A conversation between graduate students and their teacher educator highlights the centrality of political belief and action in action research. Action research creates more democratic classrooms and institutions and enhances individuals' teaching. The paper discusses the meaning of action research in educators' lives and its potential…

This study surveyed public school teachers to investigate their theoretical orientations toward teaching thinking and toward two views about the nature of thinking (content-oriented and skills-oriented). Results showed that less than one-fourth presented a clear content or skill orientation. Most had mixed views about the two theories. (SM)

A study of 55 University of Sydney (Australia) faculty investigated relationships between willingness to seek evaluations from students, perceived competence on teaching tasks, and 7 demographic, educational, and professional background variables. Perceived competence was a direct but negative influence on willingness. Gender, doctorate, and…

Describes a cognitive intervention that offered novice student teachers access to the thinking underlying an expert teacher's practice, examining the implementation and impact of the cognitive intervention, which involved two 2-hour workshops held between participants' first and second practicum experiences. Workshop transcripts indicated that…

This paper describes a process of self-study that has developed between two teacher educators, their student teachers, and their school-based colleagues. The impetus for the research comes from a three-year action research project investigating the organization of and the instruction in a school integrated teacher education course aimed at…

A survey of itinerant teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing in four Australian states was conducted to describe the personal and professional characteristics of these teachers and their work with students. Of particular interest was whether itinerant teachers use consultative or pull-out models of service delivery. Other elements surveyed…

This article describes an investigation of the career-related experiences of 73 male K-2 teachers from across Nevada. Data were acquired and are discussed in three main categories: (1) perceived factors influencing men's initial choice to become a K-2 teacher; (2) perceived factors impacting men's present level of enjoyment in being a K-2 teacher;…

A survey of 121 rural teachers in British Columbia examined their knowledge about and attitudes toward the inclusion of special needs students. In addition, the study examined rural teachers' knowledge of and ability to access resources in the school district and their individual schools. The survey questionnaire consisted of 114 questions related…

Findings from a study of seven novice teachers who graduated from Elmhurst College (Illinois) indicate that the preservice clinical experiences received by these teachers during their participation in the Satellite Program contributed to successful first-year teaching experiences. This follow-up study examines Satellite Program graduates who…

Teachers in urban schools, on gaining seniority, frequently leave these culturally diverse and complex schools, only to be replaced by new teachers who are less prepared. This exploratory study examined the staffing patterns of elementary schools from 1991-1992 to 1993-1994 in the San Diego City School District (California), focusing on the policy…

This study examined the perceptions of experienced teachers who had taken on formal roles as mentor teachers. Case studies were developed for each of 10 participants, of whom 7 were neophyte mentors. Each mentor was interviewed four times throughout the school year, while their mentees were each interviewed twice. Mentors were also observed in the…

The inclusion of advisory in the programs of middle and high school students can be a constructive innovation. Nonetheless, the underlying premise of advisory--that schools have a responsibility to meet important non-academic needs--does contain some ambiguity. The use of classroom time devoted to advisory for adolescents is investigated in this…

This study was conducted to examine the extent to which one's demographic characteristics, previous experience, aptitudes, and attitudes may be indicative of probable success in learning about computers. Information was derived from two National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded programs designed to retrain experienced teachers to become K-12…

This study compared several facets of teacher education between Japan and North Carolina. Similarities and differences in elementary science teachers' perceptions of the academic backgrounds in Japan and North Carolina were evaluated as well as similarities and differences in elementary teachers' perceptions of classroom practices in Japan and…

This study examined the relationship between environmental factors of teaching climate for beginning teachers and the desire to remain in teaching. Data from 23,088 Public School Teacher Questionnaires from the Schools and Staffing Survey longitudinal database were analyzed to determine the effect of environmental demographic factors…