Report of a study of a model that describes how supervision works in schools to influence teacher efficacy and commitment. Results indicate that the data fit the conceptual model well and that supervision has a profound impact on teachers' commitment and efficacy levels. (Contains 3 figures, 2 tables, and 60 footnotes.) (AUTHOR)

Argues for the use of colleague mentors to increase retention rates among new teachers. Describes mentors' role as offering emotional support, suggestions about effective instruction, and information on the mores of the school community. Identifies characteristics of good mentors. Stresses the importance of shared decision making in teacher…

Would-be reformers often overlook the importance of collegial working relationships. Site administrators have little training in the human dynamics required to relate well to teachers while providing constructive feedback on their performance. Fear of repercussion thwarts the evaluation and improvement process. Constructive communication practices…

The study reported here analyzed the interaction performance of instructional supervisors as they conducted postobservation conferences with teachers. Seven supervisor-teacher pairs consisting of varying combinations of experienced, beginning, and novice teachers and supervisors were examined, to determine status indicators such as jargon use,…

This book centers on classroom supervisory practices by describing what teaching entails and exploring proven instructional techniques. Eight chapters comprise this work: Chapter I defines supervision, explains the need for effective supervision, and describes the skills needed for effective supervision. Chapter II keynotes the elements of…

The goals of an intervention study of formal reading instruction were to encourage teachers to incorporate more direct teaching of comprehension, to maintain a more equitable balance between time devoted to word recognition instruction and time devoted to comprehension instruction, to promote independent level reading, and to minimize the amount…

This issue of "Dialogue," a review of labor-management cooperation in public education, focuses on the theme of teacher compensation and evaluation. After a brief introduction locating these topics within the context of nationwide educational reform, the first section describes the advantages and disadvantages of some of the better-known…

Research has shown that the induction period is the most crucial time of a teacher's career. Characteristics of teachers who demonstrate an open, lively, and continuous desire to learn are quite different from those of teachers who remain static after their beginning years. In interviews, four experienced teachers were asked about initial…

This study determines some of the competencies a public school teacher should possess before being assigned a student teacher. Subjects in the study included a random sample of unversity faculty who supervise secondary student teachers, student teacher placement directors in public school districts, principals of secondary schools, and teachers in…

In supervising counselors who are called upon to function as classroom teachers, a solution-focused intervention model can be effectively adapted to the supervision. In general, solution-focused models emphasize strengths and successes over weaknesses and problems. In the context of supervision, a solution-focused model assumes that supervisees…

This document reviews the attributes of instructional effectiveness and supervisory practices in special education and examines the extent to which these attributes and practices are used as criterion measures for supervising instruction. The document prescribes and recommends exemplary practices that supervisors in special education ought to…

An Indiana district's teacher evaluation plan developed cooperatively by teachers and administrators is described and its implementation outlined. Based on the shared responsibility of teacher and supervisor, the plan is intended to provide a positive approach to stimulating self-growth, instructional effectiveness, and overall improvement in…

The relationship between teacher effectiveness, as measured by residualized student grades, and teacher evaluations by secondary principals is analyzed in this study. The two-step methodology involved baseline data collection and an effectiveness development phase. In the first phase, demographic variables were obtained from personnel files of 145…

This handbook provides practical suggestions to principals on using teacher evaluation to develop a school's most important resource--its teachers. After briefly delineating the basic steps in teacher evaluation, the handbook provides advice in each of the following areas: formulating the approach; establishing an affirmative atmosphere;…

A model for improving instructional skills was developed to offer guidance for administrators or supervisors responsible for overseeing the performance of first year teachers. Developed from research findings on the nature of teaching and learning and the characteristics of an effective teacher, an integral component of the instructional…