Explored how Chinese and American elementary mathematics teachers changed their conception and practice, examining the impact of instructional context. Observations and interviews with teachers who were reforming their instruction indicated that they were dissatisfied with their prior practice. Their conceptual change was shaped by specific images…

Interviewed African American teachers at two suburban elementary schools to investigate their perceptions of and experiences in schools where European American teachers and students predominated. Data were analyzed with a focus on organizational culture and ethnic identity. Results indicate that such teachers need preparation with strategies for…

Making the transition from college student to classroom teacher is certainly a life-changing event, and, whether the transition is smooth or rocky, many kinds of adjustments are inevitable. Even those who bring considerable maturity to the process can find it difficult to suddenly be the person in charge for an entire class for an entire day, day…

Abused, ignored, sidelined, belittled. It's the human face of a systemic problem. Eva Cox and James Goodman report on a recent study of workplace bullying that highlights its effects on those being bullied, and the rather piecemeal administrative efforts to deal with it so far. (Contains 7 tables.)

Over the past decade, the high number of teachers leaving the profession has been a growing concern among parents, teacher educators, administrators, and policy-makers. While most argue the problem is due to a burgeoning demand and increased numbers of retirements, some researchers propose that the problem of teacher shortages is far more complex.…

A focus group of 5 general education schoolteachers from one rural middle school in Hawaii was conducted to investigate their perspectives on the unintended effects of including students with learning disabilities. The general education teachers were asked how the inclusion of students with learning disabilities had impacted (a) their professional…

This article describes the author's experiences coping with the challenges of teaching English in an Indonesian university, such as classroom conditions and large numbers of students at different proficiency levels. The author suggests five activities that are designed to involve students in learning with little dependence on materials and little…

Workplace stress and its impact upon retention levels are becoming an increasing concern within the teaching profession (Brown, Davis, & Johnson, 2002; Jarvis, 2002). Research has largely focused upon the effects of environmental factors, whilst noting that it is the interplay between the individual and the environment which may hold the key to…

This study compared teachers' assumptions about students and effective teaching practices in low and high poverty schools. Attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and classroom practices of 476 teachers in 24 urban and suburban elementary schools throughout the United States were assessed with teacher questionnaires and classroom observations during a…

Recent studies of teachers and teaching pay greater attention to relationships among teaching contexts, teachers' practical knowledge, and enacted curricula. As a contribution to this body of work, this study grappled with the problem of understanding the knowledge teachers use to create curricula within workplace demands. Survey, participant…

A two-week exchange lectureship at the Russian Diplomatic Academy in Moscow is described by the American exchange professor. The focus of the lectureship was the vital role which public education has played historically in shaping the United States. The lectures were designed around three main themes in American education: historic purposes…

Working conditions play an important role in a school's ability to attract, develop, and retain effective teachers. Data presented here describe a number of aspects of teachers' working conditions, including workload, compensation, school and district support for teachers' professional development, school decision making, school safety, student…

Job satisfaction and its components were investigated among 156 teachers in 15 of the smallest school districts in the Texas panhandle. The districts were randomly selected from all panhandle districts having an average daily attendance of 200 students or less. Respondents completed a 28-item modified version of the Community Attitudes Toward…

This study was conducted to examine high school teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy and ways in which self-perception is affected by: (1) differences in the characteristics of classes taught; (2) differences in the organizational environments in which teachers work; and (3) interactions that neutralize the negative effects of difficult classes.…

A study was made to determine to what degree teachers, trained in the use of the Hunter Instructional Model, appropriately used the skills and strategies taught by the model, and what influenced the application of the learned skills in the classroom. Fourteen first through fourth grade teachers in two elementary schools participated. The…