This digest explains how the study of watersheds can serve to connect concept and skill development across subject areas and grade levels for curriculum reform and standards-based assessment. Specific resources are organized into watersheds in the curriculum, connections to National Standards, watershed concepts and activities, watershed education…

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) believes that prior to the start of each season, all high school head coaches, assistant coaches, and volunteer coaches should be required to participate in a comprehensive orientation to the sport program. This orientation should be planned and conducted by the athletic director or…

Analyzes the complete cohort of published inspection reports of providers of secondary mathematics initial teacher education post-graduate certificate of education courses carried out by the Office for Standards in Education Initial Teacher Education Training team during 1996-1998. Finds considerable variation as to word length, criteria…

The answer to the question, "What's happening to the standards project organized by the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)?" is that the project is going forward. Though its federal sponsors rejected it in the fall and winter of 1993-94, the project is continuing under the…

The article describes the new British system, GCSE (General Certification of Secondary Education), which establishes national criteria with centrally determined syllabuses and a single examination for all students at the 16 plus level. Effects of the new system on special needs students and teachers are noted. (DB)

This text provides a solid theoretical base in social studies education at the secondary level. The text can be used as a basic methods textbook for teacher candidates or as a curriculum/instruction resource for practicing social studies teachers. The text focuses on instructional development; incorporates national standards through numerous…

In many countries, the traditional processes of algebra have received criticism from educational reformers. Current reform policies, national frameworks, and local implementing statements have encouraged an algebra-for-all curriculum for students. After years of effort to improve the teaching of algebra, studies indicate that students usually do…

Discusses the difficulties of establishing national educational standards in a content area such as social studies. Describes how national standards are being studied and might be instituted. (HB)

Suggests that the big issues surrounding a project like STELLA (Standards for Teachers of English Language and Literacy in Australia) can be viewed in three dimensions: the doubt that literacy teaching can be reduced to a checklist; whether teaching is synonymous with "curriculum delivery"; and the best way to articulate the values of…

Usable responses from 92 of 215 secondary agriculture teachers in Ohio indicated that most have used the state standards (Ohio Competency Analysis Profiles). They were less aware of national skill standards for agriculture. (SK)

In a study of secondary and postsecondary auto mechanics programs, some certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, students completed the Test of Cognitive Skills and the auto mechanics certification test. Students in certified programs had higher auto mechanics knowledge scores. (SK)

Five vocational educators express their opinions of national skill standards. Respondents support the idea of standards with some reservations and agree that vocational teachers would need inservice training and adequate class time to teach the new standards. (JOW)

The National Standards for the Arts are part of Goals 2000. The public must be made aware of why national visual arts standards are needed and how they relate to state art education frameworks, district curriculum guides, and lesson/unit plans. The goal of all arts education is to develop basic literacy in visual arts, music, theater, and dance.…

Discusses implications of the issues of continuity and discontinuity, commonality and difference, congruity and paradox as they engage the research team, the industry partners, and the teachers around Australia who constitute the STELLA (Standards for Teachers of English Language and Literacy in Australia) project. (RS)

Urges the environmental education community to recognize that the time is ripe for educators to embrace education reform initiatives based on the National Science Education Standards, and the development of promising Internet resources for teaching environmental sciences. (Author/MM)