Rationale, plans, and results are reported of a State workshop designed to bring all vocational teacher educators together to identify the problems of the first-year teacher, develop strategies to use in helping them, and utilize those strategies in teacher education programs. The problems identified as those of a first-year teacher are listed,…

This book contains suggestions from 45 educators on what every teacher should know. It includes: "From Start to Finish: A Strategic Plan" (e.g., recognizing problems, strategic planning, planning lessons, and managing time); "Classroom Management" (e.g., designing a creative learning environment, empowering students, maintaining discipline, and…

This study investigated whether there was a difference in student achievement in the content areas between students in grades 6-12 who were taught by beginning teachers who were education graduates and students in grades 6-12 taught by beginning teachers who held degrees in areas other than education. It also examined whether there was a…

Identifies concerns of beginning science and mathematics teachers about being a new teacher and their perceptions of the effectiveness of their preservice program in relation to their concerns. Concerns included class assignments, curriculum development, time and classroom management, and presentation of content. Perceptions include specificity of…

Excerpts from case reports illustrate some problems and dilemmas of three teacher trainees who entered teaching via alternative certification. The article highlights ways in which they were helped or harmed by the intervention of their mentor teachers. Based on analysis of case material, policy recommendations are made to school districts. (IAH)

Reports an exploratory investigation which examined how advice and support from teacher training tutors and school teacher mentors influenced elementary student teachers' classroom practice. Mentors significantly influenced the content of curriculum students taught. Tutors were more influential on deciding how to teach. Friends and relatives were…

The article challenges the efficacy of the manager metaphor for new teachers, proposing an alternative metaphor of the teacher as technician. Teacher educators can simplify the classroom management training process by limiting the skills covered and focusing in more depth on what teachers will actually experience. (SM)

Suggests methods of effective teaching that help the beginning teacher organize the classroom and develop relationships with other teachers and students. Suggestions include communicating with teachers, long-range lesson planning, information cards for students, and alphabetical seating charts. (MDH)

Describes a beginning secondary mathematics teacher's professional growth before and after teacher education. Interviews, observations, and analyses of videotaped lessons suggest that, if teacher educators want to increase the power of professional preparation, they should strengthen the relationship between academic learning and practical…

Examines a beginning elementary teacher's experiences participating in an educational research project and her work in the classroom to bring her students' ideas into contact with accepted scientific ideas and practices. The project explored an approach to professional development that engaged teachers in learning and viewing science as a socially…

This study used a systems perspective to determine whether differences exist between classrooms of expert (n=35) and novice (n=35) teachers on the cohesion, communication, and flexibility dimensions of the Classroom Systems Observation Scale (CSOS). A 50-minute observation using the CSOS was conducted in elementary school classrooms in New York…

A conceptual framework is constructed to integrate teacher actions, teacher knowledge, and state of the art assessment methodologies. Section 1 discusses teaching in terms of tasks, and Section 2 considers the knowledge base teachers draw on in order to accomplish those tasks. Section 3 illustrates the relationship between teacher actions and…

This study focuses on a beginning secondary science teacher and his efforts to establish a learning community in a large metropolitan school district. During the study, the teacher was enrolled in an alternative teacher-certification program for returned Peace Corps volunteers. After teaching full-time during the day, participants attend…

This book is an attempt to define the knowledge that beginning teachers should possess and addresses the difference between the "state of the art" and the "state of practice." It begins with three chapters that deal explicitly with general knowledge about teaching. Pedagogy is treated in chapters 4 through 8. These chapters deal with foundational…

This study examined the differences between Illinois beginning elementary and secondary teachers' perceptions of staff development activities and their sources of assistance during the first year. A survey in spring 1989 received responses from 601 elementary and 234 secondary teachers. Beginning elementary teachers rated the importance of staff…