One of the most vital forms of dialogue for a novice teacher is the inner dialogue of reflective practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate if and how blogging supports the ability of preservice teachers (PSTs) to reflect on their student teaching experience. Findings suggest that blogging may serve as both response and stimuli,…

Teacher self-efficacy is a construct that exerts a powerful influence on the behaviors of teachers. Yet, few studies have been conducted examining the impact of contextual structures within educator preparation programs on the development of general and domain-specific teaching efficacy. This study investigated the impact of a yearlong internship…

At a time when there is great emphasis on teacher quality and the preparation of excellent teachers, this portrait explores the process of one such aspiring teacher, Katie, in the fall of her full-year student-teaching internship. Her mentoring teacher, Kristen, is a veteran fifth-grade teacher at a small elementary school in New Hampshire who…

The clinical internship--also called student teaching--represents one of the most important experiences of teacher preparation programs nationwide yet remains not well understood. This article focuses on the experiences of teacher candidates who have struggled in their schools. Here we present data from a survey administered to 107 undergraduate…

There is a paucity of research on what constitutes an ideal special education field experience, and it is not clear which components or activities within a field experience impact a teacher's growth to the greatest extent. Reviewing past research will assist in categorizing the components typically included in field experiences and may assist in…

The purpose of the present study is to examine how first-year secondary teaching interns' classrooms compare to those of more experienced teachers. Through the simultaneous use of three unique observation instruments, the authors addressed the following research questions: (a) How do first-year secondary teachers' classroom behaviors compare to…

The study-abroad internship option for students is one example of a transformational learning opportunity (TLO) that is becoming increasingly popular in programs offered by colleges and universities in the United States (Alfaro, 2008; Cushner & Mahon, 2002). These TLOs often have the potential to broaden, enrich, or augment student learning and…

This article reports results of research on whether there are clinical and statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of three pathways to teacher preparation on a single campus, Yosemite State, a member of the California State University (CSU) System as rated by graduates and employment supervisors. The independent variable is the…

A review is given of the avenues currently available under California law for individuals or institutions to pursue "alternative" teacher certification procedures. An explanation is given of the nature of the District Intern Program, and how it can be used as an alternative credentialing path. (JD)

Argues for continued support and expansion of both university and district internship programs in helping to meet the demands of California's teacher shortage, explaining the difference between intern and conventional programs. California's internships are fully paid positions in public schools where the intern serves as teacher of record while…

Explains how an understanding of the developmental stages of teachers can help in designing collaborative induction-year internship programs for orienting beginning teachers to classroom realities, and describes developmental sequences (microphases) that occurred while observing beginning teachers in a year-long collaborative university-school…

This article proposes a radical design change for teacher preparation. Key features include: (1) six years of preparation, beyond high school, resulting in a master's degree; (2) a one-year internship; and (3) substantive contact with another culture. (IAH)

Study examined developmental differences in teaching quality between elementary intern teachers and regularly trained beginning teachers during their first five years. Information from written surveys of teacher concerns, classroom observations, and follow-up interviews indicated intern teachers were at equivalent levels or slightly behind…

There are three barriers to successful laboratory experiences: shortage of trained laboratory-experienced supervisors, a lack of requirements for specific preparation for teachers who serve as school-based supervisors, and a lack of preparation and study among college and university supervisors of laboratory experiences. (JD)

Discusses internship programs in teacher education, highlighting how the University of California San Diego's secondary internship credential program contributes to development and retention of secondary teachers. The internship provides an intense relationship among novices, skilled professionals, and research faculty. Evaluation of the program…