Teachers are a combination of who they are and what they've learned--with a bit more emphasis on what they've learned. It helps to be a born comedian or a motivational speaker, but it isn't necessary. What is necessary is a great desire to teach children and knowledge of how to manage student behavior to keep students engaged academically and…

Twenty-one rural middle school teachers participated in planning an inservice program based on their own needs and strengths. Before and after the experience, participants rated themselves on their competence at 24 teaching functions. Perceived competence in 20 of these functions increased significantly. The list of 24 skills is included. (SJL)

Examines the influence of training on three middle school teachers' use of guides for three levels of comprehension during content area lessons. Those teachers who had acquired high levels of knowledge through training in goals and procedures tended to shift and adapt the distribution of questions they asked students. Views these adaptations as…

Drawing on the experiences of a fictitious teacher, the paper illustrates where professional development has been and where it is going as it supports more learner-centered schools, discussing the nature of the paradigm shift in professional development that will support the building and continuity of learner-centered schools. (SM)

Guidelines for designing, implementing, and conducting occupational exploration programs for grades 7-9 are contained in this document, which was developed for use with public schools in North Carolina. Discussion covers the philosophy of occupational exploration, mission statement, continuing objectives for grades 7-9, program description of…