American high schools have never been under more pressure to reform: student populations are more diverse than ever, resources are limited, and teachers are expected to teach to high standards for all students. While many reformers look for change at the state or district level, the authors here argue that the most local contexts-schools, departments, and communities-matter the most to how well teachers perform in the classroom and how satisfied they are professionally. Their findings-based on one of the most extensive research projects ever done on secondary teaching-show that departmental...

The unique perspective of Richard E. Snow, in recent years one of the most distinguished educational psychologists, integrates psychology of individual differences, cognitive psychology, and motivational psychology. This capstone book pulls together the findings of his own 35 years of research on aptitudes and those from (especially) European scholars, of which he had exceptional knowledge. A panel of experts and former associates completed this book after his death in 1997, expanding his notes on implications of the theory for instructional design and teaching practice. The panel developed...

Building on extensive evidence that school-based teacher learning communities improve student outcomes, this book lays out an agenda to develop and sustain collaborative professional cultures. McLaughlin and Talbert--foremost scholars of school change and teaching contexts--provide an inside look at the processes, resources, and system strategies that are necessary to build vibrant school-based teacher learning communities.