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Perceptions Of Novice Teachers Tpack Gained From Teacher Preparation Programs
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Book Synopsis First-year Teachers' Perceptions of Their Readiness for the Classroom by : Kathryn Pritchard
Download or read book First-year Teachers' Perceptions of Their Readiness for the Classroom written by Kathryn Pritchard and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study addresses the impact of teacher preparation programs on novice teachers’ perceived readiness for the classroom. An explanatory sequential mixed-method, three-phase design was used involving two collections of quantitative data and a focus group convened to explore themes that emerged from quantitative data. Data collected suggest whether the type of teacher preparation program completed by a preservice teacher impacts a novice teacher’s perceived sense of readiness for teaching. -- Butin (2010) discussed “translating research into effective practice has been the weak link” (p. 4) in research studies. Studying a potential connection between teacher sense of readiness for the classroom and the needs they identify that will support them in their first year may reduce teacher attrition by providing North Carolina teacher mentor programs access to the types of support teachers feel they need in order to remain in teaching and provide teacher preparation programs with suggestions for focused instruction to meet teacher perceived needs. -- This study found traditionally certified teachers’ perceptions of readiness to teach declined during their first year, whereas lateral entry teachers’ perceptions of readiness to teach increased during their first year. Strategies to address the needs identified by teachers in the study including the needs related to teacher knowledge of learners, knowledge of subject matter, and knowledge of teaching are discussed in relation to the study’s findings.
Book Synopsis Beginning Teachers' Perceptions of Their Novice Year of Teaching by : Rebecca Bingham Rees
Download or read book Beginning Teachers' Perceptions of Their Novice Year of Teaching written by Rebecca Bingham Rees and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This qualitative study was an investigation of first-year teachers who completed their teacher preparation program at large, land-grant university in the west (n=16). It explored teachers' perceptions of their first teaching year centered around the questions of challenges and successes they had encountered, whether they felt prepared for their first year by their teacher preparation program, in what areas would they have liked more instruction during their teacher preparation program, and if they felt able to implement developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) within their classroom. Study findings indicated three main areas remarked on by teachers: creating and implementing instruction and assessment; experiences of teachers; and classroom organization, management, and procedures. All of the teachers within the study had comments within the area of creating and implementing instruction and assessment. About 46% of the comments within this theme referred to whether teachers felt able to implement DAP in their classrooms. Almost 77% of teachers reported that they were able to implement DAP within their classrooms. Fourteen of the teachers had comments coded within the theme of experience. Almost 68% of those comments fell within the subtheme of student teaching experience. Over half of the teachers expressed satisfaction with their student teaching experience. Fourteen teachers also commented within the theme of classroom organization, management, and procedures. About 73% of those comments were coded within the subtheme of classroom management. Teachers reported feeling both successful and challenged within this theme, and it was also identified as an area they would have liked more instruction in during their teacher preparation programs. Five less prominent themes were also delineated: special education, teacher intrinsic qualities, teacher characteristics, child and classroom characteristics, and parent and family issues. Study findings demonstrated, as well, that most teachers felt prepared for their first year of teaching by their teacher preparation program. The majority of teachers began first teaching in a public school setting and participants were teaching students ranging from pre-school to first grade. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Book Synopsis Handbook of Research on Current Trends in Cybersecurity and Educational Technology by : Jimenez, Remberto
Download or read book Handbook of Research on Current Trends in Cybersecurity and Educational Technology written by Jimenez, Remberto and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2023-02-17 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There has been an increased use of technology in educational settings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the benefits of including such technologies to support education, there is still the need for vigilance to counter the inherent risk that comes with the use of such technologies as the protection of students and their information is paramount to the effective deployment of any technology in education. The Handbook of Research on Current Trends in Cybersecurity and Educational Technology explores the full spectrum of cybersecurity and educational technology today and brings awareness to the recent developments and use cases for emergent educational technology. Covering key topics such as artificial intelligence, gamification, robotics, and online learning, this premier reference source is ideal for computer scientists, industry professionals, policymakers, administrators, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.
