Mathematics teaching and learning are inherently complex practices, and reports suggest that American teachers are not as successful at teaching mathematics as the authors might hope. In this article, the authors explore how a seemingly ubiquitous new technology--the personal audio/video player--just might help teachers improve mathematics…

In order to realize the progressive potential of team teaching, shared responsibility for teacher work is necessary. This paper reviews teacher orientation to work in open plan settings through the interrelated concepts of privacy, autonomy, and individualized practice. The implications for preservice and inservice preparation of teachers are…

Discusses the development of the British educational system and perceptions of teacher's classroom roles. Focuses on pedagogical teaching methods of 17th century English character literature in character education development. Concludes that this era of teachers demonstrated an interest in the complexities of the learning process. (KDR)

Using a narrative inquiry methodology, this 10-year study examined the situated nature of two teachers' development. Research questions examined how the teachers situated their own learning, how they developed discourse communities for teaching and learning, and how they used tools in their work. Findings suggest that the following elements of…

Summarizes in an interview Sidney Hook's personal experiences as a student and teacher in the New York City school system before the era of progressive education. Reflects on the contributions and failings of progressive education. (PS)

The influence of curriculum control policies on sense of autonomy and job satisfaction was studied for 195 high school mathematics and social studies teachers in California, Florida, and New York. Teachers reported high personal control over content and pedagogy, and there was little evidence that constraints affected efficacy or satisfaction.…

This article investigates some of the antecedent conditions underlying the imputation of autonomy within conceptions of "teaching" and "learning". It links the history of those concepts with the separate roles and functions assigned to males and females in specific instances of educational practice. "Teaching" and "learning" are psychoanalysed as…

This article argues that while social entrepreneurship shares concerns similar to those of social justice activism, the corporate and business ethos in the idea of entrepreneurship is not suited to the social concerns that teachers and other educators deal with in their everyday lives. The article points out characteristics of social…

Contemporary controversy about the proper mix of autonomy and obligation in teaching reveals contention concerning the role of teachers as professionals. At the classroom level, this controversy revolves around the individual teachers' translation of prescribed curricular policy into the operational curriculum of the classroom. An exploratory case…

Recognizing the many outside pressures early childhood teachers face from parents, students, administrators, and policymakers, this article contends that early childhood teacher preparation must encourage and support leadership by promoting autonomy for teachers. The article asserts that teacher educators must consider developmentally appropriate…

A study attempted to delineate the parameters of practice that are referred to as literature-based reading instruction and explored the perspectives of the teacher, the students, and the researcher about the use of literature in three different literature-based classrooms. Six teachers (third grade or above) were identified, teachers who were…

This publication provides findings from two related areas of research for people who work outside the classroom in supporting roles (e.g., principals, service providers, policymakers, and change agents): human motivation in general and teacher motivation to change practice. After discussing the creation of conditions which will motivate growth,…

Reports results of a series of semi-structured interviews with 12 teachers from Catholic and Protestant schools in Northern Ireland. Explores such topics as professional autonomy, teacher-pupil relations, a teacher's freedom to pursue his or her own methods, discipline, sources of professional identity and the social and political backgrounds to…

This article investigates the uncertain history of academic freedom in public schools, from the viewpoint of the courts' understanding and related commentaries. Also considered is the magnitude of teachers' classroom discretion, and whether courts are likely to treat content and pedagogical conflicts differently. (IAH)

Describes methodology workshops for English-as-a-Foreign-Language teachers that encourage more teacher autonomy. Activities were selected that can be used many times over if they are adapted by teachers to suit their own teaching contexts. (Author/VWL)