Despite advances in the development and implementation of school-based interventions, aggression in American schools remains a significant problem for educators. The present study examines the influence of teacher preparation on responses to classroom aggression. A sample of 121 teachers employed in 11 public schools across Southwest Virginia…

This article seeks to understand the ways in which feedback was communicated in post-observation conferences in teaching practice supervision within the learning-oriented field experience assessment (LOFEA) framework. 32 post-observation conferences between 21 pairs of supervisors and participants of in-service teacher education programmes, and…

Student evaluations should "be ethical, fair, useful, feasible, and accurate" [JCSEE (2003). "The student evaluation standards." Arlen Gullickson, Chair. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin]. This study focuses on defining ethical behavior and examining educators' ethical judgments in relation to assessment. It describes the results from a web-based survey…

Teachers continue to report that classroom management is one of their greatest challenges in the classroom. Classroom management involves teacher's efforts to oversee classroom activities such as learning, social interaction, and student behavior. In this study, we examined the relationship between sources of teachers' certification (traditional…

Examination of prospective teachers' beliefs about teaching and learning on entry to teacher education programs, and tracking the development of these beliefs in light of academic and field-based experiences, is a critical task for teacher educators. The study examines metaphor construction as a tool to gain access to, and promote the development…

Guided by the theoretical and empirical research on self-efficacy and outcome expectancy beliefs, and the "Culturally Responsive Teaching Competencies" [Siwatu, K.O. (2006a). "The development of the culturally responsive teaching competencies: Implications for teacher education." Manuscript under review], two measures--the Culturally Responsive…

Investigated physical education teachers' educational theories of action and theories-in-use. Data from classroom observations, interviews, and journals indicated that teachers held strong, well-articulated views about student learning and what constituted a physically educated student. Results did not substantiate the notion of a level of…

Explored the evolution of three preservice physical educators' beliefs throughout a four-year teacher preparation program. Data from interviews, surveys, and document analysis indicated that participants assimilated program messages into their beliefs about teaching relative to elementary content, teaching effectiveness, and the importance of…

Examined how elementary students' use of critical thinking in their movement actions was inspired by an "expert" teacher's task design, task presentation, and instructional strategies during creative dance lessons. Data from videotaped lessons and written anecdotes indicated that by presenting sequential, open- ended tasks and learning cues and…

Examined factors that had a positive and negative effect on the social experiences of elementary students with and without disabilities in inclusive physical education classrooms. Data from observations and interviews indicated that the physical education teacher had a positive influence on students' social experiences, while cultures, student…

Developed a valid, reliable physical education teachers' physical activity self-efficacy scale for teaching classes in which students were engaged in high levels of physical activity. Results offer preliminary support for the psychometric properties of this instrument, which can help understand physical education teachers' efficacy in overcoming…

Used self-efficacy theory as a framework to investigate the interaction of beliefs about gender appropriateness and conceptions of ability on competence beliefs in physical activity. College students completed surveys about the sport of hockey, watched a video of a specific hockey skill, and responded to questions about the skill. Results support…

Examined the ecology of "free gym" as it occurred in both school lunch hour and after school community settings. Data collected on urban high school students revealed a student imposed hierarchy dominated by skilled male African American basketball players. Status was gained through what occurred within the free gym ecology. Few students thrived…

Physical education as a school subject can be characterized as largely void of both consensus and accountability. Until the publication of the national content standards (NASPE, 1995) there was no explicit, shared vision regarding what is important to teach in school programs. There has been a sense that this lack of consensus somehow preserves…

Inherent in the current school reform movement is an assumption that good schools are effective schools (Cuban, 1998). Effectiveness is usually defined narrowly in terms of academic achievement. Other purposes of schools related to social justice, developing student social skills, student health, or the personal development of students has not…