Book Synopsis Novice Teacher Perceptions of Induction Supports Provided During the First Year by : Keri James Tawater
Download or read book Novice Teacher Perceptions of Induction Supports Provided During the First Year written by Keri James Tawater and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This descriptive case study examined the perceptions of 6 beginning teachers regarding the supports offered to them during their 1st year of teaching. Based on purposeful and convenience sampling through administrative recommendations, the participants included 4 middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers in their 2nd year of teaching. I collected data from documents and multiple interviews to understand the needs of beginning teachers and how to best support them. Utilizing the social cognitive learning framework, I analyzed the results in terms of which supports provided vicarious reinforcements, self-reinforcements, and ultimately self-efficacy. These perceptions and understandings were then compared to what is recommended in the research literature. The results of the study provide insight into the perceptions and understandings of the participants as they transitioned to their new roles as teachers. Findings suggest (1) new teachers need to be formally assigned a mentor in close proximity to them, (2) administrators should explicitly schedule times for novice teachers to observe effective instructional practices, and (3) a lack of administrative support can be offset by other positive, collegial relationships. Such findings suggest multiple implications for both school building administrators and teacher preparation programs.
Author :Arlene C. Borthwick Publisher :International Society for Technology in Education ISBN 13 :1564848361 Total Pages :274 pages Book Rating :4.5/5 (648 download)
Book Synopsis Championing Technology Infusion in Teacher Preparation by : Arlene C. Borthwick
Download or read book Championing Technology Infusion in Teacher Preparation written by Arlene C. Borthwick and published by International Society for Technology in Education. This book was released on 2022-08-17 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Educators learning how to meaningfully integrate technology into their teaching practice will find resources and action plans to prepare them for today’s tech-infused lessons. Advancing teacher preparation to full adoption of technology infusion is no small undertaking. Written by 20 experts in the teacher prep field, Championing Technology Infusion in Teacher Preparation provides research- and practice-based direction for faculty, administrators, PK-12 school partners and other stakeholders who support programwide technology infusion in teacher education programs. Such organizational change involves almost every individual and system involved in teacher preparation. Topics addressed include: • Defining technology infusion and integration. • Systemic planning and readiness of college-level leadership. • Programwide, iterative candidate experiences across courses and clinical work. • Technology use and expectations for teachers and students in PK-12 settings. • Instructional design in teacher preparation programs to include integration of technology in face-to-face, blended and online PK-12 teaching and learning. • Strategies to support induction of new teachers in PK-12 settings. • Technology use, expectations, and professional development for teacher educators • Models for effective candidate and program evaluation. • Roles for government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in nationwide collaboration for technology infusion in teacher preparation. This book will help administrators in colleges and schools of education as well as teacher educators in preparation programs support the developmental needs of teacher candidates as they learn how to teach with technology. With action steps and getting started resources in each chapter, the book is well-adapted for small group study and planning by collaborative leadership teams in colleges and schools of education. The book is also appropriate for the study of effective organizational change in education by graduate students.
