At the University of Hawaii, preservice teachers are prepared for diverse classrooms. This paper examines how a group of largely white, middle-class professors can effectively introduce diverse cultural perspectives on classroom management to preservice teachers who are themselves culturally diverse, and highlights use of an interactive videodisc…

First-year teachers need mentoring by experienced, successful practitioners. This paper suggests a model for preparing mentors that was developed by school district personnel and university faculty. The model provides 14 hours (distributed over the school year) of training in philosophy, basic mentoring, communication skills, peer supervision,…

Though supervision of student teaching is critical in teacher education, there are few materials for instructing university supervisors in such supervision. The paper describes a seminar at the University of New Hampshire in which supervisors meet to address supervision-related concerns. An example of one seminar that involved discussing a case…

This paper describes the classroom environments of two elementary teachers who are committed to guiding students to become accepting, self-directed, self-confident, cooperative, and caring individuals. Their interactions with students have created a nurturing, cooperative environment that has guidelines based on mutual respect, trust, and caring.…

Describes the impact 1 creative first-grade teacher made on students over her 47 years of teaching and explains the importance of significant teachers on students' development and educational careers. The teacher made school a place of challenge and reward where students felt valued, comfortable, loved, and respected. (SM)

Responds to an article suggesting that teacher empowerment and not systemic restructuring is necessary for effective integration of information technologies in public schools. This paper suggests that, while teachers are central to educational changes, even more essential is a fundamental shift to a new system of learning and away from treating…

The authors of a paper on educational restructuring and information technology in education respond to a review of their paper. The first section examines the need for information technology in schools, noting the widespread difficulties in implementation of such technologies. The second section considers some effective and realistic innovation…

An annotated bibliography lists 11 reference works, 22 classic texts and models, and 28 books and articles that examine issues and situations related to teaching discipline and classroom management. The suggested items date from 1959 through 1993. (SM)

Leigh Burstein was an internationally recognized educational researcher and scholar. This tribute notes his determination to "get it right" in his studies of multilevel modeling, opportunity to learn, and development of educational indicator systems. His legacy includes the responsibility of "getting it right." (SLD)

Studies of the mathematics assessments of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are summarized. One study found that omit rates for NAEP test items were higher for African Americans and Hispanics than for whites. The other found that descriptions and examples for the 1992 mathematics achievement levels were misleading. (SLD)

A multilevel analysis strategy developed by Leigh Burstein termed slopes-as-outcomes provides a means to address questions concerning equity in educational research. This potential strategy for studying differences in program implementation relates to differences in program effectiveness across sites. (SLD)

The evolution of the opportunity-to-learn (OTL) concept from a research concept to a policy instrument is examined. The origins of OTL in studies by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement are described, and the role of OTL research in educational indicators is explored. (SLD)

Conceptual issues in developing and using opportunity-to-learn (OTL) standards to inform policy questions about equal educational opportunity are discussed. Using two national databases, OTL measures are developed according to Libertarian, Liberal, and Democratic Liberal conceptualizations, and the influence of these concepts on the information…

This article focuses on educational opportunity as an organizing construct of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), in contrast with traditional opportunity-to-learn measures. A new conceptualization of educational opportunity is needed for cross-national studies. (SLD)

Findings of the California Learning Assessment System 1993 Opportunity-To-Learn study support the conclusion that curriculum and instruction that require higher-level skills benefit students' achievements. Data used are the best available measures of California students' learning of higher-level skills. (SLD)