A study examined how novice instructors become professional writing teachers. Subjects, 7 men and 13 women each teaching 1 section of regular freshman composition and 1 developmental writing class, participated in a weekly seminar designed to provide a "comfort zone" to which they could bring their questions about teaching and discuss…

The Virginia Department of Education annually collects information concerning instructional personnel employed in Virginia's public schools. This publication presents information pertaining to persons employed during the 1985-86 school year. Tables display statistical imformation on: (1) distribution of instructional personnel by employment…

This report is one in a series of needs assessment publications that comprise the initial phase for PROJECT DESIGN, an ESEA Title III project administered by the Fresno City Unified School District. The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant teacher staffing differences exist among schools of the district. The data used in this…

Four dimensions of training for preschool teaching are suggested in this paper: (1) developmental stages of the teacher; (2) training needs of each stage; (3) location of the training; and (4) timing of training. The growth of preschool teachers generally occurs in stages associated with survival, consolidation, renewal, and maturity. Training…

The possible sources of preservice teachers' unrealistic job expectations (that they will encounter few difficulties) were studied. By applying ideas developed in a study of "unrealistic optimism," a framework for such an analysis is given and the findings of an initial study of 118 students are reported. (JL)

Five expert teachers in gifted education and ten teachers without specialized training were compared on perceptions of and provision for gifted students. Responses differed markedly in allocation of responsibility for learning, depth of suggested activities, general organizational schema, programming of academic subjects, perception of the…

Since 1982, the "MetLife Survey of the American Teacher" has examined issues related to education from a variety of perspectives. Surveys in 2001 and 2002 revealed that feelings of alienation from school are prevalent among students, teachers, and parents at the secondary level, resulting in breakdown of the educational process. People do not feel…

This handbook is designed to help student teachers and beginning teachers handle the "surprises" they encounter on the job. The scenarios in the book identify critical incidents and potential situations teachers are likely to face and offer help in keeping teachers out of unpleasant situations or suggesting courses of action when they find…

This study examined the evolution of the accuracy and thoroughness of teachers' recall of their own, and their students', specific classroom behaviors, noting its relationship to the frequency and level of their reflection. Participants of the study were three groups of elementary teachers (four novice student teachers, five teachers with 1-6.5…

This study examined the collaborative planning and decision making of a grade level team of elementary teachers. The purpose of the case study was to determine the level and nature of interaction among teachers who participated in grade level team planning meetings during the school year. Eight fifth grade teachers in a mid-South suburban school…

A description of secondary school teacher education programs precedes a presentation of information gathered from interviews with secondary school teachers. The viewpoints of beginning teachers are contrasted with expectations arising from their preservice teacher education programs. Recommendations are made for cooperative efforts between…

Analysis of graduate students' evolving perceptions of themselves as English-as-a-Second-Language teachers during a field practicum found that they continually reconstructed and revised those perceptions while they dealt with such issues as understanding their classrooms, learning from master teachers, and mastering the art of language teaching.…

This study focused on four novice teachers' failures. Though only one actually failed student teaching, each considered herself a failure, and all four chose alternate careers. The paper examines difficulties they encountered and identifies alternative patterns of supervision that might have allowed them to do more than survive their initial…

The attitudes of 193 teacher candidates at a rural university toward teaching in urban schools were studied. In spite of their lack of experience and preparation for teaching urban students, many were willing, although not eager, to teach in urban schools in order to have a job. (SLD)

Beginning health and physical education (HPE) teachers in rural and urban secondary schools in Australia shared concerns surrounding the status of HPE, HPE teachers' responsibilities, the routine nature of HPE teaching, sexual harassment, and public scrutiny of HPE teachers' lives. Suggests that teacher education programs address the problematic…