Book Synopsis A Perceptual Analysis of Novice Teachers' Experience with New Teacher Induction, Professional Growth, and Intent to Remain in the Profession by : Delbert C. Ferster
Download or read book A Perceptual Analysis of Novice Teachers' Experience with New Teacher Induction, Professional Growth, and Intent to Remain in the Profession written by Delbert C. Ferster and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This qualitative study examined novice teachers' perceptions of their new teacher induction program and the role that the new teacher induction program played in their intent to remain in the profession. Participants in the study included 20 second and third year teachers from a school district in southeastern Pennsylvania. Qualitative data were gathered from all 20 participants who completed the Perception of New Teacher Induction Questionnaire, a 40-item Likert scale instrument that included three open-ended questions designed to allow participants to enhance their Likert responses. Nine participants were interviewed. District documents specifically related to the new teacher induction program and researcher observations of teacher induction meetings provided additional information that was triangulated with questionnaire and interview data. Research findings showed the district effectively and adequately designed and delivered induction activities, which focused on the technical aspects of teaching, such as differentiation of instruction, and assessment, however, data revealed that new teachers perceived many of these topics to be recurrent with topics that comprised their undergraduate education classes. Research findings indicated that participants perceived the mentoring component of the district's new teacher induction program to be effective in aiding novice teachers in their assimilation to the district. Participants perceived their mentors as caring, approachable, possessing a positive outlook regarding education and the role that they played as mentor teachers, and knowledgeable of content area or grade level. Research findings revealed that a significant majority of novice teachers perceived that the district's new teacher induction program increased their self confidence and enhanced their self-efficacy; yet, participants did not indicate that the new teacher induction program promoted their desire to remain in the profession or in the district. In conclusion, participants perceived that the district's new teacher induction program could be improved if it included: more opportunities to collaborate with mentor teachers, or other teachers from the same subject area or grade level, to create lessons that align to district curriculum; the opportunity to have district curriculum at an earlier date, with consistent and on-going opportunities to work with mentor teachers; and, a multi-tiered new teacher induction program that would more effectively address individual needs of novice teachers who exhibit a wide variety of previous teaching experience.
Book Synopsis The Perceived Technology Proficiency of Students in a Teacher Eduation Program by : Vonda G. Coffman
Download or read book The Perceived Technology Proficiency of Students in a Teacher Eduation Program written by Vonda G. Coffman and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study is to determine the perceived technology capabilities of different levels of undergraduate students of Kent State University in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services teacher education programs; to determine if the perceived technology capabilities of students beginning the teacher education program differ from those nearing completion of the program; and, if the perceived technology capabilities of students change from the start to the end of the Educational Technology course. Examining student perceptions may provide insight on whether preservice teachers think they can prepare students for the 21st century once they become inservice teachers. To determine whether preservice teachers perceive that they are being prepared to teach 21st century skills by integrating technology into teaching and learning, three groups of students were surveyed: incoming students, junior-level students at the beginning and end of the Educational Technology course, and students nearing graduation. The TPACK survey for preservice teachers (Schmidt, Baran, Thompson, Mishra, Koehler & Shin, 2009) was used to examine preservice teachers' perceptions of their technology capabilities as related to teaching. Teachers comprise an integral factor in the effective incorporation of technology into classroom activities, yet many current teachers remain unable or unwilling to employ technology fully or effectively. The findings from this study led to several conclusions, including that the students perceived themselves to have better technological abilities after completing the Educational Technology course and as seniors near the end of the teacher education program, and the results of this study should challenge teacher education faculty to consider how their beliefs, attitudes, and use of technology in teaching and learning are transmitted to their students.
Book Synopsis Investigating Pre-service Teachers' TPACK Through Teacher Training Program at Saudi Universities by : Sahar Mohammed Alshawaf
Download or read book Investigating Pre-service Teachers' TPACK Through Teacher Training Program at Saudi Universities written by Sahar Mohammed Alshawaf and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The continuous advancement of technologies and their increasing integration into the education process places a great demand on teachers to be able to use such technologies effectively in their teaching and learning processes. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), efforts to advance the education system, as articulated in the Vision 2020 strategic plan, have pushed teacher training programs to better prepare teachers for the use of technology in the classroom. As a result, a number of one-year post-baccalaureate pre-service teacher preparation programs in the KSA have begun to incorporate more technology training in their programs. However, the degree to which these programs prepare pre-service teachers for the use of technology in their own teaching process remains largely unknown. To address this gap, the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which teacher education programs in the colleges of education at three Saudi universities--Taif University (TU), King Khalid University (KKU), and King Faisal University (KFU)--prepare pre-service teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms. Koehler and Mishra's technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework was followed, and a TPACK instrument adapted from Schmidt et al. was used to measure 529 pre-service teachers (135 males, 394 females) through self-reported TPACK scores at the beginning and at the end of their teacher preparation program. The results showed a significant increase in the perceived knowledge level of pre-service teachers' TPACK model by the end of the training program in their Saudi university. The findings also showed that pre-service teachers' TK, CK, PK, PCK, TCK, TPK, and TPACK can be affected by gender in favor of males, even though most of the participants in the survey were female (74.5%). Finally, the findings reported that the higher the computer usage skills of participants in the teacher training program, the less knowledge they will likely gain from such programs, particularly in their TK and TPACK. These findings can help the KSA inform future improvements and developments in the teacher training programs that address technology skills in the classroom in the KSA.
