Responsible and effective administrative leadership requires confronting those members of the teaching staff who are a negative influence on the institution. Importantly, the absence of expressed appreciation for good work can have a devastating impact on a principal's image if he or she suddenly begins to confront poor performances. Actually, the…

The future of instructional evaluation will probably involve responding to changes in the goals of both teaching and evaluating teachers. The inadequacies of student achievement tests as measures of educational effectiveness will lead to a shift of interest away from tests and toward the abilities of students to solve problems, use learning…

A study was conducted to determine whether the Stallings Effective Teaching Practices inservice training program contributed to improved teacher performance in the Cincinnati, Ohio, Public Schools. The study had two major objectives: (1) to assess the degree of improvement in selected teacher practices after training; and (2) to investigate the…

Inservice programs for teachers and other educational personnel can increase the effectiveness of urban schools by upgrading the quality of school programs for children. Although social forces are partly responsible for the problems confronting urban schools, it is necessary to use existing knowledge to improve education under present conditions.…

This paper contains a summary of the impact of writing projects that are modeled after and partially funded by the Bay Area Writing Project and emphasizes the growth and development of the Greater New Orleans Writing Project (GNOWP). The assumptions behind the National Writing Project that link these projects together, the research that supports…

The principal's main role must be that of a change agent who is attempting to improve instruction by improving teaching, and the best way to improve teaching is to change teacher behavior. This improvement is possible only through changes in the instructional pattern of the teacher. Some methods of procedure and discussion of leadership patterns…

A carefully planned inservice education system should contain the following components: (1) Introduction: Committee Involvement. The system should be developed by a committee representative of the various levels of personnel who participate in the program and selected by prospective participants. (2) Philosophy. The inservice program should be…

On the premise that teacher education programs, with their emphasis on methods, are largely ineffective in improving current teaching practice, this paper examines ways teacher educators can change some of the beliefs of teachers and teacher candidates early in a program so as to optimize the impact of learning new teaching practices. Three…

This paper examines the phenomenon of private-practice teachers in public schools. It helps frame the debates surrounding market-driven reforms that are aimed at freeing schools from bureaucratic control and raises several questions about the potential impact of private-practice teachers. It asks whether market-driven reforms within public schools…

Experience shows that mentoring has a positive effect on new teachers' professional lives. Quality induction programs promote greater teacher retention, breaking the cycle of attrition, which saves money for school districts and ensures that teacher shortages do not dictate hiring policy. These benefits are felt most in school districts with…

This paper discusses a study of Dutch secondary education reform, describing the background, noting implications for teacher learning, and arguing that learning supports professional development and derives from performance of activities that help teachers develop professionally. Based on a literature study, a conceptual model was developed in…

This paper describes research lessons, which form the core of a larger process called lesson study within Japanese elementary science faculty development. Research lessons are actual classroom lessons with students which are: observed by others; planned for a long time, usually collaboratively; designed to bring to life particular goals of…

Presents a talk addressing "language issues"--issues of student writers who are not native speakers of English, who are struggling with standard English usage, and/or who are unfamiliar with the conventions of academic discourse. Offers an explanation of what writing-to-learn pedagogy should be and do. (SG)

This document contains ideas and information regarding using the Internet in the professional development of vocational education teachers. Presented first is basic information about what the Internet is and its value as a tool for professional development (including its role as a vehicle for accessing the ERIC database, taking online classes, and…

Professional development is an emerging view of faculty development that places teachers in charge of their own professional growth. The emergence of Total Quality Management (TQM) provides a vehicle for designing professional development to meet the needs of individuals and the organizations that employ them. The eight tenets of Deming's theory…