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)

The literature of science fiction packs up the facts and discoveries of science and runs off to futures filled with both wonders and warnings. Kids love to take the journeys it offers for the thrill of the ride, but they can learn as they travel, too. This book will provide the reader with: (1) an overview of the past 500 years of scientific…

This book presents 40 instructional guides for use with secondary school students, organized around the following information literacy standards from "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning": (1) access information efficiently and effectively; (2) evaluate information critically and competently; (3) use information…

This book presents 43 instructional guides for use with elementary school students, organized around the following information literacy, independent learning, and social responsibility standards from "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning". The standards dictate that students should be able to: (1) access information…

This unit of study for grades K-2 focuses on counting coins and coin equivalencies up to 50 cents, making use of a literature connection. The unit provides key words; recommends subject areas and approximate length of time; poses an essential question or problem; provides a unit introduction; notes four individual lessons ((1) For Sale!; (2)…

This brochure explains the National Board certification process, helping teachers understand the process and suggesting ways for them to become involved in National Board certification even if a certificate for their area is not yet available or if they are not yet ready to pursue National Board certification. Section 1 explains what the National…

This curriculum guide for a PBS 2-part, 180-minute video, "In Search of the Oregon Trail" (narrated by Stacy Keach), provides information to help teachers develop lesson plans. The guide is comprised of 12 lessons incorporating 31 video chapters. Curriculum areas include history, geography, economics, sociology, ethnic studies, civics…

Since its creation in 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has implemented a national voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet rigorous teaching standards. Testimony from over 16,000 NBPTS certified teachers has revealed that the journey toward certification is often difficult, time-consuming, and…

This article challenges choral teachers to motivate their choirs to a new level of choral singing and harmonic creativity and outlines a sequential process for introducing improvisation into the daily warm-up. It argues that students can learn to harmonize and improvise by ear as part of each day's warm-up period. Sections include: (1) Chord…

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center along with their partners at other NASA centers, and in private industry, are designing and beginning to develop the next generation of spacecraft to transport cargo, equipment, and human explorers to space. These vehicles are part of the Constellation…

This document is one of a series developed by the American Federation of Teachers to help fill a chasm in knowledge regarding world wide educational goals. It is intended that this document serve as a resource to anyone involved in setting or evaluating academic standards for students, whether at the national, state, local or school level. This…

The reading program described in this lesson plan supports students' exploration of multiple sources to create a timeline about the life of a person of their choosing and requires students to work together and to research and resolve potentially conflicting pieces of information about the life they research. During three 40-minute lessons,…

This lesson plan involves the calculation of a price index using a fictitious market basket for holiday celebrations. The lesson plan provides a content objective; cites an economic standard; gives background information; lists materials needed; details the lesson agenda; and suggests closure. Attached are a "12 Days of Christmas Gifts' Price…

This curriculum unit on civil rights questions in the United States was developed as a history-social science project at San Jose State University. The unit is intended for high school students and needs one or two class periods to complete. It provides the teacher with a rationale, a framework, history-social science standards, student outcomes,…

This book contains a set of 12 lessons for middle school students that demonstrate how mathematical processes and concepts may be applied to the study of economics and personal finance. Mathematics educators can find lessons connecting mathematics instruction to practical problems and issues that students encounter throughout their life. The…