Real-world questions with clear answers regarding educational topics such as grading, instruction, and best practices to ensure success for all students.
In today's school environment educational leaders are mandated to use academic standards to measure the progress of their school's teachers and students. Despite the wealth of material that addresses the topic of academic standards there is little written for those who must lead the effort to put in place an effective standards system. The Leader's Guide to Standards is a landmark book-- written by Douglas Reeves, an expert in academic standards, performance assessment, and accountability-- that shows school principals, assistant principals, teachers, and district-level administrators how to build a comprehensive accountability system for standards-based reform that focuses on leadership skills. Reeves offers practical recommendations for assessing and nurturing teacher performance, setting up balanced assessment and accountability policies, and making the case for standards to the public. In addition, the book addresses the vital role that policymakers from the local school board to state and national leaders play in the successful implementation of educational standards.
This anthology brings the ideas and recommendations of many of the world’s education leaders into one resource that illustrates the many perspectives on effective assessment design and implementation. From involving students in the assessment process to ensuring accuracy and applying assessments to English learners and students with special needs, you will find compelling insights and proven strategies.
The need for a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum that intentionally connects standards, instruction, and assessment has never been more pressing. For educators to meet the challenging learning needs of students they must have a clear road map to follow throughout the school year. Rigorous Curriculum Design presents a carefully sequenced, hands-on model that curriculum designers and educators in every school system can follow to create a progression of units of study that keeps all areas tightly focused and connected.
Here is a fresh, common-sense take on education reform, not by an educator or administrator or politico, but by a concerned mother and citizen who dares to proclaim that America is NOT offering a quality education to ALL its children. Young sees an effective public education system as a fundamental function of a strong republic. Yet opposing political agendas are directing federal, state, and local lawmakers toward failed programs, wasted dollars, and poor results for American public education. In The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present, Young presents important insights into what can be done to “fix” America’s public education system. Her research and observations are eye opening and provide all readers with a galvanizing focus on what needs to be done and how to get there. But most importantly, the book energizes parents with new ideas and tools to improve the schools in their own communities. The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present is a call to the public education system to openly listen and to communities to make themselves heard.
Ready for Anything is a year-long, site-based professional development support model for new teachers. It includes ready-to-use forms and checklists for the busy administrator.
In the music classroom, instructors who hope to receive aid are required to provide data on their classroom programs. Due to the lack of reliable, valid large-scale assessments of student achievement in music, however, music educators in schools that accept funds face a considerable challenge in finding a way to measure student learning in their classrooms. From Australia to Taiwan to the Netherlands, music teachers experience similar struggles in the quest for a definitive assessment resource that can be used by both music educators and researchers. In this two-volume Handbook, contributors from across the globe come together to provide an authority on the assessment, measurement, and evaluation of student learning in music. The Handbook's first volume emphasizes international and theoretical perspectives on music education assessment in the major world regions. This volume also looks at technical aspects of measurement in music, and outlines situations where theoretical foundations can be applied to the development of tests in music. The Handbook's second volume offers a series of practical and US-focused approaches to music education assessment. Chapters address assessment in different types of US classrooms; how to assess specific skills or requirements; and how assessment can be used in tertiary and music teacher education classrooms. Together, both volumes of The Oxford Handbook of Assessment in Music Education pave the way forward for music educators and researchers in the field.
The Daily Disciplines of Leadership is a comprehensive and down-to-earth manual for school leaders that addresses the daunting challenges that today's principals, superintendents, and teacher-leaders face on a daily basis. Written by Douglas Reeves-- a leading authority on academic standards, performance assessment, and accountability-- the information in this book is based on his extensive experience working with educators, administrators, and school board members from across the country and internationally. Reeves discusses the basic purpose of leadership, presents four key leadership archetypes, and offers practical recommendations for action. Covering a wide range of topics-- from accountability systems to personal communications-- this book will serve as the 'go to' resource for novice and seasoned school leaders alike.