Policymakers and researchers have focused on improving the quality of our nation's 3 million teachers to raise the achievement of students in key academic areas, such as reading and mathematics. Given the importance of teacher quality to student achievement and the key role federal and state governments play in supporting teacher quality, GAO's…

In this paper, the authors review and analyze state policy regarding beginning teacher mentoring with a focus on special education. Mentoring policies guide the selection, assignment, and training of mentors and the process with which novice teachers are matched with veteran mentors. Mentoring is a component of induction; but induction also…

Author Douglas B. Reeves illuminates the way forward to higher student achievement through a framework for teacher leadership. Learn why the best way to expand and extend the most powerful teaching strategies is for teachers to observe the practices of other teachers and school administrators to build teacher leader networks that encourage the…

This article presents major results of TIMSS, along with practical suggestions and questions that mathematics teachers can ask themselves in terms of how to apply the results to the improvement of their practice.

The National Writing Project at Work (NWP) monograph series documents how the National Writing Project model is implemented and developed at local sites across the country. These monographs describe NWP work, which is often shared informally or in workshops. Richard Koch and Laura Roop present a model of standards-based professional development…

A decade has passed since a few union leaders formed the network known as Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN) to search for innovative ways to enhance education. Selling their message has not always been easy. Created in 1995, TURN was the brain child of Adam Urbanski, the president of the Rochester (N.Y.) Teachers Association for the past 25…

This paper describes how a Tennessee school district is lessening the differences in achievement between inner-city schools and their suburban counterparts by bettering the teaching staffs in the inner-city schools. The story highlights two pillars of the almost-stunning progress achieved by what were once bottom-of-the-barrel schools. One, the…

Research shows that professional learning can have a powerful effect on teacher skills and knowledge, and on how well students learn. To be effective, however, professional learning for teachers needs to be conducted in the ways that it is in many high achieving countries--continuously, collaboratively, and with a focus on teaching specific…

Background: The literature contains very few studies that focused on evaluating the impact of professional development activities on student learning. And, many of these studies failed to determine whether the professional development activities met their primary goal--to improve the learning process. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use…

The Swedish national curriculum, in its aims for sport and health, places specific emphasis on outdoor life both for recreation and as the basis of good health. Since it is often women that work in preschool, infant and junior schools, the author felt it important that these teachers be given the opportunity to develop their skills, competence and…

This article argues that most variants of professional development in information and communications technologies are merely "in-between" processes, the design of which does not pay sufficient attention to important antecedent and post-engagement activities. These we identify as preparing the ground before the main engagement with the…

This case study will serve primarily as an historical account detailing the development of Quality Teacher and Education Act (QTEA). QTEA and the most salient details that led to its eventual passage, serving as an information source for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and other districts when they take on potentially controversial…

"Math is language, too," Phyllis and David Whitin (2000) remind everyone in their informative book about reading and writing in the mathematics classroom. This means that students in elementary school math classes are learning two distinct, yet related languages--one of numbers, the other of words. These languages of numbers and words…

Anecdotal accounts from teachers have long suggested the possibility that virtual teaching experiences have a positive impact on face-to-face teaching practices, a so-called "reverse impact" phenomenon. Survey and focus group data collected as part of a statewide evaluation of a virtual school offered an opportunity to explore this impact.…

Speech Education in Australia is very limited. No organized effort has been made to include this field in the curriculae. Where courses are given the instructors have limited knowledge. However, the author is hopeful that the status of speech education will soon elevate. (Author/MS)