In response to the restructuring of a school's literacy program, a study was designed to address three research question: (1) What levels of concerns are raised by teachers in the areas of "self,""task," and "impact"? (2) What responses do these concerns elicit from university researchers and other participants? and…

After a decision was made at a Texas elementary school to adopt a whole language philosophy toward literacy instruction, a study was designed to address three research questions: (1) What levels of concerns are raised by teachers in the areas of "self,""task," and "impact"? (2) What responses do these concerns elicit…

This document contains two inservice presentations. Each presentation has a full script with transparencies, handouts, graphs, and a list of materials needed for the presentation. The first presentation describes eight ideas common to both mathematics and reading namely, that: (1) a comprehensive instruction program is needed; (2) educators teach…

The Search for Exemplary Preservice Elementary Science Programs was undertaken to recognize programs that modeled effective teaching behaviors and prepared teachers for developing appropriate attitudes and skills in students. This document describes the seven exemplary programs that were recognized by the National Science Teachers Association's…

This paper is intended to provide a basis for discussion about staff development in the mathematics education community. It is directed to those who plan staff development programs intended to improve elementary mathematics teachers' classroom practice. Discussion includes the importance of establishing program goals and considerations of the…

The goals of an intervention study of formal reading instruction were to encourage teachers to incorporate more direct teaching of comprehension, to maintain a more equitable balance between time devoted to word recognition instruction and time devoted to comprehension instruction, to promote independent level reading, and to minimize the amount…

A review of literature indicates that schools with effective reading programs tend to have common characteristics, such as a strong commitment to improved reading; a competent teaching and administrative staff; clearly defined objectives; a structured, intensified program; adequate assessment techniques; a variety of materials; and parental…

This newsletter is a special issue on the preparation of teachers. An article suggests the use of the Biology Teachers' Handbook, prepared as part of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) program, as a text in science methods courses. The use of the series of "Invitations to Enquiry" is shown as an example of an effective…

This paper reports on the outcomes of an ongoing action research project with elementary teachers who are attempting to bring a science emphasis to their teaching and in which preservice teachers are matched with inservice teachers who are interested in improving their practice through a focus on science. The project is a modified version of a…

This report describes a research project designed to promote teacher professional development in order to overcome school failure and improve teacher quality, focusing on encouragement of parent participation. The project occurred in a public elementary school in a mid-sized Brazilian city. Several meetings were held between researchers and…

This publication relates the experiences of seven K-8 teachers who participated in a science education doctoral cohort group during which each of the teachers engaged in a different real-world scientific research project. The idea was to immerse teachers in scientific research so that they could experience inquiry in science first-hand and become…

Reports on the effects of six different primary inservice training courses aimed at teachers' motivation, anxieties, hands-on working skills, and support needs. Results showed that primary teachers felt they needed more continuous support in the area of improving their knowledge and understanding of the subject, especially in chemistry and…

This paper describes the process that school-based and university-based educators followed to transform a long-term cooperative relationship into a professional development school community. The school-university partnership involved teachers and staffs from four elementary schools, and faculty and graduate students from the language, literature,…

Describes a practicum that occurred at one of Indiana State University's elementary school professional development sites. The practicum involved 10 site visits over two weeks for participating preservice teachers. The paper examines benefits of the practicum for preservice teachers and the advantages of conducting it at a PDS site. (SM)

Examined one third-grade teacher's portfolio of her literacy instruction for a school year along with her reflections on how creating the portfolio influenced her teaching and thinking. Uses other teachers' self-report data to extend this teacher's reflections on the pedagogical and nonpedagogical effects of the teacher portfolio. (BB)