Article is based on the keynote address of the 1987 annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Suggests that George Polya left a legacy which has not only touched knowledge and abilities in mathematics and problem solving but also had significant effects on thoughts about teaching. (PK)

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 reauthorized and significantly expanded the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Act and its accompanying fund increases offer numerous opportunities to improve teaching and achievement of young adolescents, targeting federal money more than ever to high poverty schools and districts and including…

This paper discusses how the 2000 standards of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) can be used in state accreditation standards to promote accountability. It describes standards 1 and 2: candidate knowledge, skills, and dispositions and assessment system and unit evaluation, then presents a few examples of…

To strengthen its traditional professional development, which relies on off-campus experts, McLennen Community College (MCC) in Waco, Texas, has developed a popular and effective in-house system. Faculty members who are experts in their own fields serve as resource leaders in faculty development opportunities for salary step-credit and in…

The American Federation of Teachers has developed 11 guidelines for developing programs to prepare teachers to make complex decisions identify and solve problems, and connect theory, practice, and student outcomes: (1) professional development should deepen and broaden knowledge of content; (2) professional development should provide a strong…

This paper uses data from the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) to examine two main facets of teacher qualifications: teacher certification and degree level. After noting the importance of teacher qualifications to student achievement and to public confidence in the educational system, Section 1 looks at sources of partly certified teachers. One…

This paper explains the nature of the teacher education program at Saint Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Indiana, focusing on four distinct yet integrated components of the teacher education program. The components--education faculty; faculty from the arts, sciences, and humanities; and preK-12 classroom teachers--work collaboratively in the…

Investigates the effects of a pre-service training course for secondary education teachers in the Netherlands. The training course featured two direct instructional models: executive acting, directed at well-structured skills, and strategic acting, directed at higher-level thinking strategies. Observation revealed significantly more effective…

Explores the classroom dynamics of multicultural courses, describes various forms of student resistance, and suggests appropriate teaching methods. Recommends using a case studies approach, short feedback evaluations, setting ground rules for discussions, using anecdotal texts to illustrate historical information, and establishing a climate of…

Introduces a theme issue on reflective practice in California's Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program. Papers highlight: state policy mandating teacher reflection; the California Formative Assessment and Support System for Teachers; teacher skills and beliefs for promoting reflective practice in novice teachers; beginning teachers'…

Columbia University has developed a variety of classroom materials for training international teaching assistants (ITA) in practical, readily transferable teaching skills. Training courses are designed to help ITAs develop a professional self-image in their field of expertise and foster a deeper understanding of their role in the American…

Conceptualization and implementation of a program to train university teaching assistants at McGill University (Quebec) are described. The systematic approach to program development included needs assessment, planning and implementation, and evaluation. The relationship between various levels of the institution and the way in which they have…

Describes San Francisco State University's development of a teacher education program to prepare middle school teachers. Its eight components are nature of the preprofessional field experience; subject matter preparation; preenrollment orientation; seminars on middle school teaching; curriculum and instruction; team teaching; teacher advisors; and…

Examines perceived incompetence within Texas colleges of education, discussing: whether schooling promotes equality; prior analyses of the issue; grade inflation and social promotion; and student teachers' attitudes and curricular preferences. Overall, admissions standards are too low, resulting in marginal teachers who retard students' academic…

Describes the education community and coeducation in Flanders, examining major disadvantages related to contemporary problems in education; discussing what the government and teacher education institutions have done to prepare teachers for coeducation; and noting how the introduction of coeducation into the complex Belgian school structure, which…