Over the past few years, several states have begun to explore or pilot different through-year assessments to serve as replacements to the traditional end-of-year summative assessments that are currently the predominant source of information used by states to meet federal accountability requirements. While there are several different assessment…

This paper provides a description and rationale for a performance assessment of a teaching practice--leading a classroom discussion (LCD)--included in the ETS® National Observational Teaching Examination (NOTE) assessment series. In this assessment, candidates interact with a small class of virtual students represented by avatars in a…

This report describes and provides research and scholarly support for a core practice of teaching--eliciting student thinking (EST)--that is the target for a performance assessment contributing one component of the "ETS"® National Observational Teaching Examination (NOTE) assessment series. The purpose of this report is to review the…

This report reviews the scholarly and research evidence supporting the construct labeled modeling and explaining content (MEC), which is measured via a performance assessment in the "ETS"® National Observational Teaching Examination (NOTE) assessment series. This construct involves practices at the heart of teaching that deal with how…

In May of 2011, the "Los Angeles Times" published, for the second time, results of statistical studies examining the variation in teacher and school performance in the Los Angeles Unified School District, based on the California Standards Tests for math and English Language Arts (ELA). The studies use data from the seven academic years…

The impetus to begin Bilingual Buds came about six years ago when the author, pregnant with twins and commuting into New York City, was reading about the numerous cognitive benefits for children of acquiring a second language early in their lives. She was surprised to learn that even by the age of six months, children begin to lose the ability to…

An Elementary school teacher describes her teaching methods for determining classroom order and techniques used in teaching language arts, science, mathematics, and social studies. (JB)

PLAN is a computer-managed individualized learning program with two major goals: to provide each child with an individualized program of studies in the language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and to involve students in making decisions and assuming responsibility for their own learning. A computer assists the teacher by scoring and…

This teacher's guide contains information, lesson plans, and diverse student learning activities focusing on aviation. The guide is divided into seven sections: (1) "Drawing Activities" (Airmail Art; Eyewitness; Kite Power); (2) "Geography" (U.S. Airports); (3) "Information" (Aviation Alphabet; Glossary; Four Forces…

AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM ORIENTED TOWARD THE EDUCATION OF CULTURALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IS DESIGNED TO--(1) INCREASE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL, (2) INCREASE THE ACQUISITION OF CULTURALLY APPROVED SOCIAL SKILLS, (3) MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN ACADEMIC AND NONACADEMIC SHOOL-ORIENTED PURSUITS, (4) CHANGE, FOR EACH STUDENT, THOSE VALUES WHICH MAY…

An interdisciplinary unit on investigation guides gifted students up to age 14 through problem solving activities in language arts, mathematics, science, and social sciences. (CL)

This teacher's guide contains information, lesson plans, and diverse student learning activities focusing on space flight. The guide is divided into seven sections: (1) "Drawing Activities" (Future Flight; Space Fun; Mission: Draw); (2) "Geography" (Space Places); (3) "History" (Space and Time); (4)…

The combination of intelligence with measures of related academic success self-concepts accounted for more achievement variance than did intelligence alone for the content areas of reading, language, and mathematics. Achievement was related to academic self-concept, but not to physical maturity, peer relations, or school adaptiveness…

Results indicate that exposure to individualized instruction had a favorable impact on attitudes of fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade pupils. (JMF)

Examined the graphic representations of male and female characters in primary school textbooks in China, focusing on 1st-6th grade language, ethics, and mathematics. Analysis of textbook illustrations, identification of figures' activities, and classification of adults' occupations indicated that the illustrations stereotyped gender roles in a…