This joint publication of the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities and the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education discusses the characteristics and roles of special education teachers. Topics include: why people become special educators; characteristics of special education teachers, including…

This book describes approaches to professional development for cooperative learning and how the use of cooperative learning for teacher learning is leading to new insights into professional growth in schools. Part 1, "Begin with the Teacher: Focusing Professional Development for Cooperative Learning," offers "Introduction:…

Mentoring programs have consistently demonstrated their value in assisting new and early faculty members to make successful adjustments and productive contributions to the academy. Yet, mentoring programs have failed to be consistently implemented despite their efficacy and increasing levels of job dissatisfaction reported by new and early faculty…

This paper describes a school-based professional development project for elementary teachers where all teachers from the school and university mathematics educators regularly met to share and plan mathematics teaching strategies for the school's diverse student body. Analysis of data from focus group interviews with participating teachers revealed…

A series of 10 seminars on teaching and learning across the curriculum were offered at Burlington College (Vermont) to improve faculty morale and to provide faculty development at this college which relies on an all-adjunct faculty. These interdisciplinary seminars focused on local context and culture. The 32 participants, who were paid an…

This paper reports on data from a larger study of women being mentored into educational leadership positions in public schools, focusing on women's conflicts with leadership and how mentoring can help in dealing with such conflicts. The larger sample included 55 mentors and proteges in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. This paper uses the…

This study examined connections between being a cooperating teacher and professional development, demonstrating that veteran teachers who desire to transform their teaching practices can use their work with student teachers as professional growth opportunities. It discusses how the role of cooperating teacher can affect veteran teachers'…

A survey of 164 Pennsylvania general and special education teachers and 1,430 elementary educators nationwide examined their attitudes concerning supports needed for the successful inclusion of students with disabilities. Teachers perceived a need for training, help from personnel outside the classroom, and in-class help such as paraprofessionals.…

To determine conceptions of mentoring, Swedish researchers videotaped mentoring sessions between student teachers and their cooperating teachers and conducted interviews with both groups. Data analysis indicated that the two groups had different conceptions about the function of mentoring and its content and form. (SM)

In semi-structured interviews, 11 British university lecturers were prompted to discuss their motivations for starting, continuing, and achieving closure in collaborative staff development. Motivations included learning how to teach and involve students in learning, and drawing support from faculty development experts. Findings suggest that…

Describes a project to improve the education of learning disabled and at-risk ninth graders included in challenging courses by the school district. Regular and special educators used collaborative consultation (analysis of teaching styles and learner needs and creation of responsive strategies) to share responsibility and bring their various…

Evaluated the Model Education Center (MEC) Professional Development School after 15 years of existence. Focus group data were collected from teachers at the MEC. Results found that 15 years after implementation, the MEC's core beliefs of collaboration, reflective thinking, risk taking, and continuous learning were still reflected in the climates…

This cross-case analysis examined general education elementary-level teacher engagement with and effectiveness of "coaching," or expert consultation by special educators on effective teaching strategies. Factors resulting in high levels of impact on teaching and high levels of engagement were identified, including emphasis on conceptual…

A case study of a secondary general educator involved in a collaborative-teaching model in an inclusive suburban high school, found that replicating and sustaining collaborative teaching can be difficult, complex and, without careful consideration of contextual variables, may not lead to improved outcomes for teachers or students. (Author/CR)

Ninety-two teachers participating in co-teaching responded to a survey and 12 of these teachers were subsequently interviewed. Results indicated: (1) general education co-teachers were perceived as doing more than special education partners in the inclusive classroom and (2) co-teachers who had access to identified collaborative practices,…