Positive transition from a traditional schedule to a block schedule involves not only much investigation and planning but also the successful acclimation of teachers to the necessary changes in how they deliver instruction. With this being said, the importance of teacher evaluation and professional development can not be understated. This study investigates the evolution of the teacher evaluation process and professional development after the adoption of a 4x4 model of block scheduling. Data were collected from 6 selected Virginia public schools by means of principal interviews, teacher interviews, and analysis of the individual school division's teacher evaluation methods and procedures. It was found that the 6 evaluation models shared similar components. The teachers and administrators believed that the models had not significantly changed since the adoption of block scheduling and, with some alterations by the administrators, did adequately evaluate teachers of 4x4 block scheduled schools. The most frequently offered suggestion for improvements to the block scheduled teacher evaluation process involved a larger narrative component. Considering both teacher and administrator comments, the researcher concluded that teacher developed portfolios would be a valuable part of the teacher evaluation process.

This practical book shows you how to motivate and train teachers, establish community support, develop new classroom strategies, and measure success of the 4 X 4 block schedule.

Investigates the impact of block schedules on Virginia high school music performance classes.

The student teaching experience is often considered one of the most influential aspects of teacher preparation. Key in the success of student teaching is the university supervisor. During the student teaching experience, the university supervisor is mainly responsible for helping pre-service teachers relate university coursework with the situated experiences in schools. However, much like the various other spaces and places in teacher education, facilitating teacher learning is an incredibly complex endeavor. This edited volume addresses the complexities of supervising student teachers from three distinct vantage points. First, salient issues regarding the supervision of student teachers such as the preparation of novice supervisors, negotiating power in the student teaching triad, and the low status of clinical teacher education are examined. Second, different pedagogical frameworks for the work of supervision are provided such as care theory, teacher education for democracy, and social justice. Finally, future directions for field-based teacher education are discussed, such as a call to reconsider where supervision takes place, the necessity to develop a pedagogy of supervision, 21st century trends facing clinical teacher education, and the value added by university supervisors to teacher development. Each of these chapters engage the supervision of student teachers through a mix of research, theory, and personal stories from the field. As such, this edited volume is designed for new supervisors, veteran supervisors, and supervision scholars.