Book Synopsis Handbook of Research on TPACK in the Digital Age by : Niess, Margaret L.
Download or read book Handbook of Research on TPACK in the Digital Age written by Niess, Margaret L. and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2018-11-02 with total page 521 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The impact of digital technologies in education has called for teachers to be prepared to facilitate their students’ learning through communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. In order to create ideal learning environments for their students, teachers must develop a more integrated knowledge for infusing digital technologies as learning tools, a knowledge referred to as TPACK. The Handbook of Research on TPACK in the Digital Age provides innovative insights into teacher preparation for the effective integration of digital technologies into the classroom. The content within this publication represents the work of online learning, digital technologies, and pedagogical strategies. It is designed for teachers, educational designers, instructional technology faculty, administrators, academicians, and education graduate students, and covers topics centered on classroom technology integration and teacher knowledge and support.
Author :International Society for Technology in Education Publisher :ISTE (Interntl Soc Tech Educ ISBN 13 :9781564841735 Total Pages :388 pages Book Rating :4.8/5 (417 download)
Book Synopsis National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers by : International Society for Technology in Education
Download or read book National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers written by International Society for Technology in Education and published by ISTE (Interntl Soc Tech Educ. This book was released on 2002 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Standards were developed to guide educational leaders in recognizing and addressing the essential conditions for effective use of technology to support P-12 education.
Book Synopsis Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education by : Pedro Isaias
Download or read book Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education written by Pedro Isaias and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-09-29 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is to explores a variety of facets of online learning environments to understand how learning occurs and succeeds in digital contexts and what teaching strategies and technologies are most suited to this format. Business, health, government and education are some of the core sectors of society which have been experiencing deep transformations due to a generalized digitalization. While these changes are not novel, the swift progress of technology and the rising complexity of digital environments place a focus on the need for further research and novel strategies. In the context of education, the promise of increased flexibility and broader access to educational resources is impelling much of higher education’s course offerings to online environments. The 21st century learner requires an education that can be pursued anytime and anywhere and that is more aligned with the demands of a digital society. Online education not only assists students to success-fully integrate a workforce that is increasingly digital, but it helps them to become more comfortable with the use of technology in general and, hence, more prepared to be prolific digital citizens. The variety of settings portrayed in this volume attest to the unlimited opportunities afforded by online learning and serve as valuable evidence of its benefit for students’ educational experience. Moreover, these research efforts assist a more comprehensive reflection about the delivery of higher education in the context of online settings.
