Uses resources from the ERIC system to show teachers strategies for making teacher commentary count in writing evaluation and to discuss the characteristics of effective writing evaluations. (EL)

The use of time in school is undergoing close scrutiny. Over the years, educators have sought to enhance learning time through such reforms as block scheduling and year-round schools. School time can be conceived as an inverted pyramid, in which allocated time (total time in the school day or year) forms the top tier, engaged time (time-on-task)…

Ecosystems are available to educators as interactive units and as such the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the Excellence in Environmental Education: Guidelines for Learning (EEE) put considerable emphasis on ecosystems. This ERIC Digest describes the NSES and EEE guidelines for grades 5-8 and 9-12 to provide a basic ecosystem…

This Digest defines student engagement and describes various methods used to measure it, both in empirical research studies and at the classroom level. Student engagement has been defined in various ways, but it is evident that students who are engaged show sustained behavioral involvement in learning activities accompanied by a positive emotional…

Dropout rates are particularly problematic measures for Hispanic youth. One-third of Hispanic adolescents are foreign-born. Their sending countries tend to have much lower rates of secondary school completion than does the United States. This digest presents recent tabulations on the number of Latino high school dropouts, noting pitfalls in…

School systems have long recognized the need for public support and participation, but now many districts are renewing their commitment to strengthen the ties with their communities. To build community support for schools that facilitates student achievement, school boards are developing communication strategies that routinely reach diverse…

A review of research supported by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) focuses on practical applications of research findings on family involvement in special education. The findings identify how family life can be utilized as a source of children's learning opportunities, concluding with four suggested…

This digest in Spanish offers a snapshot of the standards movement: its origins, the definitions of standards and which ones matter, its successes at the district and state levels, the backlash against the movement, and possible policy directions. While a broad coalition of constituencies has embraced standards-based reform as a means of improving…

This digest in Spanish describes several technologies that can be used to control access to, and improve surveillance of, school grounds. Access can be controlled by using "smart" cards to control keyed entries. Many schools have problems with multiple copies of keys, and these card systems are integrated with computer software that…

American society and classrooms are culturally multifaceted. However, people of color are woefully underrepresented in many professions, particularly those related to the sciences and allied technical fields. An expanding gap, for example, continues to separate the degrees of participation in science programs and careers among European Americans…

Out-of-field teaching is a relatively unrecognized problem in schools. This digest reviews what research shows about the extent and causes of the problem. There is much disagreement about how much and which types of education and training teachers should receive and what credentialing requirements states should have. Analysts have used various…

This digest describes several technologies that can be used to control access to, and improve surveillance of, school grounds. Access can be controlled by using "smart" cards to control keyed entries. Many schools have problems with multiple copies of keys, and these card systems are integrated with computer software that allows for…

In addressing the problem of assessing culturally and linguistically diverse students for special education eligibility, this brief paper organizes suggested strategies according to four principles: (1) convening a full, multidisciplinary assessment team (to include parents, educators, assessors, and a person familiar with the student's culture…

Accreditation of teacher education programs and licensing and certification of teachers are interrelated but distinct processes that can easily be confused. This Digest seeks to clarify the three processes and identify the primary national organizations involved in these areas. Accreditation is an evaluation process that determines the quality of…

Suggesting that properly designed and thoughtfully implemented discussion tasks can be an effective learning tool, this Digest discusses a learning-through-discussion framework that is designed to promote creativity and generate meaningful interaction and understanding for the learner. It discusses that goals of discussion and describes four…