Teachers and school-based administrators alike have searched to find ways to increase student achievement in their schools. Several widely known and discussed strategies include: (1) using data to drive instruction; (2) employing highly qualified teachers; and (3) improving school leadership. Additionally, positive student engagement in the…

In a previous book entitled "Zapp! The Lightening of Empowerment", a new system for motivating employees and improving productivity in a corporate setting was presented. This book adapts that empowerment guide to the classroom with workable, hands-on suggestions to help educators motivate their students and themselves. Empowerment in…

All of the ideas and advice you can get on research-based school improvement don't matter if your community does not address norms that discourage and dishonor academic achievement. Fortunately, here's a book with lots of successful examples from real schools that shows how educators can collaborate with others to reverse poor motivation, reward…

This two-part publication describes techniques and approaches that many California school districts are using successfully to involve staff and students in efforts to reduce energy waste. Topics that are covered include: (1) ideas for generating student and staff awareness of the cost of energy waste and their role in reducing it; (2) specific…

The "Great Brain" project motivates elementary school students to participate in educational projects by encouraging inquiry, interaction, and identity. Students use research and creative skills to study and report on a topic, interact with parents and peers in developing and presenting the report, and receive wide recognition for their efforts.…

Once a month, fifth-grade students in an Indianapolis, Indiana, classroom can use tickets earned through good behavior and academic achievement to purchase donated items and baked goods. Students are in charge of organizing the activity, keeping track of student "earnings," and managing a student "bank." (PGD)

Describes a program that helps students build general learning skills and subject specific skills. The success of the program is based on providing students an environment conducive to active learning. (MD)

Many middle school and high school youth recognize the value of participating in organized activities outside school, yet too often they limit their involvement because of busy schedules and family lives, disinterest in existing activity choices, lack of motivation to attend organized activities or the lure of freedom or relaxation over structured…

Maintains that from kindergarten throught grade 12 students are bombarded by contests. Asserts that art teachers are asked to juggle learning objectives to meet criteria of the most recent contests. Provides recommendations for art teachers faced with decisions about participation in contests and other competitive programs. (CFR)

Engagement has become the hallmark of personalized learning. When students are engaged in learning, they actively apply what they know and search for ways to know more. Two years ago, researchers from the Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory, a program of the Education Alliance at Brown University, began a study to identify events…

This document is a catalogue designed to help motivate students by familiarizing teachers with use and selection of manipulative materials. The first section discusses what manipulative materials are, how to use manipulative materials in instruction, in what branches of mathematics manipulative can be used, what students benefit from manipulative…

Asserts that, although music teachers direct a great deal of time toward improving student recruitment, improving student retention in music courses and activities is just as important. Maintains that student interest in music rises dramatically in the first few weeks of instruction and then declines in a second stage. (CFR)

Even in schools termed "outstanding" by local and state reviews, few teachers demonstrate artful, inspired classroom instruction. Probable causes include (1) the emphasis in schools on order, competency, and basics, (2) random minilectures, (3) teachers' growing old in place, and (4) the dearth of younger career teachers. (IW)

This brochure, one in a series of four, is designed to assist people working in schools and in the community as they work together to encourage girls in mathematics, science, and engineering. Six sections discuss the reasons for and ways to work together to make changes. The first section describes what special programs can offer schools, and…

Investigated how family processes influence high school student dropout behavior. Used a sample of 114 dropouts from 1 California high school, 48 of whom were matched to similarly profiled continuing students. Identified factors that explain students' dropout decisions: permissive parenting, negative parental reactions to grades, excessive…