Teacher educators require reflective assignments to develop the educational thinking of prospective and experience teachers. Reflective rubrics describe the quality of thinking and provide insight into teacher development. Larrivee (2008) developed a rubric compiled using input from teacher educators. Pre-service teachers' reflections with…

This paper describes the genesis and purpose of our geometry methods course, focusing on a geometry-teaching technology we created using NVIDIA[R] Chameleon demonstration. This article presents examples from a sequence of lessons centered about a 3D computer graphics demonstration of the chameleon and its geometry. In addition, we present data…

Educators are often at a loss in handling lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the classroom. tvOften this is attributable to a lack of training during the preservice program at the university level. This article suggests that special education teacher preparation programs are uniquely positioned to promote sexual diversity…

This article explores the development of utilizing music as a Personal Practical Theory (PPT) in the teaching of English and history. Specifically, the authors explore the nature of PPT's, the benefits of utilizing music, and the process through which teachers begin using a new approach in their pedagogy. Unique contributions are the application…

Kindergarten student teachers face a unique set of challenges as they strive to meet the needs of very young children. This article presents ten suggestions for ensuring a successful experience. They are based on the authors' many years of experience in working with student teachers placed in kindergarten settings. Arranged in Letterman fashion in…

This study examined a mentoring program entitled: LISTEN (Linking Individual Students To Educational Needs). The LISTEN mentoring program was a district-sponsored, school-based program in which at-risk, middle school students were identified by the school system and mentors were recruited specifically to assist these students with school…

The growing diversity of American schools requires that teachers are able to plan and implement lessons that capitalize on students' strengths, interests and understandings (Noguera, 2003; Milner, 2009). As such, teacher education programs have an obligation to instill in teacher candidates a vision of inclusive education while providing them with…

This article from Ashland University reports on what one university, well known for its Teacher Education programs, is doing in an economically depressed state to address our country's financial crisis. Ohio has mandated that financial literacy be taught in high schools by 2010. Reported herein is what is being done to prepare teachers for this…

From a holistic perspective the term attention refers to a student's capacity to focus, direct and sustain their attention on a particular stimulus within their environment for a significant period of time. The development of students' attention spans develops progressively from the time they enter school. From the beginning some students have…

This study is based on qualitative data from interviews and observations with seven principals representing two urban high schools, two urban middle schools, and three elementary schools. The study analyzes the views held by these principals about what novice teachers need to learn and grow, and examines what these principals are doing to meet…

The Millennial Generation (born [asymptotically equivalent to]1982-2002) is now well represented in the university setting. This cohort has its own unique expectations that are in many ways aligned with constructivist propositions of learning. These Millennial expectations will likely necessitate changes in instructional approaches used in the…

This paper describes implementation of a Lesson Study project with third grade teachers in a small school district to study the development of the critical lenses (perspectives) necessary for meaningful lesson study work. Adapting the Lesson Study process to meet school system needs, two outside facilitators stimulated teacher thinking with math…

This study investigated the impact of presentation formats on preservice teachers' ability to retain information along with their perceptions regarding subject matter and instructor's effectiveness. Participants were 79 preservice teachers in three sections of an elementary methods course. Each section received instruction using lecture and…

This descriptive study examines the unique cases of three middle grades education majors who completed a year-long student teaching experience in the same school where they were hired for their first year of teaching. Surveys of the new teachers, their mentors, and observations of the new teachers were used to examine the preparation received in…

This study surveyed pre-service teachers to determine their reading maturity using The Reading Maturity Survey (Thomas, 2001). Results indicate that pre-service teachers self-report high levels of confidence in their reading maturity with the exception of two areas that may relate to developing skills in critical reflection and transformational…