Section archive - Instruction in Teacher Training

In this article, the authors build a case for the importance of geometry and spatial thinking. The authors conclude that research-based models hold the potential to make a significant difference in the learning of young children by catalyzing substantive change in the knowledge and beliefs of their teachers.

Teachers’ learning goals and their knowledge of students play important roles in influencing exactly how a teacher adapts curriculum materials. The authors asked two elementary teachers to write narratives about their use of and changes to particular reform-oriented science lesson plans. The authors conclude that teachers need support in considering and making productive changes to curriculum materials. This may be particularly true for elementary teachers of science.

In this article, the authors wish to highlight the need for teachers to build healthy and productive relationships with students while at the same time finding ways to provide them with more effective instruction and programming. Accordingly, the authors present a synopsis of what scholars know about helping preservice teachers learn about students learning English. Finally, the authors provide some specific exercises and procedures that they have employed to help preservice teachers move in the direction of learning about and developing relationships with students.

Using a “communities of practice” approach, this case study explores the connections between teachers’ evidence-based decision-making practices and their efficacy beliefs. Findings indicate that teachers co-construct their efficacy beliefs in in their communities of practice.