This study explored the potential acceptability of performance pay to new teachers by investigating attitudes toward performance pay of students preparing to be teachers. Focus groups and a survey of students preparing to be teachers at a large U.S. university were conducted. Most students expressed a preference for some form of performance pay…

Brian Jacob examines challenges faced by urban districts in staffing their schools with effective teachers. He emphasizes that the problem is far from uniform. Teacher shortages are more severe in certain subjects and grades than others, and differ dramatically from one school to another. The Chicago public schools, for example, regularly receive…

This study represents a continuation of research efforts to further refine the Attitudes and Beliefs on Classroom Control (ABCC) Inventory. The purposes of this study were to investigate the: (1) impact of classroom management training on classroom management style; (2) differences in attitudes toward classroom management between novice and…

This project grew out of concerns expressed by several novice teachers about their lack of preparation to deal with common problems in the classroom. Several trends were evident with the teachers involved in this study. They all came to recognize the importance of effective, organized instruction during the term of the study, along with the…

The comprehensive high school has changed little over the past few decades, in spite of the rising numbers of immigrant children populating U.S. public schools. Critics claim that high school traditions and structures consign English language learners to marginal positions and inferior academic opportunities. In our intensive analysis of 8 English…

This set of eight reports is a product of the Mathemagenic Activities Program (MAP) for early childhood education of the University of Georgia Follow Through (FT) Program. Based on Piagetian theory, the MAP-FT projects are comprehensive education programs for children (K - 3) from low income families that are designed to continually challenge…

This paper describes the key elements of a model evaluation of beginning teacher programs in a large urban school district. Over a year and a half, evaluators conducted studies of the effectiveness of these programs, some of which were still in progress. This paper reports on the elements used in each study and analyzes the usefulness of each…

Explores whether OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) inspections result in improvement in British schools. One-third of the 821 secondary teachers surveyed expressed an intention to change practice as a result of inspection. Seniority level was linked with intention to change and content of that change. Teaching experience, preparation,…

Clear funding/achievement relationships are emerging from the recent body of production-function research. Money does matter in producing educational outcomes. Factors such as small class size and teacher experience can drive up instructional costs. Schools cannot operate efficiently with scanty resources. Equalizing quality resource inputs is a…

For principals, a teaching or educational leadership background is crucial for performing their instructional leadership and democratic governance responsibilities. Schools' experience with alternatively certified teachers (likely to be less effective, committed, or permanent than traditionally trained teachers) should raise cautionary flags about…

A survey of 11 teachers with at least 15 years of experience revealed that traditional supervision does not serve veteran teachers' needs for feedback, collegiality, or professional growth opportunities. Many respondents raised issues of power and control in the teacher/supervisory relationship. Maintaining a collegial dialogue among practicing…

Prospective secondary mathematics teachers lack images of "reformed" teaching that engage students in experimenting, analyzing, conjecturing, justifying, and making connections. The development and investigation of experiences fostering reform-oriented teaching are needed. This study investigated microteaching lesson study (MLS), an experience…

This qualitative study examined the subjective experience of school counseling interns (N = 26) with and without teaching experience. Non-teachers acknowledged a steep learning curve as they adjusted to the school and teacher cultures, but relied on personal qualities and counselor training as they moved successfully into competence. Teachers…

The effective management of pupils' undesirable behaviours in the classroom represents a major challenge for teachers. In order to better comprehend the difficulties facing them it is important to examine how they perceive pupil behaviours at different stages of their professional development. The present study examined the effects of teaching…

School-based assessment of science students' practical skills has two important roles--as a complement to written papers in public examinations and as a catalyst for enriching the science curriculum in schools. This article describes a quantitative study of the concerns chemistry and biology teachers experience as they engage in the process of…