Breaking the Mold of Preservice and Inservice Teacher Education: Innovative and Successful Practices for the Twenty-first Century - Softcover

Breaking the Mold of Preservice and Inservice Teacher Education addresses enduring issues of teachers' professional learning. Teachers' learning is intimately connected with the learning of their students and how to prepare and support teachers in their work in increasingly diverse and challenging classrooms is of fundamental importance. It has never been more so when accountability mechanisms can constrain teacher creativity. This volume explores questions about the relationship of theory and practice and is concerned about the purposes of education as well as the best ways to help teachers think about and practice their teaching. These are global issues and it is heartening to see contributions from around the world from a range of perspectives. -- Dr. Pamela Munn, past president of the British Educational Research Association, emeritus professor of curriculum research at the University of E These accounts of the implementation of best practices, including mentoring, social and emotional learning, teacher leadership, and community involvement, illustrate instances where the knowing-doing gap has been bridged to create positive outcomes for students. Thoughtful practitioners will be inspired by this compendium of innovative ideas that have been documented as breaking the mold of traditional ideas and practices in preservice and inservice teacher education. -- Marilyn Johnson, Ed.D., assistant superintendent, North Bellmore UFSD, NY Given the complexities of education in the 21st century, there remains an urgency for innovative and thoughtful approaches to preservice and inservice teacher education. The impressive US and international collection represented in Breaking the Mold offers the reader important and unique perspectives into teacher education ranging from the university classroom to the schoolhouse door. The contributions are both rigorous and relevant and are presented in a narrative form that captures both the hearts and minds of the reader. These chapters come alive with the lived experiences of passionate educators each of whom offers deep insight and innovative practices. Simply put, Breaking the Mold more than lives up to its title and as such is a must read for those who care about the future of education. -- Alan J. Daly Ph.D., University of California, San Diego

This unique collection of chapters takes the reader on a tour to explore innovative preservice and inservice teacher education practices from many regions of the United States, Canada and the world. Each of the chapters offers an authentic, documentary account of successful initiatives that break the traditional mold of teacher education. Section I presents unique preservice teacher preparation programs and initiatives. These chapters offer compelling ideas to readers who seek change in the higher education model of teacher training. Section II features inservice education for both the novice and veteran teacher. The chapters included in this section of the book offer stories of innovation as professional development initiatives. Each of the programs describes the setting or context in which the innovation takes place and focuses on the role of teachers and students. Chapters in Section III highlight the benefits of collaborative teacher education practices. Through the lens of community and with the tools of cooperation and support, innovative practices are described for the improvement of student learning. Section IV offers less commonly presented diverse, global perspectives on teacher education. The sharing of ideas through global examples highlight the similarities in educational practices and common goals across the world.