Book Synopsis First-year Teachers' Perceptions of Writing and Writing Instruction in Their Primary Classroom by : Kathleen Whitby McDonnold
Download or read book First-year Teachers' Perceptions of Writing and Writing Instruction in Their Primary Classroom written by Kathleen Whitby McDonnold and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This interpretive case study is an investigation of three first-year teachers' perceptions of student writing and writing instruction in second grade classrooms. The portrayals describe each teacher's early experiences with literacy and their professional path that led them to the classroom. The case studies also present the knowledge and the resources these three teachers report drawing on during their first year as a professional. A description of the each classroom and an account of writing instruction further contextualizes the interpretation of the perceptions about student writing and writing instruction each teacher. Classroom observation and interview data were collected during the spring semester of these three teachers first year as a professional in the classroom. Data analysis was ongoing and inductive (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Recurring themes and patterns across the cases were used to build representations that most exemplified each teacher's perceptions. The findings in this study suggest that novice teachers draw from multiple sources of knowledge as they teach writing for the first time. The findings also suggest that the strongest influences on beginning teachers' writing instruction are their own experiences as a writer, their assigned mentor, and their grade-level team members. From the classroom observations and debriefing interviews, the findings further suggest that beginning teachers assume writing ideas come from teachers and that there is a particular writing process that is to be followed systematically. The findings also suggest that beginning teachers believe public displays of student work should be perfect and therefore place great importance on the conventions and mechanics of writing. The implications for this study and suggestions for future research relate to the potential for first year teachers to draw from multiple sources in their teacher education programs, the potential for school-based mentoring programs where mentor teachers receive training to support their work with new teachers especially as it impacts their practice and develops their expertise as they teach writing, and the potential for first year teachers to take the initiative for their own professional development as they continue to improve their practice teaching writing.
Book Synopsis Re-imagining Professional Experience in Initial Teacher Education by : Ange Fitzgerald
Download or read book Re-imagining Professional Experience in Initial Teacher Education written by Ange Fitzgerald and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-05 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes a fresh look at 'professional experience' in initial teacher education in Australia. Using collaborative narrative methodologies, the authors critically explore the ways in which one faculty of education engages with schools, industry, the teaching profession and government policy to deliver an innovative professional experience program. It includes chapters offering new perspectives on more traditional practicums in schools, as well as those reporting on exciting partnership initiatives where pre-service teachers, teacher educators and practitioners work together to teach and learn in new and mutually beneficial ways. There is a particular focus on the professional learning of all stakeholders from across the professional experience program. The book allows readers to gain a new understanding of the experiences and learning opportunities available to all stakeholders when a professional experience program makes a priority of boundary work, relational work and identity work. With the critical and creative power of narrative to convey what other research methodologies cannot, it shows how one institution has developed a variety of innovative approaches and structures in response to on-going debates on quality in teacher education, the role of educational partnerships in teacher preparation and the personal and professional insights gained from such opportunities.
Book Synopsis Teacher Preparation for the World of Work by : Ishwar Lingam Govinda
Download or read book Teacher Preparation for the World of Work written by Ishwar Lingam Govinda and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: This study was undertaken to selectively investigate pre-service primary teacher education in one of the Pacific island countries, and in particular to explore whether it provides an adequate and enriching professional preparation to beginning teachers with a view to satisfying the demands of work in the field. In doing so, the issue was examined in detail in a teacher education institution located in Fiji, namely, Lautoka Teachers College (LTC). -- An integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed to explore if beginning teachers from the College are provided with appropriate professional preparation as future teachers. Using LTC as a case study, basic data gathering methods utilized questionnaire surveys, interviews and documentary analyses. --Survey-based data were gathered from the beginning teachers to find out their perceptions of the pre-service program that they had completed. Data were also gathered from their Head Teachers to ascertain views on the beginning teachers' professional preparation for the demands of work in their schools. In addition, an interview-based approach explored the perceptions of not only the College staff but also the Ministry of Education officials with regard to the preparation of teachers in meeting the demands of work and responsibilities in the field. Documentary-based research was also used to explore matters associated with teacher preparation at LTC and to integrate the findings with the data obtained in the surveys and interviews. --The study indicated that the beginning teachers were not adequately prepared for the demands of work and responsibilities expected of them as perceived by the profession