Action research is characterized by research that is done by teachers for themselves. It allows teachers to study their own classrooms in order to better understand them and to be able to improve their quality or effectiveness. Montessori modeled and laid the foundation for teachers to carefully observe, reflect on their observations, plan for…

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on reflection in the context of education. Reflection is found to be an important learning tool in professional education, and that the skills required for reflection need to be developed in professional courses. A review of the literature was carried out to identify reflection directly related…

Instructional vitality is something educators must manage themselves, yet many grow tired and may lack institutional support across their career. How can institutions nurture collegial and stimulating teaching environments? Teaching practices are underpinned by common areas of activity that form a framework practitioners can use to organize their…

Teachers in high-poverty middle schools need additional supports from administrators to build collective teacher efficacy. Supportive leadership is the driving force in leading collective teacher efficacy in high-poverty middle schools. A qualitative, instrumental case study was utilized to explore how teachers perceive administrative supports…

In recent years, reflection on pedagogical tact has made a comeback in the international debate. Tact is a fundamental disposition of the educator, albeit one that is scarcely addressed in the training of teachers and educators. The question is whether it is possible to treat this pedagogical propensity as a teachable habit, and to what extent.…

This case study uses qualitative data generated over three years to explore how a Chinese expert teacher constructs her personal practical theory (PPT) about teaching. The data analysis showed that the teacher successfully constructed a personally relevant, institutionally expected, and socio-culturally embedded PPT that manifested her teaching…

To ensure that new teachers enter classrooms poised for success, we need more evidence regarding supports that can expedite skill development during teacher education. In this study, we capitalize on mixed-reality simulations as a setting for evaluating such supports. Using a randomized control trial, we examine the extent to which coaching…

When people make decisions, they act in a way that is either automatic ("rote"), or more thoughtful ("reflective"). But do people notice when "others" are behaving in a rote way, and do they care? We examine the detection of rote behavior and its consequences in U.S. adults, focusing specifically on pedagogy and…

Elementary teachers continue to endure increased pressure as additional weights are pressed from state requirements and recommendations, local and national social burdens heighten, and confrontation with increased student needs persist; yet support structures devised for teachers to be able to enact transformational leaps lack. Questions guiding…

Background: Affective learning has been recognised increasingly as a significant outcome of physical education. This focus on the affective domain comes at a time when there is increasing concern about health and wellbeing of children and young people and, in particular about the rising prevalence of mental health issues. The literature…