An investigation of the thoughts and actions of a small number of expert teachers (N=3) and novice student teachers (N=3) is described. Differences between the two groups are analyzed from the perspectives of teaching as a complex cognitive skill and improvisational performance. Recommendations for teacher education practice are offered. (IAH)

Utilizing Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) data from 1966 to 1988, this article reports results of an analysis of changes in freshmen interest in teaching and the characteristics of the freshmen whose career interests are explored. (IAH)

Analysis of data from 27 California colleges and universities demonstrates that lower than average SAT scores for education students can be reconciled with GPA's similar to noneducation students in the same or similar institutions. Implications for future research and teacher education are considered. (IAH)

This article provides a brief introduction to the RATE Project. The project seeks to gather accurate information about teacher education, establish trend lines and document changes, study the structures and processes involved in teacher education, and obtain reliable information upon which program development and change initiatives can be based.…

This article constitutes the first report of findings from the Research About Teacher Education (RATE) Project. This report focuses on the institutions in which teachers are prepared and the nature of the programs offered at these institutions. (IAH)

Excerpts from case reports illustrate some problems and dilemmas of three teacher trainees who entered teaching via alternative certification. The article highlights ways in which they were helped or harmed by the intervention of their mentor teachers. Based on analysis of case material, policy recommendations are made to school districts. (IAH)

A teacher education program, designed to facilitate teachers' skills in working with culturally diverse students with special needs is discussed. Program content is outlined; a course description provides an example of implementation of the teacher training model and findings are discussed from an assessment of teachers' progress in the program.…

Documentation is provided regarding the relationship between students' socioeconomic condition and their school performance. Ten teacher- and nonteacher-related reasons for low achievement among lower class and underclass students are presented. Several teacher-related reforms are proposed. (IAH)

Results are reported from an investigation into the influence of subject-specific coursework in the development of pedagogical content knowledge in English through contrasting case studies of six beginning English teachers, only three of whom graduated from teacher education programs. Implications for teacher education policy, research, and…

This study examines whether the concepts held by teachers are communicated to students during instruction and if students' concepts of reading reflect their teachers' concepts of reading. Implications for teacher education are discussed. (IAH)

This study investigated the effectiveness of a training sequence, based on Tough's categories of language use, to reduce the percent of reporting questions in relation to total questions; while increasing the percent of logical reasoning, predicting, and projecting questions used by student teachers (N=89) in leading discussions. (IAH)

Results are reported from a study which examines preservice teachers' changes in thinking about both content and pedagogy associated with experiences in reflective peer teaching units and tests the value of preconcept and postconcept mapping as a measure of change in pedagogical decision making. (IAH)

This article describes a lateral entry certification program (LEP) which prepared 13 new math and science teachers for rural North Carolina schools. It also presents findings which indicate that LEP participants are as competent in school classrooms and as successful on National Teacher Examinations as traditionally prepared students. (IAH)

Teacher assessment should be designed to triangulate across domains of teacher knowledge, skills, and beliefs; teachers' classroom behaviors; and student outcomes. Costs and benefits of teacher evaluation must be weighed, and care taken to avoid elimination of minority teachers. (JD)

Three approaches for providing feedback for improving the classroom instruction of preservice teachers are feedback from pupils, systematic feedback from classroom observation, and self-analysis of classroom lessons. These approaches provide student teachers, cooperating teachers and supervisors with data for improving the preservice teaching…