Teaching in a Nutshell: Navigating Your Teacher Education Program as a Student Teacher

Designed to help student teachers develop an approach to teaching that is both theoretical and practical, this text focuses on key aspects of teaching rather than trying to "cover the waterfront." Based on extensive research on teachers’ views, their own long experience as teacher educators, and other sources, the authors recommend 7 priorities for teaching and teacher education:

• program planning
• pupil assessment
• classroom organization and community
• inclusive education
• subject content and pedagogy
• professional identity
• a vision for teaching

Each chapter deals in turn with one of these priorities, using a common format. Activities throughout help readers understand what the priority means in both theory and practice.

This text is a companion to the authors’ 2009 book for teacher educators, Priorities in Teacher Education: The 7 Key Elements of Pre-Service Preparation. By making these 7 priorities and related knowledge explicit, it helps student teachers to acquire essential knowledge and skills, to understand the teaching/learning process more fully, and above all to be as prepared as possible for the demanding work of teaching.

Clare Kosnik is Professor, Department of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto.

Clive Beck is Professor, Centre for Teacher Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto.