This article discusses the experiences gifted secondary students have had with pre-Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate programs. Key traits essential for teachers of the gifted are identified: a high degree of intelligence; extensive knowledge of the subject matter; emotional maturity; and a strong self-concept.…

A process model for guiding explicit, systematic, and observable reflections on the state of gifted education is suggested, based on Ann Kerwin's Map of Ignorance. Use of the model is recommended for determining what is known and what is unknown in order to develop an agenda for future research and clarify practice and theory. (Author/PB)

Describes the experiences of five mature-age preservice elementary teachers in a semester unit of science education designed to help teachers examine and make explicit their ideas about science and science teaching. Reports that the teachers expressed a need for a supportive environment in which concepts were built gradually and introduced using…

Examined a staff development program implemented in 2 elementary schools that focused on the beliefs and understandings about reading comprehension instruction of 12 teachers in grades 4-6. Results suggested that group collaboration and empowerment were strongly affected by the interaction of school culture and the staff development process…

Consists of three sections bound together by a common theme and reference list. The first section, by Gail Burnaford, addresses teacher action research as essential for motivating students and giving teachers a voice in curriculum. Section 2, by James Beane, explores common assumptions behind action research and integrative curriculum. Section 3,…

Discusses concerns about the preparation of elementary school mathematics teachers. Describes the efforts of faculty in mathematics and teacher education at Mississippi University for Women to improve the preparation of teachers of school mathematics. Emphasizes the complexities involved in the collegiate mathematics curriculum. (ASK)

Presents a scale of key teaching attributes that can be used to examine general classroom teachers' perceptions of knowledge and skills for providing effective instruction to students with disabilities, to assist in the development and implementation of more effective inclusionary practices, and to provide administrators with the indicators that…

A survey of 80 schools for individuals with deafness and 38 mainstream schools with classes for students with hearing impairments indicated that the majority of administrators believe that teachers of students with deafness should have the same subject-matter competency as teachers of hearing students. Recommendations for teacher education are…

Explains the evolution of the parallel stories methodology of contextualizing teacher knowledge, including substantive, theoretical, and conceptual understandings that arise from the inquiry and the implications the approach holds for teacher education programs. The paper also presents excerpts from a current publication to illustrate the…

Examines the importance in the instructed-learning setting of the second-language teacher's "knowledge about language" or metalinguistic awareness. Discusses three questions: (1) Do teachers need to know about language?; (2) if so, why and in what ways; and (3) what impact does the level of a teacher's metalinguistic awareness have on the input…

A survey of 23 Canadian student teachers in conventional placements or professional-development schools (PDS) found that their practica had taught them about curriculum, pupils and pupil-teacher interactions, discipline and classroom management, and the teaching profession. Compared to others, PDS student teachers relied more on weekly seminars…

Describes the results of a study of the current level of evolution instruction in public schools in Louisiana. Finds a significant and positive correlation between emphasis placed on evolution instruction and teachers' knowledge-base. Also finds no pressure on biology teachers to regard evolutionary theory as a unifying theme in biology, and…

Reports on the views and attitudes of secondary science teachers (n=27) toward lesson planning. Describes teacher decisions, the things they take into account, what they ascribe the most importance to, time spent, the source of their knowledge, and how they evaluate the results. Contains 46 references. (Author/WRM)

Discusses Emirates preservice (n=31) and in-service (n=224) teachers' views about the nature of science. Finds that Emirates teachers' views are mixed where traditional views of science are attributed to history and the educational system, and constructivist views are attributed to religious beliefs. Argues that the traditional view of science…

A survey of 212 Wisconsin special educators found the majority were expected to supervise paraeducators but had no preservice education or inservice from their school system. Ninety percent felt teacher-educator institutions should educate preservice educators and indicated topics that should be covered. Respondents' challenges to working with…