In Florida, recent legislative changes have granted community colleges the ability to offer baccalaureate degrees in education, frequently to non-traditional students. Based on information obtained from the literature covering preservice teachers' math knowledge, teachers' efficacy beliefs about math, and high-stakes mathematics testing, a study…

Provides a rationale for including biography projects that represent diverse contributors to science and mathematics. Describes a biography-project assignment used in a methods course for secondary teacher preparation, discusses preservice teachers' comments about the assignment, and makes connections to current research on equitable instruction.…

This report describes the mathematics education program developed with a limited budget and resources at a small liberal arts university. Details of course content, related projects, and student-teaching requirements are given. (CR)

The nature of school career education programs is briefly discussed. The organization of elementary and secondary methods courses to prepare teachers for integrating science or mathematics with career education is examined. (SD)

This study compared the attitudes toward science teaching and proficiency in the science process skills of elementary education majors enrolled in a physics course v a science methods course. Science process skills appear to be more effectively taught in the physics course. (Author/MK)

Reports on conference of public school and university personnel in which the improvement of preparation of prospective science teachers was the topic. Lists of suggestions are divided into the categories (1) secondary science methods courses, (2) student teaching, and (3) university-public school relationships. (CP)

A field-based program for elementary education majors is described. Details are given concerning the elementary science methods component of the program. (DT)

An overall teacher preparation program is described. The content of the elementary science methods component, a list of proposed student competencies, and five assignments given to students are discussed in detail. (DT)

Suggests that teacher preparation courses should model hands-on activities that promote positive attitudes toward science. Investigates the qualities of activities in a field-based science methods course that motivates preservice elementary teachers to implement them in their own classrooms. (Author/CCM)

The paper describes cooperative school/university science teacher training program that is evolving at Indiana University. It requires approximately four to five semesters of study. (Author/CP)

Examined how preservice elementary teachers' (N=38) mathematical knowledge and mathematics anxiety affect their success in a mathematics methods course. Also examined the hypothesis that a mathematics methods course can reduce the mathematics anxiety of these teachers. One finding is that mathematics anxiety does not inhibit their learning of…

Provides a simplified method of self-evaluation of lessons taught which is inexpensive and requires little training before utilization. (CP)

A methods course was designed with the specific objectives of broadening the future mathematics teachers' perspective of the role of a teacher, and teaching by example what "methods" means. A detailed description of the course is provided. (SD)

Describes a mathematics content course in which observations are made by preservice elementary school teachers of actual classroom teachers. This course emphasizes these aspects of teacher education: attitudes towards mathematics, achievement and understanding of content, expectation levels of prospective teachers, and understanding of elementary…

Describes a four semester hour science and mathematics methods course for elementary education majors, offered at Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minn.) that has the following characteristics: (1) behaviorally stated objectives, (2) criterion-referenced measurements, (3) levels of competency, (4) options within levels of competency, and (5)…