The early part of the 21st century sees the United States competing in an increasingly globalized, high-tech economy that highly prizes those individuals with quality mathematics and science educations, and bestows economic and other benefits on the nations and regions in which they live and work. Nations around the world--recognizing the…

This study investigated the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' (NBPTS) assessment process in order to identify, quantify, and substantiate learning outcomes from the participants. One hundred and twenty candidates for the Adolescent and Young Adult Science (AYA Science) Certificate were studied over a two-year period using the…

This paper describes initial implementation of a new role in staff development--the Instructional Coach (IC). The IC acts as a resource at the school level to assist the principal and faculty to improve instructional practices. In a pilot project, one teacher from each of four schools within the Department of Defense Dependents Schools system…

The absence of a professional career structure for teachers is not a new problem. In 1989, Australian unions, employers, and governments negotiated the Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) classification. Three levels of AST status involving salary increases were proposed to offer teachers a professional career path in teaching comparable in status to…

Understanding the potential power of questions to promote thoughtful examination is at the heart of classroom teaching. If classroom discussions are to bear fruit, with students examining issues intelligently, teachers must develop an awareness of and be sensitive to how questions are framed. Good questions follow an interactive rhythm that…

A study was conducted at Phillips County Community College to examine part-time students' and adjunct faculty members' perceptions of effective instructional behaviors and strategies. A teaching effectiveness survey was distributed to a random sample of 225 part-time students enrolled in spring 1984 and to 54 adjunct faculty members, asking them…

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;…

By using public speaking skills, typical classroom problem areas can be reduced or eliminated. During the first five minutes of class, instructors can orient their audience by reviewing information from the previous class, or gain attention with an interesting story, quote, or humorous incident related to the subject matter. To avoid wasting the…

Schools and universities in the United Kingdom are coming to accept performance appraisal as a fact of life. The first part of this paper discusses appraisal policies as "negotiated ambiguities." Ambiguous criteria concerning wording subject to misinterpretation has created reservations on the side of the National Union of Teachers. This…

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…

In the summer of 1981, 92 participants of 2 Migrant Personnel Training Projects, 20 participants of a local school district Migrant Education Summer Program, 14 participants of a university class studying school supervision and administration, and 209 participants of 7 summer Migrant Personnel Training Institutes were surveyed, using the Migrant…

This journal issue deals with training teachers of reading. The four articles discuss a summer reading methods practicum that worked, how students rate their reading instructors, how reading consultants can survive school politics, and college students' perceptions of the fairness and the difficulty of examinations. (FL)

The guide focuses on short-term faculty development programs for allied health faculty located in health care facilities and academic institutions. The instructional improvement program may be conducted for faculty from one allied health discipline or from across a number of disciplines. The guide (1) provides the philosophical framework for…

This guide is designed to help mentor teachers develop effective mentoring strategies, discussing how to provide direct assistance, demonstration teaching, observation, and feedback, informal contact, and role modeling. It offers monthly listings of activities designed to promote interaction between mentors and proteges that correspond to…

This report by Delaware's Governor and Secretary of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education, sets forth a plan to improve professional standards and accountability in the Delaware school system. The report focuses on how Delaware can assure the quality of educators for its students, and thus raise student achievement. The…