As teacher-education institutions implement portfolios across contexts and for multiple purposes, assessment of their effectiveness specific to shifting programmatic goals often takes place. At the institution where this research is based, an effort is underway to shift the focus of the current teaching portfolio requirement from an exit or…

The innovative CLASS professional development school initiative seeks to redesign teacher education through effective collaboration to better meet the needs of a changing pre-service student population. Non-traditional, often part-time students are entering undergraduate pre-service education programs across North America and in other parts of the…

Investigated how a program that established cohort groups in which students moved together through their educational experiences affected student teachers. Student surveys and focus groups indicated that at first, students were concerned about their own welfare. As they progressed through the program, they better understood their place in the…

Student teachers, student teacher supervisors, and cooperating teachers gave advice to a hypothetical student teacher, then researchers compared responses to determine patterns of similarity and difference. Results revealed differences (though not troubling differences) in the proportions of advice given in the areas of professionalism,…

Investigated the effect of having a tutoring experience on Israeli elementary student teachers' attitudes toward economically disadvantaged students, noting the influence of student teacher background on attitude. Surveys of student teachers participating in tutoring and nontutoring groups indicated that tutoring students had more positive…

Describes the process of reform that occurred at one elementary school involved in a collaborative reform of teacher preparation with Brigham Young University, discussing the tensions and rewards of working in university-school partnerships. Data from student concept maps of teaching, biographical histories, field observations, interviews, and…

Describes a collaboration between Kutztown's College of Education and an urban elementary school, which responded to both institutions' needs by integrating community service learning into expanded opportunities for preservice teacher training, professional development, and research. The collaboration also joined several other university…

Describes an early field experience program designed to help student teachers develop and enhance reflective thinking skills and value reflections and to model collaborative learning. Data from observations, interviews, and journals indicated that the program enabled student teachers to grapple more effectively with the complexities of the…

Compared the beliefs of African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) elementary teachers about teaching and literacy development. Teacher interviews found no differences in child development perceptions and approaches to literacy. AA teachers placed more emphasis on the themes of universal educability and teacher responsibility, while EA…

Reports a study that examined images of teaching brought by entry-level students as they began their initial work in elementary education. Students were asked to describe and draw ideal teacher and student situations. Results indicated students entered teaching with complex ideas about pupils, the learning environment, and teachers' roles. (SM)

Reports a study that investigated the effects of professional coursework and clinical experience on the development of preservice teachers' knowledge. Surveys supported the contribution of professional coursework to the development of pedagogical knowledge but showed limited support for the contribution of student teaching. (SM)