What makes the difference between a good teacher and a great one? Knowing one's content is important, but having strong leadership skills can tip the scales from mediocrity to excellence. The best time to begin practicing being a teacher leader is during the preservice years. By practicing leadership skills, one can begin to view oneself not only…

Although schools have always struggled with student failure, retention, and attrition, the turn of the new century has produced added pressures for schools to reduce student dropout rates. In the current political and economic environment, increased costs and reduced budgets are forcing difficult choices in how best to spend limited resources.…

This article originated from a single question: do the restrictions that various accrediting agencies place on teacher educators limit, or entirely eliminate, academic freedom? Considering that question makes it apparent the problem is much broader than academic freedom. The issue has two foci: personal identity and the impact of market…

Each generation seems to lament the characteristics of the generations that follow. Today, however, with a student population unique in traits that impact teaching and learning, differences between teacher and learner generations must be recognized, analyzed, and addressed if faculty in higher education are to meet the needs of students. In spring…

University schools of education are challenged to prepare future teachers using best practices. Knowledge of brain research helps provide one piece of a multidisciplinary conceptual framework for educators as they articulate and enhance effective teaching. This qualitative study discovered recommendations for the best brain-compatible…

For nearly half of his professional career, this author admits he was wrong about how to help students achieve. During almost thirty-six years as a college administrator and instructor, he designed programs and services, taught classes, and conducted workshops with one purpose in mind: to help students gain maximum benefits from college and…

At this writing former President Reagan has just been interred with much pomp, plus hours of nationally televised praise. Some enthusiasts have even proposed carving the former president's countenance into Mount Rushmore. History will decide whether or not Mr. Reagan ranks as a great, or even good, president. But the indecorous rush to laud his…

For teachers and schools and schoolchildren, the politics of education is a no-win situation. Public schools serve public purposes. That mission makes them political, so the interests of the children and teachers are at best secondary. This document explores the author's opinion about teacher educators and their default into the hands of the…

There is a growing momentum in academia for liberal arts departments to become involved with schools of education in the preparation of teachers and efforts to improve schools. A major difficulty comes from the stereotypical view that each group has of the other. For example, liberal arts professors accuse education faculty of ignoring content…

Environmental conditions that influence the development of religious literacy initiatives in preservice teacher education include parochialism and Christian privilege, the challenge of foreign traditions, the legacy of church-state separation, shifting bases of authority, the ethos of individualism, and the complexity of public education.…

Reviews literature on constructivist theories, noting that constructivism challenges some understanding of content knowledge. Asserts that constructivist approaches can provide insights for teacher education as long as student understanding of content remains paramount. (Contains 35 references.) (SK)

Cites anecdotal and research examples indicating that content knowledge, especially in history, is undervalued in schools of education, teacher selection and assignment, and staff development. States that as long as theory is valued over subject matter, the situation will not change. (SK)

Reviews data showing that large numbers of teachers are assigned to teach out of their subject fields. Points to the discretionary power of school administrators and the lack of/weakness of teacher employment regulations as causes. (SK)

Alternative certification programs in Texas, Georgia, and Florida are less rigorous and do not emphasize teaching knowledge and experience. Such programs purport to solve teacher shortages and address quality concerns but may exacerbate the latter. (SK)

The University of Montevallo Teacher Leader Program is an advanced graduate program in current and future leadership roles for teachers who choose to remain in the classroom rather than become principals or supervisors. The program focuses on competencies in technology usage and understanding of current school contexts. (JOW)