Reports on the development and field testing of a program to prepare teachers in interpersonal skills. In this program eight affective or interpersonal skills that could be utilized by classroom teachers were identified. These skills were organized in a microteaching format, each described in writing and modeled on videotape. (Editor/RK)

This theme issue on staying current in horticulture includes articles on sex equity in horticulture, Future Farmers of America, career opportunities in horticulture, staying current with your school district's needs, staying current in horticulture instruction, staying current with landscape trade associations, emphasizing the basics in vocational…

Empirical studies show that the article college faculty write won't improve their classroom performance. Of nine empirical studies on the relationship between research productivity and teaching effectiveness, all concluded that there is little or no positive correlation. (MLW)

Subject-centered conventional education of teachers in the U.S. should be augmented by the growth open to teachers in the informal and innovative atmosphere of teacher centers that develop talents and confidence in the individual and emphasize the more child-centered view that is held in British schools. (JD)

The training format for this program included videotaping faculty lectures, providing written feedback, and formal training sessions. Its significance lies not only on its positive impact on the staff but also in its being a pilot of an approach to teacher development using a self-instructional format. (Author/LBH)

This paper discusses the importance of teacher professional development to student achievement. Section 1, "The Imperative: Investment in Human Skill and Knowledge," explains that despite contradictory evidence, prevailing assumptions asserts that teachers learn most of what they need during preservice education. Section 2, "The Knowledge Gap in…

Effective school leaders use a variety of strategies-- including creating opportunities for teachers to learn from each other--to encourage and support teachers in achieving greater excellence in the classroom. "Teachers teaching teachers" is a concept that can pay real dividends when it focuses on ways to engage and motivate students to perform…

Substitute teachers are responsible for over 1 full year of every child's education, but research shows that only 10 percent of school districts provide more than 2 hours of substitute teacher training, and 53 percent of school districts provide no training. There is a tremendous need to implement effective training programs that will ultimately…

This videotape describes the impact of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification within North Carolina's Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. It begins with the story of an at-risk student who attributes his success to having had an NBPTS certified teacher in 5th grade. The teacher tutored him, paired him with a mentor,…

A report drafted for the Rhetoric Executive Committee, University of Iowa. (Author/RD)

Describes a program of instructional development for teaching assistants used in the Department of Speech Communication at the University of Washington. Program objectives and implementation procedures are included. (JMF)

Explores the working group model for mathematics teacher education and presents group investigations from the areas of number theory, probability, and geometry. Argues that by working in groups, sharing ideas, and making and testing conjectures, prospective teachers gain confidence in their own ability to do mathematics and develop a variety of…

A growing body of research and literature describes a move to collaborative supervision of teaching. Is this process-based model reflected in supervisory practices adopted by supervisors when they work with marginal teachers--those whose teaching verges on the unacceptable? This study explored teachers' support for administrative practices…

Educators often overlook the largest body of evidence of student performance: student work. With careful and deliberate examination of various sources of student work, teachers can gather a wealth of information about student achievement and about their own instructional practices. Examining student work is not about grading or scoring papers. It…

The author deals with instructional competence and training teachers in the basic teaching skills. He lists 13 general instructional components, which provide guidelines for determining the needs of teaching effectiveness, as well as providing a basis for evaluation. (DS)