Emerging trends in teacher preparation

Field experience is one of the most important elements of teacher education. It provides a pivotal opportunity for the student teacher to combine learned theories with the everyday realities of the classroom. Until now, directors of field experience programs and others responsible for teacher education have had very few resources to help them create the best possible programs for education students. To fill this need, Gloria Slick has brought together the best thinkers and doers in the field today to provide a comprehensive look at all aspects of the field experience. They discuss topics such as multicultural education for an increasingly multicultural population, using technology in teacher preparation programs, developing teacher leadership abilities for site-based decision making, and developing habits of reflective practice in teachers. Also addressed are international perspectives in teacher education, the psychology of supervision, preparing teachers for legal workplace issues in an increasingly litigious society, and supervising and mentoring new teachers from field experiences through the first 5 years of teaching. The chapter titled "Bits and Pieces" presents an encapsulation of the points made in the book and includes additional relevant comments.