Data on student achievement and background and teacher training, experience, and hiring date, gathered from 400 urban midwestern elementary students and teachers, confirmed that differences in the quality of teachers hired during different time periods (the "vintage" effect) strongly affect the relationship between teaching experience…

Elementary principals (48) and elementary teachers (57) prioritized 24 possible professional growth methods. Supporting previous research, first priority item was "workshops at schools." Other highly rated methods were observation of other teachers, classroom demonstrations, participation in curriculum development, and personal analysis of…

Presents tips to teachers on preserving their enthusiasm, organizing their time, maintaining class control, boosting school morale, and maintaining public support. (Editor/SJL)

Six educational leaders--Patricia J. Cianciolo, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Nancy Larrick, Alan C. Purves, Morton Schindel, and James R. Squire--offer reflections on signficiant developments in children's literature during the 1970s, their hopes for the 1980s, and references that constitute required reading for elementary language arts teachers. (ET)

New computers often collect dust in the classroom. Too much technology planning concentrates on hardware and software, to the detriment of staff development. An Arizona principal developed a successful inservice plan for teachers involving basic training, intensive small-group training sessions, and creation of certified resident experts in…

This study examined the effectiveness of an inservice elementary health education training. Pretesting and posttesting of teachers who did and did not participate indicated that intervention participants scored significantly higher on efficacy and outcome expectations subscales, taught more hours of health, and put more effort into specific health…

This paper profiles Anna Steffin, principal of a Canadian elementary school, who has built a community of learners among her teachers and encourages quality staff development, collegiality, parent participation, and parent teacher cooperation. She promotes her beliefs by being an active participant in all activities. (SM)

Documented an elementary school that implemented student portfolios as port of a comprehensive school reform effort. Findings indicated that portfolios were an important mechanism through which teachers came to deeper understanding of their professional practices. Teachers began to recognize changes in classroom practice and school-wide…

Describes how prospective elementary teachers examined, analyzed, and evaluated four students' written responses on a graphing task for an end-of-course performance assessment in a mathematics methods course. Provides evidence of the prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. Indicates the importance of process and correct answers and…

Presents observations concerning teachers as researchers organized around such issues as the roots of teacher research, the new interest in the topic, how teacher researchers are viewed by researchers, how they conduct research, what conditions support such research, and the value of such research. (RS)

Profiles the Texas School Teacher Exchange Program (STEP) and presents research results evaluating its effectiveness. Respondents rated statements about the program on a Likert scale. Results showed conclusively that the program is valued highly by the participants with few reservations. (MJP)

This article discusses themes used in summer inservice workshops to develop the skills and confidence of elementary school teachers providing science instruction to gifted students. The article notes the value of hands-on activities, letting children explore, focusing on process skills, and the teacher's role as facilitator. (Author/DB)

To renew and update their professional skills, teachers need to read professional literature; interact with other teachers and educators; take college courses; attend staff development activities; use professional leave time to visit innovative educational programs; and join professional organizations. (MDM)

The implementation of peer coaching at an elementary school is described. Pairs of teachers worked together through initial discussions, classroom observations, and coaching meetings to refine specific areas of their teaching. The initial training in preparation for peer coaching is described, along with advantages and disadvantages of this…

Offers suggestions for improving existing instructional materials found in widely used basal programs and a variety of strategies and engaging activities that teachers can use to help children master the alphabetic code. The authors argue against use of the drill method in reading instruction. (GR)