of comparative education, the essay introduces the cultural, social, and institutional attributes of Korea; discusses specifics of the educative process as a…

Research suggests that successful staff development must attend to teachers' affective and humanistic needs. This paper presents strategies for staff development that are based in an affective and humanistic context. The following principles of adult learning are particularly relevant to teacher-staff development: Adults perceive themselves as…

This policy paper summarizes the research on change and effective staff development to drive an outcomes-based, results oriented approach to increase student success. The paper provides a discussion of the following ideas necessary for practice: (1) participants must be involved in planning and developing training; (2) training must be relevant,…

Noting that the principles of writing process instruction typically offered to elementary teachers are less readily adaptable to intermediate classrooms emphasizing content area learning rather than basic skills, this paper explores two key themes important to the successful implementation of writing process instruction: (1) teachers' needs to…

This collection of articles, intended for kindergarten teachers, focuses on the importance of the teacher's relationship with parents and the need for parents to be active participants in their child's educational development. The first article reviews the literature and research related to parent/early childhood education, touches on some current…

Describes the results of a survey of elementary education faculty at schools of education in Ohio designed to explore attitudes toward the elementary teacher's role in research skills instruction; library instruction in teacher training programs; and the relationship of critical thinking skills to the library research process. (CLB)