This paper reviews current literature about three tools used by teacher education programs and school districts to assess teacher candidate quality. It presents a matrix which aligns the underlying dimensions of teacher knowledge, dispositions, and skills for the STAR Teacher Interview, the Teacher Perceiver Interview, and the Praxis III Teacher…

Brock University's (Ontario) Faculty of Education developed and conducted two pilot programs that extended teacher education over 2 academic years. This paper reports the results of a study that followed graduate teachers of the extended preparation program into their first professional year. The study explored participants' perceptions of their…

This study followed Sternberg and Horvath's (1995) prototype view to sketch a teaching expertise schema as the hypothetical model. An interview of 13 novice, beginning, and expert teachers was used to examine the adequacy of the model. The participants were asked to comment on slides of classroom events. Their think-out-loud protocols were coded…

Student teaching or internship evaluation instruments used in teacher education programs at 11 research universities were analyzed. Their emphasis on classroom management knowledge and skills may be contributing to what many teachers see as a frustrating concentration on management and a smooth-running classroom over attention to substantive…

This longitudinal study examined the development of expertise as a situational and contextual process among nine student teachers during their 3-year enrollment in a kindergarten training college in Finland. The research report is based on observations of student teaching, interviews with the student teachers, and student teacher diaries.…

This paper describes initial implementation of a new role in staff development--the Instructional Coach (IC). The IC acts as a resource at the school level to assist the principal and faculty to improve instructional practices. In a pilot project, one teacher from each of four schools within the Department of Defense Dependents Schools system…

The absence of a professional career structure for teachers is not a new problem. In 1989, Australian unions, employers, and governments negotiated the Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) classification. Three levels of AST status involving salary increases were proposed to offer teachers a professional career path in teaching comparable in status to…

This study explored the inservice training needs of teachers (in Taiwan) working with mentally handicapped students. Elementary (N=224) and junior high (N=171) school teachers of the retarded were surveyed concerning perceived competency levels and preferred inservice training topics and formats. Findings included: (1) both teacher groups selected…

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the nature of pedagogical content knowledge and to offer a list of working hypotheses concerning it for incorporation into teacher education programs. What teachers know about teaching, such as preinstructional strategies, the use of concrete examples and manipulatives, formative testing,…

This study examines the idea that a major aspect of improving the effectiveness of schools hinges on obtaining a better understanding of what it is that makes teachers effective. The researchers surveyed university students in Botswana (n=54), Zimbabwe (n=54), and the United States (n=70) who were training to be teachers and asked them what they…

Recent graduates (N=173) and current student teachers (N=59) in the areas of early childhood, elementary education, and special education, rated 30 teacher competencies in terms of perceived importance and their own competency levels. Frequencies and percentages of responses were tallied for both groups and for each certification area. Analysis…

A mentor system that pairs a new teaching assistant (TA) with an experienced TA has been established at the University of Massachusetts Writing Program. Recruited as volunteers, experienced TAs can consult with the Resource Center staff and with more experienced mentors concerning their role as counselor. Usually, mentors and mentees exchange…

This paper presents the results of a study designed to determine whether preservice elementary teachers with a great deal of previous early field experience, but no previous microteaching experience, would benefit more from an additional science field experience in the local school systems or from an alternative science microteaching experience.…

Challenges to the psychology teacher are considered, including engaging students in the learning process, helping students develop a historical perspective in their study of psychology, and dealing with controversial topics. Resistance to answering questions is likely to be greatest when the lecturer asks for highly specific facts. Students may be…

A teacher training program located in the Department of Communication at the University of Montana systematically attempts to modify teachers' communication behavior within the classroom. In step 1, baseline behavioral data are collected from each teacher by videotaping within the classroom. Step 2 involves coding the videotapes, using a "simple"…