The experience of an elementary school implementing the Touchstones Program--an approach to assessment within the proposed National Curriculum (NC) in England--is described, after which teacher reaction to the NC and fundamental beliefs about the nature of education are considered. The Touchstones assessment consist of 10 cross-curricular group…

This study examined the classroom experiences of teachers and pupils in 12 primary schools in Scotland. In each school, researchers spent a week with one class, observing the teachers and six target pupils selected to represent the ability range within the class. Through interviews with teachers and pupils, the researchers aimed to identify the…

Presents excerpts from two interviews, conducted in 1979 and 1995, with John Coe, a British primary education specialist and advocate for child-centered education. As primary education has veered toward a national curriculum and assessments, school choice, locally managed schools, and a strong, politically charged accountability element, teachers…

Examines some of the questions faced by primary school teacher trainers in the design of programs of study for student teachers that provide a framework for economic and industrial understanding. Considers whether classroom teachers can incorporate this framework into the primary school curriculum. (MDM)

Discusses elementary teacher education in Brazil, examining problems teacher educators face (e.g., lack of direct communication between theoretical studies and the practical world and lack of inclusion of practical knowledge and expertise developed by successful teachers). Current educational policies are discussed, looking at: implementation of a…

This study evaluated the implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum in primary schools, based on case studies of seven schools. The schools ranged in size from grade 1 up to and including Grade 5, and included schools in rural and urban areas and provincial towns. Data were collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with the…

Great Britain's 1988 Education Reform Act demonstrates the prevailing political climate's commitment to market forces and competition as a means of increasing educational productivity. This paper presents findings of the Primary Assessment Curriculum and Experience (PACE) project, which investigated the effects of the policy change on English…

Teachers in England and Wales are working to implement the targets and programs of study for technology, which was defined in the 1993 National Curriculum as "the creative application of knowledge, skills, and understanding to design and make good quality products." To determine the needs and attitudes of primary-school staff,…

The report was produced by UNESCO in partnership with CARE International in Cambodia for the "Highland Children's Education Project" (HCEP) to show how bilingual primary education has been implemented among the Tampuen and Kreung ethnic minority groups in six remote villages in the northeastern province of Ratanakiri, Cambodia. Central…

This book, a comprehensive guide to the range of genres and characteristic features of English-language fiction written for children, is based on the belief that deep subject knowledge of language and literature provides a foundation for effective teaching and learning. The book helps readers to develop their understanding of literature within…

Reports the results of a reanalysis of data from a major longitudinal database on school effectiveness. Finds the existence of differential effectiveness for prior measures of mathematics and reading achievement. Also finds marked differences in schools' rank positions and discusses the implications for the assessment of Britain's National…

Argues that art teachers, particularly nonspecialists in primary schools, have an outdated understanding of art, that is, one that relies heavily on an elitist model composed of historical markers made by white men. The author illustrates how good education is also antiracist education and provides a list of resources that represent women and…

Describes a study by British researchers that attempted to describe progression in learning in terms of a common framework for all students. Elementary school students completed periodic interviews while being taught measurement skills. Results found a wide spread of attainment in measurement in each age range but less clear progression between…

Examines the British government's goal of introducing criterion-referenced, formative student evaluation in primary schools. Reports on a case study in which the reliability of a Standard Assessment Task was examined in three second-grade classrooms. Questions whether or not the decision to drop the task from the test was correct. (CFR)

Student assessment in science in primary (elementary) schools in the United Kingdom is discussed in the context of the enactment of a National Curriculum. Sample science test items are included. Teachers must develop the skills required to assess students' learning in science and should not rely on external tests. (SLD)