TEACHER EDUCATION

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INTRODUCTION to TMR

GREAT GIFT--especially for yourself!
TEACHING IN MIND
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Contents
Preface
Introduction
Reviews 
About the author

TEACHER THINKING
Beliefs
Metaphors
Values
Meaning

EDUCATION MYTHS
Curriculum 
Knowledge
Teaching
Learning

ARTICLES

WORKSHOPS  

MEDIA 

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Much of the research on the role of personal beliefs and metaphors in shaping a teacher's practice has been done by professors of teacher education. Because they were published in educational journals, the results of these studies have been largely limited to academia. It is time for preservice and practicing teachers to have access to these ideas—to understand why self-reflection is such an important part of their practice. What better place to instill this practice than in teacher education classes?

Now, NCATE has added "dispositions" to the skills, knowledge, and methodology to be addressed in teacher education programs. What are dispositions?  Some teacher education programs focus on external behaviors such as punctuality, appropriate dress, sensitivity to multicultural issues, etc. Other schools look more deeply...at teacher perceptions of teaching, learning, knowledge, and the other critical issues surrounding education. But there is little consensus about how schools of teacher education should include dispositions in their programs.

While behaviors and perceptions are important, they are merely surface manifestations of deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes. Without bringing those facets of teacher thinking into consciousness and examining them for validity, any changes in behavior are likely to be cosmetic and short-lived.

Teaching in Mind: How Teacher Thinking Shapes Education explains the importance of self-reflection and makes the process accessible to practicing and prospective teachers. The key to teacher quality is not found by reflecting on what a teacher does. The key is found in why the teacher behaves in some ways and not in others.

What beliefs drive the teacher's choice of content or methodology?

What values does the teacher unconsciously "teach" by example?

What metaphors shape the environment in the classroom?

What "conventional wisdom" and habits of mind inhibit meaningful change?

Teaching in Mind is being adopted as a text or supplement in a growing number of colleges and universities. We urge you to consider putting Teaching in Mind on your required reading list for both beginning and advanced teacher education classes. 

To purchase a copy of Teaching in Mind at the publisher's discounted price of $15, click here. If we receive a subsequent order for student copies, your full purchase price will be refunded. Please send us a copy of the purchase order, or the title, date, and location of the class if your students order directly from us from this site or through Amazon.

We provide a 40% discount on orders of 5 or more copies to your college or university bookstore. Purchase orders should be sent to 

MindFlight Publishing
P.O. Box 1738
Hamilton, MT 59840

We ship orders next business day (Monday-Friday) by FedEx Ground.