A 1992 survey of 135 California principals identified key factors contributing to marginal teachers' performance: lack of motivation, burnout, and personal crises. Common symptoms of teacher marginality were persistent negative attitudes and classroom control problems. The most useful intervention strategies involved continuous classroom…

Beginning elementary teachers were surveyed four years after their initial, mentored teaching year in a large, collaborative university-school system to determine their attitudes about mentoring and whether they were still teaching. The 96 percent still teaching most valued the emotional support they received from their mentors. (SM)

Discusses how teachers can choose quality inservice workshops to suit their needs. The guide explains quality inservice in action, five ways to select a great inservice, questions to ask before and after the inservice, how to win $1,000 for the next inservice, and where to go for more information. (SM)

Describes and evaluates a technology source, Strategic Teaching Framework (STF), to support elementary school teachers in adopting a situated, constructivist approach to teaching mathematics. Presents three case studies of teachers as well as a cross-case analysis. Discusses changes in teaching practices and the conceptualization of those changes.…

Describes a professional-development program for experienced elementary teachers that focused on teacher learning. Data collected over 18 months and qualitatively analyzed for setting features and learning processes indicative of an intellectual focus identified five setting features and two broad patterns of engagement (from less- to…

Intends to provide a resource for beginning to learn about picture books. Contains a "start set" of terms often used to talk about picture books and a list of references to further readings that may assist teachers in developing their understanding of the language of picture books in more depth. (SC)

A study investigated the effects of providing one type of gifted-education pedagogy, enrichment clusters, to the entire population of two urban elementary schools. The teaching practices of classroom teachers who participated as cluster facilitators were positively affected both in the enrichment clusters and in regular classrooms. (Author/CR)

Considers how if students' curiosity is dismissed, children can develop passivity and grow into unquestioning adults, the opposite of most educators' goal of helping children develop into lifelong learners. Claims that inquiry: flourishes in highly structured classrooms; involves building personal background knowledge and using materials wisely;…

Analyzed the collaboration of a first-grade novice teacher and her mentor teacher while the novice learned to teach mathematics in China. Found that the mentor contributed to novice teacher's progress by implementing a clear, consistent focus; modeling, analyzing, and reflecting on mathematics teachers; and defining and refining the zones of the…

Analyzed the impact of autonomy and collegiality on elementary teachers' professional development. Data from interviews, questionnaires, document analyses, and observations indicated that autonomy and collegiality appeared in various forms in relationships among the teachers, with certain forms of autonomy and collegiality, and certain…

This paper explores the connection between workplace relationships and teacher development. Drawing on the first year of a 2-year qualitative study of teacher socialization, the paper explores the questions: With whom do beginning teachers form relationships in their new professional contexts? What is the nature of these relationships? What…

As part of a research project on "Patterns of Successful Assistance in Urban School Programs," this paper presents a case study of an assister's work in a Teacher Growth Program (TGP) at an elementary school in Staten Island, New York. The school has an experienced teaching staff, a supportive principal, a cross-sectional student…

This report focuses on the idea that the concept of teacher-as-researcher can and should be incorporated within the traditional teacher training curriculum. The discussion provides a description of a recent application of the notion of teacher-as-researcher within the format of a course designed to help would-be elementary school teachers fulfill…

If what is known about selective processes of perception is coupled with awareness of the extremely rapid pace of classroom interaction, the classroom setting becomes one in which differential teacher expectations are likely to be formed and maintained. In fact, research findings reveal the power of teacher expectations: high teacher expectations…

The Classroom Management Improvement Study (CMIS) tested the effectiveness of research-based classroom management principles and strategies in elementary school classrooms. Participating in the study were 41 teachers, divided into a treatment group that received a CMIS teacher's manual and participated in two workshops, and a control group. Half…