Describes one university's experiment with joining elementary students and preservice teachers in intergenerational literature discussion circles to enhance preservice teachers' learning about reading and the teaching of reading. Both groups enjoyed the literature circles. Resulting themes provided insights about the reading process, the nature of…

Examined the preparation of student teachers at four Professional Development Schools (PDSs) longitudinally, comparing their experiences with those of traditional student teachers. Data from meetings with administrators; site visits; document analysis; graduation and professional status information; student teacher surveys; and graduate surveys…

Given the important role of the affective variables in the process of learning, this paper examines ways of overcoming negative effects (i.e. anxiety, boredom) of the contextual factors. Exemplifying the uses of humor through context-specific, purpose-driven jokes, it maintains that humor can be utilized to produce a resourceful, encouraging and…

This paper is based on a memorandum written to the chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois concerning the author's experiences teaching three undergraduate teacher education courses. The paper describes some of the difficulties and failures of this teaching experience and conveys general impressions…

Research suggests that preservice training has at best only a modest impact on a teacher's later teaching. The fundamental behaviors of a beginning teacher apparently originate from sources other than the training program. A study sought to identify the origins of first-year and student teacher behaviors and to define these behaviors more directly…

Teachers and administrators in rural New Mexico schools and preservice teachers at New Mexico State University were surveyed to determine components that could be included in teacher education programs to augment prospective rural teachers' skills and to ease problems of recruitment/retention of certified personnel in rural schools. Questionnaires…

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of a group of White and Hispanic preservice teachers toward the English language learners they tutored over the course of a semester. Nine White participants and five Hispanic participants were interviewed. Comparisons of interview data reveal that White participants and Hispanic participants chose…

This case study explores the student teaching experience of a Spanish language teacher candidate through her own eyes. It sheds light on how the participants' prior learning experience and beliefs inform her initial practice, how she develops her teaching skills, what contextual factors affect her learning-to-teach process, and the sources from…

This study examined the impact of the Value Clarification Action Plan on the quality of values education for secondary school students. The study identified values to be modeled through teacher behavior, created an action plan for preservice teachers through the values clarification process, trained students in values personalization, helped…

Examines changes in knowledge structures and beliefs related to class management experienced by middle school preservice teachers (n=23). The study charts changes in concerns, skills, and attitudes through the initial, middle, and concluding student teaching stages. A framework of change for class management concepts is reported and influences…

Describes an integrated approach to preservice teacher education and faculty/administrator development that is considered essential in creating inclusive classroom practices for students with disabilities. The paper discusses the redesigning of general and special education student teaching experiences, arguing that support is essential for adults…

Teacher Education for Arizona Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) is a technology-based program for preparing scientists and mathematicians for a career in middle school teaching. The metaphor of "reflective practitioner" guided the design and delivery of this program. Students did not respond well to journal keeping and many failed to…

A critical ethnographic study followed six preservice teachers throughout their teacher education program at a medium sized state university in West Virginia. This segment of the study situates their student teaching experience within a broader social context and addresses the ways, as well as the extent to which, the student teachers' experiences…

A collaborative project between a Professional Development School (PDS) and a public school supported teachers' action research and initiated preservice teachers into action research. This paper describes one team's action research project in an inclusive high school classroom that shared the duties of teaching, assisting, modifying instruction,…

The study described in this report examined an attempt to reshape student teacher supervision during the practicum experience by adding a more collaborative dimension. Its purpose was to assess the impact of combination supervision (individual, group, collaborative) on the development of student teachers' perceptions of themselves as teachers, of…