ERIC Number: EJ789109
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0888-4064
EISSN: N/A
Teacher Learning Cohorts: A Vehicle for Supporting Beginning Teachers
Brownell, Mary T.; Yeager, Elizabeth Anne; Sindelar, Paul T.; vanHover, Stephanie; Riley, Tamar
Teacher Education and Special Education, v27 n2 p174-189 2004
One of the greatest challenges that general education teachers face is how to address the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Perhaps what is most disturbing about this challenge is that many general education teachers seem unprepared to face it. Researchers investigating inclusive classrooms have found that general education teachers make few instructional adaptations for children with disabilities and those at-risk academically and behaviorally. Even more problematic are the challenges that a diverse student population presents to novice teachers, who are often less prepared to make accommodations for individual students. To address the challenges general education teachers face, particularly beginning teachers, we designed Teacher Learning Cohorts (TLCs) for two urban elementary schools. Our article describes case studies of three beginning TLC general education teachers in the two schools and their efforts to learn how to teach students with disabilities and other high-risk students. In particular, we outline how the teachers' participation in the TLC influenced their beliefs and practices with regard to teaching these students. We also discuss implications of the study for those involved in creating structures that support beginning teachers in inclusive efforts. (Beginning Teacher Interview Protocol is appended.)
Descriptors: Educational Needs, General Education, Attitudes toward Disabilities, High Risk Students, Disabilities, Beginning Teachers, Teaching Methods, Teacher Collaboration, Elementary Schools, Case Studies, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Student Diversity, Researchers, Inclusive Schools, Urban Schools, Teacher Education
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. Available from: Allen Press, Inc. 810 East 10th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. Tel: 800-627-0629; Web site: http://www.tese.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A