Provides an overview of this issue that focuses on teacher thinking, beliefs, and knowledge in higher education. Topics include teaching goals; self-perception of teachers as teachers; thinking and beliefs that are detrimental to good teaching; and changing teachers' conceptions of teaching in order to improve instruction and promote student…

Describes the Partnership for Reform in Mathematics Education (PRIME) project whose basic idea is to allow preservice elementary teachers to construct knowledge concerning new mathematics concepts and pedagogy. (ASK)

Examines experienced secondary school mathematics teachers' (n=17) conceptions of proof from their perspectives as teachers of school mathematics. Suggests that implementing "proof for all" may be difficult for teachers--teachers viewed proof as appropriate for the mathematics education of a minority of students. (Author/MM)

Describes a long-term in-service training program for physics teachers grades 7-12 designed to enhance teachers' subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge. Teachers' opinions of the program were examined using a survey. Results suggest that the courses and activities that were most valuable for day-to-day teaching were those in which…

K-12 teachers completed an inservice designed with a constructivist perspective to foster their professional development regarding student motivation. Participants reflected on their professional expertise and practical knowledge in groups conducted by university researchers. At the end of the intervention, participants showed increased ability to…

Analyzes projects developed by preservice teachers enrolled in an elementary science course. Finds that students made a number of different types of mathematical errors and underutilized data representation and summary forms. (Author/MM)

Explores the reasons why we learn science. Asserts that 'wonder' incorporates three important dimensions: wondering about, wondering at, and wondering whether. Suggests that the system fails to trust students to learn and expects teachers to 'know it all' before beginning to teach. (Author/MM)

Examines aspects of the knowledge base that experienced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers draw on in their teaching, primarily in giving explanations of grammar and other language points. Focuses on three categories of teacher knowledge: content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge; and knowledge of learners. (Author/VWL)

Expresses doubts about whether the evidence presented by M. Wang, G. Haertel, and H. Walberg provides robust and consistent findings that could, or should, be used to inform educational policy and practice. Discusses five questions about the methodology of the study, and indicates that basing educational policy on their findings would be merely an…

Explores the role and purpose of research synthesis, and defends the conclusions drawn about school learning. The selection of the broad outcome "school learning" was an attempt to show that educational research and development can answer important questions about schooling. (SLD)

Review of book on the concept of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), including chapters reviewing an extensive body of research on the knowledge base for teaching, especially science, and the application of PCK to the design of elementary and secondary school science teacher-education programs. (PKP)

Investigated three experienced elementary teachers' practices and beliefs when implementing design and technology education for the first time. Teachers lacked knowledge about the new curriculum. They did not capitalize upon opportunities for scaffolding students' learning within the open-ended activities they implemented. Prior conceptions of…

The problem of secondary teachers' resistance to becoming teachers of reading is well documented. Unfortunately, the dominant model for many courses and in-service presentations has been transmission--teacher educators presenting knowledge and strategies for improving adolescent literacy and then expecting preservice and practicing teachers to…

The purpose of this study was to examine how various opportunity to learn (OTL) variables impact student outcomes and whether these effects are consistent across different subject areas. In this study, we examined the impact of OTL variables on student performance on English and algebra assessments. Despite the differences in the subject areas, 3…

This article addresses word study for upper elementary and middle school classrooms. Word study is often neglected in classrooms due to misconceptions and fears of classroom teachers, especially teachers of older students. Conclusions from a research project conducted with teachers reveal both positive and negative understandings of implementing…