Changes in society demand constantly evolving education systems. Teachers' practice is crucial to the successful implementation of educational reforms. A major obstacle for practicing teachers in implementing reform mathematics is that they have not experienced it themselves as learners. Consequently, teachers require extended, practice-based…

The paper presents the results of a study based on a training program for in-service mathematics teachers, targeting to improve their skills of problem posing and qualitative appreciation of problems. During this training program, we found an improvement in participating teachers' availability to discuss and analyse math problems, but also…

Article provided the components and guidelines of a workshop for developing teacher compentencies. (RK)

Describes a problem-solving-oriented teacher-inservice program designed to provide opportunities that allow elementary teachers to focus on personal experience as a way of achieving self-understanding and a way of reconstructing their personal meanings about problem solving and problem-solving instruction. Concludes that the program had positive…

The president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers discusses how experienced teachers in that city oversee the professional development of new teachers and provide assistance to veteran colleagues experiencing severe problems in the classroom. He also describes the role played in this plan by the union. (CMG)

A school district's program coordinator designed and implemented a practicum study intended to provide intermediate grade teachers and students with problem-solving techniques and skills needed for success in a course in contemporary Canadian issues. Teachers' and students' problem-solving skills were assessed through reports based on…

The Structured Discussion Approach (SDA) is a continuing inservice program in which faculty members mutually decide upon and attempt to solve common instructional problems. The five steps in the SDA are: identify the major instructional problems felt by the faculty, discuss with the faculty the framework behind the SDA, prepare for the outside…

To translate the concept of a conflict resolution curriculum into everyday practice, teachers can identify their own filters and agendas in conflicts; examine the classroom environment; and refine their interaction skills. (LB)

Describes a series of four professional development workshops designed to help novice teachers cope with stress. The workshops focus on four approaches: effective use of networking and building of support systems; strategies for relaxation and making time for oneself; management of paperwork and other tasks; and a step-by-step problem solving…

At present, teachers' inservice training assumes an enormous importance in the realization of educational reforms in European countries. This paper describes several descriptive models for teacher training. Then, the development of inservice training is examined according to the "change paradigm" and the "problem-solving…

This document contains an inservice presentation for teaching common problem solving strategies in mathematics word problems. Sections included are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Common Word Problem Strategies"; (3) "Break into Parts"; (4) "Guess and Check/Test"; (5) "Working Backwards"; (6) "Look For a Pattern"; (7) "Make or Construct a Table, Chart,…

An inservice program for teachers involves a peer group strategy for helping them set goals and experiment with new teaching behaviors. This supportive inservice model proceeds from the premise that meaningful change occurs when the individual perceives a need for change. The major component of this program is a support group of tenured teachers…

This book brings together seven presentations from a conference on inservice teacher education and the results of the deliberations of five task forces on aspects of inservice in British Columbia. The first speaker noted the ironic fact that staff development programs for teachers often violate the best known theories about training by not using a…

Describes an approach to enhancing teachers' classroom critical-thinking and decision-making skills. The approach emphasized teacher-initiative research to develop an understanding of the meaning of becoming problem solvers and to help teachers learn from their experiences how to identify, define, solve, and assess solutions to their concerns. (SM)