Examines selected first-grade mathematics textbooks used in Japanese and American schools. Focus points of analysis include size and volume, repetition, length of explanations, mathematics content, gender issues, and the relevance of the pictures to the mathematics content. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Describes the results of a survey designed to ascertain details of student teachers' knowledge and misconceptions about the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and ozone layer depletion. Results indicate familiarity with the issues but little understanding of the concepts involved and many commonly held misconceptions. (JRH)

Studied the salient dimensions of teaching in a multicultural classroom as perceived by teacher educators. Questionnaire responses from 48 faculty members indicate that faculty do not always have the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare their students for classrooms of economic, cultural, and linguistic diversity. (SLD)

Parents (n=234) and general and special education teachers (n=248) of high school students with disabilities were surveyed about their views on self-determination. Most parents believed the students should be taught skills and competencies underlying self-determination. However, more than one-third of the teachers indicated they were not familiar…

Discusses the lack of primary teachers' focus on explanatory understanding and explores whether primary science books show a concern for explanatory understanding. (Contains 69 references.) (DDR)

Presents a seasonal checklist for first year science teachers that focuses on establishing policies and procedures, organization, and thoughtful lesson planning. (DDR)

Reviews a recommendation that all entrants into English and Welsh primary initial teacher training should possess a science GCSE pass. Identifies potential problems related to recruitment and adequate time allotted for the curriculum. (DDR)

Twelve open-ended questions, administered to 28 experienced elementary teachers and 26 education majors, examined mathematical content knowledge and related pedagogical knowledge by focusing on instructional decisions made in specific classroom situations involving whole number operations, fractions, and geometry. Results suggest that pedagogical…

Presents a study that examines the beliefs of teachers (N=24) and their interpretations of a two-week summer institute intended to change their treatment of scientific knowledge and assessment strategies at the classroom level. Contains 31 references. (DDR)

This Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) position paper identifies the curricular areas that should be addressed in a program intended to prepare teachers of children birth through age 8. Outlines preferred knowledge in the following areas: general education, foundations of early childhood education, child development, the…

Explores the problems that a national strategy for the professional development of science teachers attempted to address, and reports on the theme of "loose connections" that emerged. Highlights the weak sense of professional community found among science teachers and their isolation from potentially beneficial influences on their work.…

Discusses the lack of research on the history of practice in teaching. Introduces the special issue on wise practice in challenging classrooms. Explains that challenging is viewed as dealing with dilemmas in the social studies classroom, such as teaching students with minimal English skills or at risk or low level learners. (CMK)

Examines the informal and incidental learning of religious educators in Newfoundland (Canada) through the use of a focus group session, questionnaire, and personal interviews. Reveals information about the educators' learning in three categories: (1) theological knowledge; (2) professional knowledge; and (3) knowledge about themselves. Includes…

A study investigated relationships among 59 elementary teachers' reading-related content knowledge, their philosophical orientation toward reading instruction, their classroom practice, and their students' learning. Relationships emerged between content knowledge and instruction and between kindergarten teachers' phonological knowledge and their…

Identifies and describes misconceptions held by pre-service high school science teachers regarding three environmental issues: the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, and acid rain. Indicates that many pre-service high school teachers possess an array of misconceptions about the causes and effects of each. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)