It has been argued that a key strategy to improve developmental and educational outcomes for young children is to increase the number of childcare staff with early childhood university degrees (Saracho & Spodek, 2007). In order to upgrade the qualifications of staff, a number of Australian universities provide pathways that enable graduates of…

These are demanding times for America and for nations around the world. Today, as at no time in recent history, everyone is experiencing massive, often-tumultuous changes that are transforming one's society economically, politically, and socially. As ongoing debates about these and other factors continue to redefine the world, America's education…

The purpose of the research was to determine the level of preparedness of English Language Learner (ELL) instructors in Washington State. The study utilized information from Washington State's educational system and findings were further explored through use of an informal questionnaire sent to 25 selected Western Washington school district…

This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of native and non-native teachers of English in Polish schools, and is the result of the Dr. Butler's experience as a teacher of English in Poland. It is argued that native teachers of English should be employed in Poland because they teach in their own language, use current idioms, provide…

This contribution reviews how four European countries--England, Germany, France and the Netherlands--use the concept of competence in the process of developing vocational education and training. Competence in England is set in the context of the National Vocational Qualifications; in Germany within action competence and the approach to learning…

In this article the authors explore the need for early childhood practitioners and scholars to engage in joint problem solving to create and support early childhood education and care (ECEC) professional development systems in which all constituents benefit. Primary constituent groups and principal decision-making bodies are defined and analyzed,…

The official regulations governing teacher certification in the state of North Dakota are outlined. The following areas of professional certification are covered: (1) student teacher requirements; (2) life certificates; (3) entrance certificates; (4) five-year certificates; (5) five-year certificate renewal; (6) Indian studies requirements; (7)…

A National Commission on Teaching and America's Future report argues that every child deserves a caring, competent, and qualified teacher and every teacher deserves high-quality preparation and professional development. Five major reform areas include professional standards, redesigned training and professional development, aggressive recruitment…

The Data Analysis for Teachers course helps teachers to learn instructional strategies, and make them "highly qualified" to teach mathematics for understanding. Going through the process of asking statistical questions, collecting appropriate data, analyzing the data, and interpreting the data was very exciting and students responded well when…

Guidelines that offer a model plan of study to provide candidates for teacher certification in psychology with sufficient knowledge to teach in secondary schools are presented. All secondary psychology teachers should have a thorough understanding of the empirically based principles of behavior and of the evidential approach to the study of…

Guidelines developed by the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee of the International Reading Association in May 1978 list attitudes, concepts, and skills necessary for seven different roles in reading instruction. (MKM)

The report highlights the differences among California counties and regions in their use of under-prepared teachers and their needs for new teachers in the coming decade as driven by projected student enrollment changes and teacher retirements. The analyses, based on expected teacher retirements and student enrollment growth, suggest that…

This descriptive study investigated whether elementary and middle school teachers in the Central Appalachian region were prepared to teach selected standards-based light, force and motion concepts they could reasonably be expected to teach. The study also sought to compare their preparedness for teaching these concepts. (Contains 7 figures and 7…

A life-long teacher's kit should contain the following items: (1) a People Valuer, (2) a Self-Concept Conductor, (3) a Hook Straightener, (4) a Stereotype Stomper, (5) an Ignorance Eraser, (6) a Crap Detector, and (7) a Courage Booster. (MB)

"A Nation at Risk" sounded the call for school improvement and offered recommendations for bringing it about. "No Child Left Behind" was even more prescriptive in its approach to raising student achievement. However, as the author of this article points out, for all their recommendations and strategies, both reform efforts neglect the essential…