Reports a study that assessed how a group of teachers used curriculum knowledge when untracking the high school curriculum in heterogeneously grouped classes; and how teachers differentiated curriculum and instruction in that context. Observation and interview data emphasized the important role of participatory and informed teacher engagement in…

Describes a faculty-development program designed to change teacher attitudes, behavior, and instruction and, thus, improve the achievement of language-minority students in two New York state secondary schools. Examines challenges to creating and maintaining school structures that promote immigrant students' success and identifies factors that lead…

We studied the outcome of a professional development opportunity that consisted of 2-week-long resident institutes for teams consisting of a secondary science teacher and two students. The science content of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded professional development institute was monarch butterfly ecology. The first institute took place…

This case study examines a 2-year faculty-centered professional development program for high school teachers. The program, which used a Foxfire approach (Wigginton, 1986) and was based on Deweyan principles (Dewey, 1963), involved having the teachers initiate, pursue, and share self-selected, independent group learning projects. Inservice sessions…

The purpose of this report is to examine the processes and skills involved in helping teachers write narratives about cases rich enough to be useful in teacher education programs. The approach described necessitates collaborative exchanges among teachers and researchers and requires numerous iterations of the original narratives. The report traces…

This document, section 2 of a three-part study, reports on an effort to determine willingness of business and vocational/industrial teachers in Manitoba to update their professional skills and knowledge. One hundred sixty-three (out of 244) teachers sent usable returns to a survey to determine the extent to which they have obtained updating…

These guidelines help professional development chairs, administrators, and teachers collaboratively plan for the ongoing skill development and content acquisition of staff members. Section 1, "Missions, Mandates, and Regulations for Professional Development," describes the mission of professional development as supporting teachers in…

We examine the science and pedagogy behind a historical approach to the professional development of pre-college science (primarily biology) teachers. Our intention is to reach professional scientists, who, as a group, are uniquely qualified to provide experience and insights essential to this approach. The underlying research for this article has…

The Missouri Excellence in Education Act of 1985 established the Missouri Career Development and Teacher Excellence Plan, also known as the Career Ladder Program. The intent of the program was to develop and implement a process to encourage quality teachers to remain in the classroom and to continue the emphasis on improved instruction. The…

This handbook is designed for directors of secondary vocational education who are interested in activities to support tech prep programs and the integration of academic and vocational education. The activities could, however, be easily adapted to work on the postsecondary/community college level. Its purpose is to give occupational faculty the…

This guide is intended as a resource for school or school district leadership teams who desire to rethink the teacher evaluation process. Three chapters address the task of designing a teacher evaluation system that encourages self-reflection and continuous improvement, as well as the personal and professional growth of experienced teachers. The…

Consistent with education reform efforts, the achievement of systemic change in American education demands that school improvement efforts be fused with professional development opportunities that lead to self-renewal for teachers. This report emanates from a 5-day conference of the Christa McAuliffe Institute for Educational Pioneering (CMI), an…

The Practitioner Center, an innovation which provides a vehicle for a transactional approach to teacher growth and professional development, incorporates the concept of peer leadership with "teachers teaching teachers" and teachers acting as coaches. The organizers of the practitioner center decided on a 5-part format which is covered in…

On March 6, 1984, Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander signed into law the Comprehensive Education Reform Act, which its supporters have called the nation's most ambitious statewide teacher career-ladder and incentive-pay program. In its final version, the legislature set up a five-step career ladder with annual salary incentives ranging from $500…

General educators' perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs towards gifted learners and education of the gifted at both elementary and secondary levels in small, rural schools were examined. Eighteen teachers from a rural K-12 Kansas district having 518 students completed questionnaires during summer 1985 and during the 1985-86 school year, and the…