Researchers investigating the improvement of teaching have given little attention to the nature of teaching--the sort of work it is, how it is learned, and its essential skills and knowledge. Research incorporating the teacher's perspective and experience would be useful in any research analysis with the goal of improving teaching. Reported in…

In this sixth report in a series about cultivating excellence in education for the purpose of training and retraining school leaders of the 1990s, nine major issues involved with revision of teacher evaluation in New Hampshire are outlined and described. After the issues are identified, a source is cited for obtaining journal articles, book…

Students on many campuses regularly evaluate their courses, and reports of these evaluations are sent to their instructors. Such feedback should result in improved teaching and in more positive evaluations, yet neither informal observation nor systematic studies reveal sizable feedback effects. The true effects of feedback of this kind are modest,…

This paper reports on one aspect of a larger study that investigated the effects of supervisors' intervention on teachers' classroom management practices. The paper examines the interactive responses of high- and low-conceptual-level teachers in four different supervisory dyads as they conference with their principals in an attempt to ascertain…

During the 1986-87 school year, the state of Texas implemented the Texas Teacher Appraisal System (TTAS), a comprehensive and generic system for improving instruction. This teacher orientation manual has been developed to increase teachers' knowledge of this new appraisal system. The first section provides an overview of the TTAS, including its…

Since speech communication is experiencing numerous changes, it is useful to examine some of the causes of inadequate teaching in the field and various ways to solve the problems. Some causes of poor teaching are (1) the small value placed on university teaching compared to other criteria for tenure and promotion; (2) the classification or…

This publication is intended to assist school districts in Connecticut in implementing section 10-151b of the Connecticut General Statutes, Connecticut's Teacher Evaluation Law. Each chapter deals with implementing a part of the law in compliance with established guidelines. Following an introductory chapter, the second chapter presents the law…

Effective teacher evaluation rests on the discovery of the essence of teaching excellence. It is important to evaluate the essence of great teaching from as many perspectives as possible. Incompetent administrators make an effective teaching program impossible. To improve the teacher evaluation process, first look at the administrator evaluation…

THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE (1) WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PART-TIME INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF IN EVENING PROGRAMS, (2) HOW THE STAFF IS AND SHOULD BE SUPERVISED AND EVALUATED, AND (3) HOW TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT. ADMINISTRATORS FROM 63 CALIFORNIA JUNIOR COLLEGES REPORTED CURRENT…

We should no longer be wondering if we should have performance appraisal, rather we should be researching the elements necessary for it to be successfully implemented and to ensure that we receive maximum benefits for improved learning for our students. Performance appraisal can be defined as "a positive, systematic, individualized due…

A method for analyzing instructional techniques employed during reading group instruction is reported, and the characteristics of the effective reading teacher are discussed. Teaching effectiveness is divided into two categories: (1) how the teacher acts and interacts with children on a personal level and (2) how the teacher performs his…

The most common reason given by students for not continuing in foreign language courses is a poor teacher. Efforts, therefore, must be made to admit and retain only qualified language instructors. (CFM)

A pupil observational system for use in the secondary classroom is provided. Results of the instruments use with five classes are discussed. (CP)

Examines research addressing the reasons why teachers enter and leave the profession; how teachers learn to teach and develop classroom effectiveness skills; and what conditions and incentives promote the highest levels of teachers' skill acquisition and development. Implications are summarized for development of teacher compensation and career…