This paper discusses the role of imagination, experience, and narrative recounting of practical events in the education of novice teachers. The narrative study of experience connects autobiography to action and intentional future; it connects these to social history and direction; and it links the pluralistic extremes of formalism to the…

In certain skills and attitudes, expected competencies of new teachers may be unreasonable in relation to both their college preparation and in terms of what they confront in their first classrooms as professionals. This study was undertaken, in part, to assess how first-year teachers may fare in relation to proposed competency testing models.…

The major findings of this study were as follows: (1) beginning teachers relied on experienced teachers to define for them appropriate standards for student achievement; (2) experienced teachers, in general, were hesitant about offering assistance to beginners for fear of appearing interfering; (3) beginning teachers asked for assistance only when…

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of simulation for presenting critical teaching problems and the effect of exposure to simulated critical teaching problems on student teachers. The study had three major phases: (1) identification of critical teaching problems, (2) development of a simulated fifth grade situation, and (3)…

This book is part of a series for teachers which consists of several short books, each devoted to an essential topic in the field of educational psychology. This volume aims to be a brief, contemporary discussion of the process of becoming a teacher. It is intended not only to be instructive but also to promote in the reader heightened…

The initial aspects of this report discuss the selection of the sample and the field study research methodology employed. The second section, "First Year Teachers' Changing Perceptions," reviews the changes that first-year teachers perceived along seven dimensions: (1) teacher satisfactions; (2) discipline, fears, worries, frustrations, failures,…

Provides practical suggestions for setting up low-cost programs to help beginning teachers. These include: (a) pairing novices with experienced teachers; (b) giving novices release time to observe experienced teachers in the classroom; and (c) before school starts, holding training sessions and workshops on classroom management for novice…

Surveyed 181 experienced elementary and junior high teachers and 189 preservice teachers regarding their perceptions of school psychologists. Results revealed significant differences between preservice and experienced teachers' effectiveness ratings of school psychologists on eight tasks and on ratings of school psychologists' qualifications. (NRB)

This study examined 35 first- and second-year teachers' perceptions of several current issues pertinent to their profession. Analysis of data from an open-ended questionnaire found that teachers' perceptions of their beginning teaching experiences were not all positive, though they were still satisfied that they had chosen to become teachers.…

Reported is a study designed to: (1) identify the perceived confidence with which perservice science teachers would approach some developmental tasks related to curriculum and evaluation during distinct phases of a year-long course; and (2) compare these perceived competencies to those science supervisors consider important for beginning teachers.…

A longitudinal study of 78 undergraduate education students reveals that an individual's attitudes towards certain variables associated with teaching change as those individuals gain classroom experience. (LH)

Recent developments in Ontario, Canada, are used to identify and discuss issues related to teacher induction and teacher education reform efforts in North America. (Author)

Through an exchange of letters, a veteran public school teacher advises a doubting beginning teacher (her former student) to remain in the classroom. The letters reveal both women's innermost thoughts about the difficult, demanding, and rewarding profession of teaching. (SM)

This study of the experiences of four beginning teachers of learning-disabled students examines teachers' pedagogical concerns (such as discipline and locating materials); concerns about special education (mainstreaming and consultation with classroom teachers); concerns about organization and time; amount and type of assistance received; and…

To study the knowledge that teachers use to understand and interpret teaching and learning, 28 respondents from 4 levels of teaching experience were asked to explain their understanding of videotaped classroom scenes. The increasing complexity of understanding with teacher experience is supported by the findings. (SLD)