Reports success stories from three communities that have changed to year-round education. Lists address of contact persons at the schools and of the National Association for Year-Round Education. (MLF)

This document provides guidance for establishing a tiered instructional approach to support the achievement of all students in Maryland public school, particularly those not demonstrating mastery of grade level content. The framework includes student screening, identification of specific learning needs, provision of appropriate instruction aligned…

This pamphlet offers guidelines for educators who want to improve their use of strategy instruction with students who have inefficient and/or ineffective learning strategies. Specific examples of strategic teaching are provided for improving general and academic performance, and suggestions are given on how to create a strategic environment…

Recent research suggests parental involvement in education can be particularly helpful for children from families with low incomes. Parents who do not know how to help will almost always do what teachers ask them. Suggesting specific activities and letting parents know they can contribute to their child's progress are emphasized. (MT)

Presents actions that parents can take to help children prepare to return to school after summer vacation. Ideas highlight reading, writing, vocabulary, computers, family night, television, video games, communicating, music, study habits, encouragement, decision making, behavior, setting limits, modeling, grooming, nagging, toys, equality, school…

Involving stakeholders in school-district assessment and planning provides a common learning experience that results in numerous organizational and professional growth benefits. This paper describes one district's experiences with a middle-grades reform audit, examining the rationale, procedures, and application of the audit and planning process…

This booklet provides an overview of the process of bibliotherapy and suggests some techniques that can be used in implementing it. Various sections of the booklet discuss the following topics: (1) the definition of bibliotherapy, (2) the history of bibliotherapy, (3) bibliotherapy and human needs, (4) the bibliotherapeutic process, (5) the…

Analyzing growth rates and percentiles of achievement are two ways that school systems can evaluate school performance. Boards should also consider parent-teacher satisfaction, internal management systems, school board evaluation, and a number of other indicators. (MLF)

Improvisational gaming is a technique involving the use of theater and drama in the teaching of other subjects. The student uses intuition, sense-memory, and imagination in a holistic approach to learning which teaches social skills while it teaches subject matter. Everyone can act and improvise; getting everyone involved is seldom a problem as…

Prepared by the Classroom Feedback Subcommittee of the Teaching/Learning Project, this report offers recommendations on "the sharing of constructive information between students and faculty relative to each other's performance through a process by which faculty learn about their teaching and students learn about their learning." After presenting…

This supplement is a resource for helping kindergarten through third grade students show increasing competence in understanding and using standard English to produce oral and written communication that is readily understood by others. It notes that kindergarten through third graders are expected to demonstrate continuous progress toward the use of…

This paper seeks to bridge visual arts education and educational policy decisions to improve student learning in the visual arts. Moving this agenda forward will require the National Art Education Association's (NAEA) Board of Directors and its constituency groups to commit to (1) use the organization's resources and intellectual capital to inform…

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has recently developed a new protocol for accrediting schools entitled "Focus on Learning" (FoL). This monograph explains how the FoL process can influence student learning and serve as a vehicle for school improvement and accountability. The following…

Explains that the maestro concept is an approach to integrating writing, editing, and visual communication. Notes that the goal of the maestro concept is to find agreement on the best way to package a story, photos, art, and graphics for the reader. Concludes that the maestro team helps beginning journalism students become better verbal and visual…

To help reverse the underachievement pattern in gifted students, educators should seek out less-evident indicators of strengths and abilities, incorporate those abilities into the classroom curriculum, recognize evidence of a sustained will to learn, and be realistic and optimistic about signs of improvement. (PB)