At least four factors are important to consider in contemporary teacher education programs: the demand for increased accountability; the emphasis on field-based instruction; the need for responsiveness to field input; and the need for responsiveness to student input. In New York, the demand for increased accountability has been translated into a…

This study examined the efficacy of a student teaching internship component of a teacher education program in fostering the development of reflective practitioners by investigating the experiences of preservice teachers in the program. The study noted the extent to which the various requirements of the student teachers' internships (e.g., journal…

Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services is redesigning its undergraduate teacher education program. The program places volunteer freshmen in real classrooms for long-term observations and volunteer assistance, eventually leading up to a full range of teaching opportunities. Also, coursework is presented in an…

A review of educational literature indicates that the term "student teaching" mistakenly has been applied to all professional laboratory experiences for preservice teachers. As a result, these activities have concentrated on the development of practical teaching skills whereas clinical laboratory experiences should encourage inquiry and…

A rationale is presented for including a prestudent teaching field experience component for future teachers of elementary school mathematics. Problems are discussed and arguments in the program's favor are given. Indiana University's Mathematics Methods Program is described. (PP)

Describes "Flight," the nontraditional physical education teacher preparation program at Brigham Young University (Utah). The program helps prepare students to meet the needs of school systems in transition and gain their wings to soar as competent, confident teachers. Nontraditional aspects include rites of passage events, student…

Advocates the use of social reconstructionist theory to create change that provides diversity among teachers. The article explains the importance of social reconstructionist education; analyzes oppression in teacher education; and discusses how to change the faces of teacher education, link home and school cultures, and offer diversity within…

East Carolina University's Model Clinical Teaching Program uses a combination of year-long field experiences and focused coursework to help prepare successful elementary educators. Planned collaboratively by university and school personnel, the program expects participants to function more successfully in completing traditional student teaching…

Results of a study of three classes of preservice teachers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis that taught three different methods of teaching rational-number concepts demonstrate the superiority of an approach using manipulatives. Both teacher understanding and ability to teach to elementary school students in field experience programs were…

Presents the experiences of one student teacher who was part of the restructured preservice program at Queen's University of Kingston. He participated in an early field experience, where he was assigned to a school rather than a teacher and was able to witness how an entire school prepared for the beginning of a new school year. (SM)

Effective supervision of student teachers has become a growing concern for teacher educators due to the increased emphasis placed on field experience in teacher preparation programs. Lacking an effective means of providing intervention, feedback, and reinforcement during the process, supervisors, both cooperating teachers and university based…

An effective partnership among university students and professors, school district administrators, teachers, elementary school students, and parents from the school community is described. Relationships originally formed through a Title VII Transitional Bilingual Education grant were strengthened through the development of the Sam Houston State…

The paper describes facets of the teacher education program at Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) that facilitate teacher empowerment, especially the use of multicultural education to empower urban educators. It discusses aspects of urban teacher development, describes the teaching/learning and assessment processes that develop teachers, and…

The UT-ADAPT (University of Toledo-Associates for Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Teaching) Academy for Early Childhood Education and Teacher Preparation in Ohio consists of teachers, university faculty, agency service providers, health care professionals, administrators, parents, and community leaders who share goals for early childhood…

This paper presents journal entries from students at Singapore's National Institute of Education (NIE) during their first practice teaching experience at local elementary schools. The paper suggests that one of the best ways to help preservice teachers come to terms with their school experience is to encourage daily journal writing throughout the…