The term "junior college" is now more widely accepted as applying to those institutions, either public or private, which offer the first two years of the standard college course, above and beyond the standard 15 units of high-school work. A variety of factors have, within the past few years, given an unusual significance to these…

High school English teacher from Hannahville Indian School (Wilson, Michigan) describes an approach to teaching writing that gives students ownership of the writing process, encourages creativity and self-expression, increases self-esteem, and fosters emotional and spiritual healing. Examples of students' poetry reflect issues facing American…

Reports on preliminary findings from a study of preservice elementary teachers who had a field experience in social studies education during their enrollment in an elementary social studies methods course. The eight-item questionnaire documented student teachers' reactions to the experience as well as providing additional quantitative data. (MJP)

Presents the "Teaching Journal" as a component of the Teaching Apprenticeship in Expository Writing course offered by Ithaca College. The professor mentor and the teaching apprentice write independently about their weekly classroom observations, opinions, questions, and concerns. This process offers apprentices teaching experience and…

Presents a personal perspective of a young teacher from a rural background and his experiences teaching music in an all-boys high school in New York City's South Bronx. Includes brief recommendations for creative and innovative ideas to motivate students and keep them focused. (MJP)

Presents a qualitative study of the sociocultural teaching and learning system involved in an introductory direct metal-sculpture studio class. Discusses the cognitive, affective, and physical processes that take place through the social exploration of material, form, and concepts. Includes a graphic model of the learning process. (MJP)

Presents the results of a statewide survey of Kansas art teachers. Teachers revealed that Discipline Based Art Education had little influence on them. Primary areas of concern were lack of funding and low status of art programs. Includes statistical analysis of the relationship between teaching experience, level of education, and teaching…

Reflects on the experiences of an American teacher of a Japanese university education course that focused on reading selected works by Western educators and on alternative models of education. Includes student responses to class readings, nontraditional education, educational philosophy, and the value of academic freedom. (LP)

Examines cover letters, curricula vitae, and teaching statements of 82 doctoral candidates and 74 Ph.D. applicants for an assistant professor position. Discovers that all of the applicants presented very little teaching information. Discusses reasons for this and offers recommendations for correcting the problem. (MJP)

Profiles a successful music course that provided instruction on the electric guitar, drums, and bass guitar, and helped expand the instrumental music program at Evergreen High School in Golden, Colorado. Highlights students' motivation and self-teaching, and the rock band competition that the course spawned. Includes an annotated list of…

A learning community can play an important role in facilitating student learning in a class and this is especially evident for distance learning courses. Creating a learning community that is virtual requires the use of online communication tools such as email, threaded discussion boards, and chat rooms. Many online students also benefit through…

This is the 8th annual report on conditions affecting the Racine Unified School District RUSD). Each study has confirmed that the Racine Unified School District (RUSD) faces greater challenges than its peers. Although these challenges have led Racine to spend slightly above the average amount per pupil, district performance tends to be below…

In this book's essays, teachers describe and reflect on the practice of experiential education in elementary, secondary, college, and outdoor settings. Major themes of these narratives include the insider's view of the teaching experience; active learning that requires student autonomy, imagination, and responsibility; and the view of experience…

The expansion of field-based preparation for teachers in recent years has been driven by several factors. The satisfaction of university students and instructors participating in site-based instruction and the encouragement of local schools seeking reform themselves have refueled this expansion. In a site-based course, preservice teachers provide…

This paper describes the development and dissemination of microteaching methods in Europe and some African countries, with emphasis on the United Kingdom and Germany. A tool for teacher preparation, microteaching trains teaching behaviors and skills in small group settings aided by video-recordings. Consistent with education reform efforts, the…