Explores how one state's draft standards addressed five areas: skill development/maintenance through inservice, existence of different teaching and learning styles, effects of varied teaching experiences, development of commonly- and rarely-used skills, and standards' potential for fostering inclusion. Nine participating teachers reported greatest…

Investigated the benefits of Professional Development School (PDS) endeavors as perceived by university faculty participating in the Holmes Group. Data from open-ended surveys identified four themes related to PDS benefits: (1) improved teaching/learning environments; (2) improved collegiality in professional relationships; (3) personal and…

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study Video Study of Teaching compared teacher development systems in the U.S., Japan, and Germany. Findings indicated that many American teachers believe they are changing the way they teach while they retain traditional practices. A research and development system was proposed for improving…

As part of a larger project aimed at promoting science and literacy for culturally and linguistically diverse elementary students, this study has two objectives: (a) to describe teachers' initial beliefs and practices about inquiry-based science and (b) to examine the impact of the professional development intervention (primarily through…

Examined how interdisciplinary team practices and classroom instructional practices affected student achievement in high poverty middle schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Found that when the combined effects of family poverty level, teaming and common planning time, and duration of teaming were considered, there was a relationship…

Twenty-two elementary and middle school teachers were studied over the course of a school year as they implemented cooperative learning structures in their classrooms. Twelve of the teachers did peer coaching and 10 did not. The teachers participated in 2 days of staff development to learn six specific cooperative structures and to learn and…

This case study examined the effects of the "Formation Of Concept between you and me which is US" (FOCUS) model on teacher perception and efficacy and its application in the classroom. The FOCUS model, based on the theory of Interactive Perceptual Psychology (IPP), uses concepts to assist in altering teacher perception of the student as a total…

This paper reports on a study that looked at the concerns of elementary school teachers in their second year of teaching and explored the role that institutions of higher education (IHE) might play in this phase of teachers' development. The sample was comprised of two groups of second year teachers (N=25); one group had participated in a…

A deeper understanding of the adult-learning process has produced a substantial consensus about the critical attributes that constitute effective professional-development practices. This volume presents findings of a study that examined the design, implementation, and impact of systemic reform efforts to in-depth case studies of three…

The press for the professionalization of teachers is based on the assertion that a strengthened profession will more effectively meet students' needs and improve the overall quality of education. This volume, the second in a set of three, presents detailed individual case studies from a study that examined the design, implementation, and impact of…

This report on an evaluation of Ohio state-funded career enhancement pilot programs cover six school districts. Four kinds of programs are covered: (1) career ladder--teachers are promoted through a series of steps based on different levels of competence and responsibility; (2) career option--teachers take on and are compensated for defined…

This paper offers college teachers guidelines for improving their teacher made tests. It notes that teachers may focus on how well students have learned course objectives while being unaware of how the testing process itself contributes to the results obtained. The paper reports the results of a test-taking workshop designed to improve college…

In 1986, the Southern Regional Education Board Career Ladder Clearinghouse reported that 29 states were implementing, or had mandates to develop, career ladder or teacher incentive programs based on student performance. The 50-state survey reported on here revisits the issue of teacher and school incentive programs. The report provides a framework…

This study focused on innercity elementary school staff perceptions of the process they engaged in, which emerged from the principal's initiative to move the school culture in a more collaborative direction and thus further develop pedagogical practice and student social and academic growth. Research in this case study involved observations and…

Research was conducted to determine whether teacher training institutes provide adequate education in map and globe skills and whether prospective teachers are capable of transmitting map and globe skills to students. To test these questions, a total of 495 elementary education majors at the University of Central Florida took the Nystrom Map and…