"With the NLS--they can see how everything is important if we want our English to be good and it's helped me to see it that way too. Before, we just used to see it all separately. This way is much better" (Rebecca Graham, Year 4 English specialist after Final Block Placement). This quote was collected in the final stage of a study involving…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a large Arab, Muslim country in the Middle East. It has been an economic and political partner of the United States for many years. This unit, designed for elementary students, provides a text, questions, mapping skills, and fun activities. Students read about Saudi Arabia to gain insights and an appreciation of…

This article briefly reviews the central ideas associated with the notion of systemic reform and indicates how these ideas are manifested in the draft of the National Science Education Standards. The draft is critiqued and what the critique suggests about the viability and utility of the notion of systemic reform is considered. The discussion…

This paper provides instructions for linking conceptual understandings using the Connections Matrix. The Connections Matrix and the process of connecting the curriculum works equally well with state-level learning objectives or outcomes. The intent of this process is to help educators see the overlap and connections between what teachers say they…

This summary reviews the rationale for defining English language arts standards for K-12 students and the perspective on language learning that informs them. After presenting 2 of the 12 standards and discussing them briefly, the summary provides a vignette to illustrate how the standards might be manifested in a classroom setting. (RS)

This is the first part of a two-part position paper, updating an 1986 position statement, developed by the Illinois Art Education Association for the elementary, middle-level, and secondary schools in the state of Illinois. Part 1, the "Introductory Statement," highlights the contemporary context of educational reform as an opportunity…

This publication provides information to art educators, administrators, and concerned citizens regarding new national standards in education. A massive reform effort is taking place that requires strengthening areas and uses the "Visual Arts Standards" as a basis for five areas: (1) developing state frameworks, local curriculum, and teacher…

Classroom music lessons are not usually a forum for addressing philosophical issues, but they can be. Through music and visual media, music teachers can discuss music with middle and high school students in a way that expands how they think about music and their environment. In other words, music teachers can open up space in their music classroom…

This booklet contains information on minimum standards for associate degree programs in technical education. It covers the following topics in 13 short sections: American Technical Education Association objectives; definition of technical education; recommended minimum professional standards for hiring technical instruction personnel; description…

Maintains that there soon will be a rush to review recent state and national efforts to establish curriculum standards. Describes three nightmares and three possibilities for substantive change. Discusses the role of the National Council for the Social Studies in the standards development movement. (CFR)

Presents an allegory based on the development and dissemination of the National Geography Standards. Uses the allegory to introduce a series of articles dealing with the Standards. Suggests that geography teachers acquire and use the Standards, entitled "Geography for Life: National Geography Standards." (CFR)

Describes the origin and development of the National K-12 Standards for Arts Education. Discusses issues related to the fine arts being left out of the original national standards documents. Maintains that the standards are essential if the fine arts are to maintain parity with other curriculum subject areas. (CFR)

Provides suggestions for encouraging elementary students to join and continue participation in school choral music groups. Recommends focusing on male students because they are the most difficult to recruit. Also suggests having a high school choral group come to the elementary school to help with recruitment. (CFR)

Maintains that criticism of the National History Standards is inaccurate and politically motivated. Claims that conservatives value history instruction as an inculcation of patriotism rather than a search for truth. Praises the Standards as fair, insightful, and useful. (MJP)

Presents a speech by the president of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), given at the organization's annual meeting. Discusses the national standards movement and contends that the NCSS standards integrate knowledge from the full spectrum of the social sciences and the humanities. (CFR)