Senior, high quality teachers can be retained in inner city schools despite limited resources and difficult conditions. Compared to teachers in suburban and rural school districts, teachers in urban systems often have lower salaries, work under greater bureaucratic constraints, teach more students per day, and lack basic materials. Good,…

The possibility of differences between beginning teachers and intern teachers (alternatively certified) during their first years of teaching in the elementary classroom was explored. Data was collected from 66 beginning teachers (recent graduates) and 58 intern students (intern teachers) from a California State University campus regarding…

A Monte Carlo study was conducted to compare the statistical bias and standard errors of non-equivalent-groups linear test equating in small samples of examinees. One thousand samples of each size (15, 25, 50, and 100) were drawn with replacement from each of five archival data files from elementary school and secondary school teacher subject area…

This collection of five symposium papers explores the initial design and development of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. The papers refer to work in progress to assess knowledge and skills associated with subject-matter knowledge and knowledge and skills in instruction and the profession of teaching. The following papers are…

After Finland's elementary and secondary system was totally reformed in the 1970s, it was determined that the education of elementary and secondary teachers also needed to change. Four new teacher education goals were proposed: (1) developing scientific humanism, (2) creativity, (3) socialization, and (4) a holistic view of individuals. The new…

Effective integration of technology as a learning/teaching tool requires present and future educators not only to be trained in computer use but also to have effective and practical models of computer integration. At Alverno College (Wisconsin) an introductory computer course was redesigned to emphasize technology as a teaching tool rather than…

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to identify beginning teachers' perceptions of the role parents play in their children's education; and (2) to investigate the congruency of beginning teachers' perceptions with information presented in teacher education courses. A survey, completed by 178 second- and third-year teachers in Missouri,…

This paper presents a summary of findings from a review of approximately 225 studies of K-12 classroom teachers' attitudes toward and other educators' attitudes and support of teacher-made tests and testing practices. The findings from the review indicate classroom teachers have a positive attitude toward teacher-made tests and regard these tests…

This report describes a collaborative effort between a research assistant and a fourth-grade teacher to develop a classroom community for teaching and learning mathematics which fosters problem solving, reasoning, intellectual risk taking, appreciation of diversity, trust, and shared ownership. The characteristics are consistent with suggested…

This book, written as an extended letter to teachers, addresses the concerns teachers have for their work with students and reflects on the art of teaching. The letter is developed around 12 chapters: (1) "Toward Large Purposes" places teachers' work in a philosophical as well as a pedagogical and curricular perspective; (2)…

This paper addresses the question, "What teacher questioning behaviors influence student learning?" It synthesizes research findings, explicates their prescriptive implications, and presents behavioral guidelines for teachers who wish to make informed choices about improving classroom questioning behavior. The paper examines and…

An overview is presented of methods of teacher assessment. The most heavily used methods of teacher assessment are standardized paper-and-pencil examinations and on-the-job ratings by supervisors. An alternative to the paper-and-pencil approach is explored, and preliminary evidence is presented in support of this assessment strategy.…

This paper reports the evaluation of a project undertaken by the Sarawak Education Department to improve the quality of education in upper primary classes in rural Sarawak, Malaysia. The project is known officially as the Programme for Learning Enrichment, and commonly as the Van Leer Project, after the international agency which provides the main…

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) represents the first time the National Center for Education Statistics has integrated three of the Elementary and Secondary Education Surveys: the Teacher Demand and Shortage Surveys, Public and Private School Surveys, and Teacher Surveys. The SASS was designed to measure the critical aspects of teacher…

A new approach to teaching and curriculum takes seriously the knowledge children have when they enter school. Teachers use the knowledge each child has to make instructional decisions so that the child learns mathematics with understanding, how to solve problems, and the computational skills. Research concerning the problem-solving strategies…