Discusses the changing educational context in France, reviewing the relationship between teacher training and professional practice and presenting a model of the development of pedagogical reasoning that shows the relationships between core concepts of pedagogical content knowledge, sociocultural context, and verbal interaction. (SM)

By leaving school and home routines behind, a group of Maine elementary teachers have found grant-funded summer retreats an excellent source of renewal. Teachers have a chance to pursue chosen professional activities, participate in data- driven conversations, and spend time together with no competing concerns. (MLH)

A high school teacher outlines 11 nontraditional expectations for new teachers. Teachers should empathize with students; create partnerships with school community members; account to others; embrace adversity; take the long view; demonstrate competency and interest in others; keep believing in students; maintain high performance goals; share…

La Trobe University has a system of quality assurance in which each subject is systematically reviewed and enhanced by those teaching it. It incorporates student evaluation of teaching, but focuses on the subject teachers' reflection and recommendations for improvements. (SK)

A correctional educator reflects on methods that improve instructional effectiveness. These include teacher-student collaboration, clear goals, student accountability, positive classroom atmosphere, high expectations, and mutual respect. (SK)

Ponders F. Scott Fitzgerald's essays about his "crack-up" and relates them to the many complex aspects of the struggles of a teacher using post-structural literary theory and teaching two-year college students. (SR)

Describes a supervision method that brings together teacher candidates and supervisors to cultivate candidates' disposition toward and ability to construct knowledge. Two case studies illustrate the method, which considers teaching a reflective, inquiry-based, knowledge-producing activity and considers supervision a process where candidate and…

Presents an evaluation system designed to document and facilitate change in teachers. Implicit in the development and implementation of the system is the goal to model evaluation for teachers. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Notes that the practicum course helps students navigate the transition from theory to practice. Describes the author's experience with this program over two semesters noting the improvements made for the second semester. Presents data from student surveys regarding effectiveness of the practicum course. (SG )

Suggests that Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most important figures in American Literature, yet his writing can be too "lofty" for many modern students to grasp. Offers some examples of ways to bring Emerson down to earth, grounding his spiritualist musings in material illustrations and making him more accessible to students. (NB)

Inspired by Donald Schon's work "Educating the Reflective Practitioner" (1987), the authors create virtual worlds using an approach combining video technology and the case teaching method. This article describes two video series, "Mentoring the New Teacher" and "Becoming a Star Urban Teacher," aimed at enhancing the…

Describes how data from English language teaching (ELT) classroom research can be exploited in teacher development activities. The contribution data-based activities can make to teacher development is outlined, and examples that illustrate the principles underlying their design are presented. A case is made for using such activities to facilitate…

Argues that reflective practitioners use unfamiliar research methods and forums for publication, methods and forums that have not yet been recognized as legitimate or authorized to build the base of knowledge that informs their practice. Draws attention to the forms and forums in which reflective practitioners work. (SC)

The tradition of the active mind views knowledge as provisionally constructed by the mind in perpetual interaction with the world. There are no substitutes for students' and teachers' consistent application of intelligence and steady thinking. A problem-based-learning approach to teacher education exemplifies John Dewey's laboratory model.…

Presents five story telling strategies--inspired by the work of Vivian Paley--that teachers can use to discover children's perspectives in a classroom: share the story of our names, share favorite stories from childhood, pass the paper and find the different stories, act out the story with different communication styles, and see our work as making…