and other stakeholders. A number of factors were found to be contributing to the perceived inadequacy of the professional preparation of beginning teachers. Lack of physical facilities and quality of educational resources together with an outdated curriculum contributed to this situation. At the same time, lack of support from the principal stakeholder in terms of staff professional development and funding was also cited as impacting upon the quality of pre-service teacher education provided to the beginning teachers. -- An important emergent issue emanating from the study relates to colonial influence on Fiji's education in general, and teacher education at LTC in particular. Some of the problems LTC grappled with were attributable to certain features of the formalised educational system introduced during the colonial era. These aspects, such as the inheritance of the system of educational administration and centralised control, constrained the College in attempting to fulfil its professional role in an appropriate and responsive manner. The administrative system and related context, delivery and assessment elements established in education during the colonial period have been retained and not attuned to contemporary Fiji needs despite the changing times. In overview terms, the presence of these aspects appeared to have impacted negatively on College's effective conduct of its professional role and responsibilities. -- Further, this study provides specific insights into the pre-service primary teacher education in Fiji, in particular the importance of having relevant policies and programs to ensure the provision of an adequate and enriching professional preparation for teachers to meet the range of work commitments in the field. The study concluded that a number of factors influence the professional preparation of future teachers and these need to be considered with a view to ensuring that teachers are able to meet the demands of their profession. -- Based on these findings, the study recommends ways and means to improve the pre-service primary teacher education at LTC, which in turn could be expected to enhance the professional preparation of teachers and their competence within the context of teaching in Fiji primary schools. Additionally, some possible areas for future research have been suggested.
Book Synopsis Handbook of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for Educators by : Mary C. Herring
Download or read book Handbook of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for Educators written by Mary C. Herring and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-01-29 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 2nd edition of the Handbook of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for Educators addresses the concept and implementation of technological pedagogical content knowledge—the knowledge and skills that teachers need in order to integrate technology meaningfully into instruction in specific content areas. Driven by the growing influence of TPACK on research and practice in both K-12 and higher education, the 2nd edition updates current thinking about theory, research, and practice. Offering a series of chapters by scholars in different content areas who apply the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework to their individual content areas, the volume is structured around three themes: Current thoughts on TPACK Theory Research on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Specific Subject Areas Integrating Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge into Teacher Education and Professional Development The Handbook of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for Educators is simultaneously a mandate and a manifesto on the engagement of technology in classrooms.
Book Synopsis The Perceptions and Attitudes of First-year Elementary Teachers Toward Their Teacher Preparation Programs by : Charles Verner Shelton
Download or read book The Perceptions and Attitudes of First-year Elementary Teachers Toward Their Teacher Preparation Programs written by Charles Verner Shelton and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis The Perceptions of Beginning Teachers in an Urban School: Implications for Professional Preparations and Development by : Mahalia Ann Hines
Download or read book The Perceptions of Beginning Teachers in an Urban School: Implications for Professional Preparations and Development written by Mahalia Ann Hines and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Five teachers participated in this study, which described their beginning teaching experiences in an urban school and the sources of their knowledge. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the beginning teachers' experiences and the factors from their life histories that influenced their thinking and shaped skills for teaching in an urban school. The design of this study was based on the naturalist and participant-observer approach to inquiry. Qualitative methods were used for collecting data, with interviews serving as the primary mode. Other sources such as journals, questionnaires, and observations were used to add depth to the study and triangulate the findings. The data was processed using the constant comparative and content analysis method in order to generate the grounded theory. The findings suggest that the teachers view teaching children in urban schools to be different from the children they were prepared to teach. They further suggest that teaching children in urban schools requires specific beliefs and additional skills that can be subsumed under the categories of home and community, managing student behavior, and instruction. Another significant finding was that participant-observation can serve as a powerful staff development tool for schools. The sources of their knowledge varied, with preservice and beginning teaching experiences being most influential. The findings from this study can serve as a heuristic device for teacher educators, beginning teachers, schools, and educational researchers. The primary significance of the study is that it provides a scheme for viewing beginning teachers' beliefs of teaching in urban schools along with sources of their knowledge that can be useful for further inquiry.
