The primary purpose of this Guide is to provide a blueprint for the development, revision, and implementation of state social studies standards. The process described herein offers opportunities for a range of stakeholder groups to engage in discussions around promising approaches and strategies that strategically advance implementation goals. It…

To assist system administrators as they pursue their own teacher leadership initiatives, this profile from Leading Educators and the Aspen Institute details the steps Denver Public Schools (DPS) took to design and implement its Differentiated Roles pilot. Specifically, it examines the initiative's opportunities and challenges within the context of…

Ongoing, strategic family-school partnering (FSP) is an essential component of every educational community. FSP is a multi-dimensional process in which schools, families, and communities engage in shared actions to ensure a child's academic, social, and emotional success. With this text, the authors intend to offer a practical guide that…

This guide aims to help education policy leaders develop effective policy in support of good teaching and learning. It provides tools and resources that help policy leaders to: (1) Look back at the research on strategies and practices that have been proven to bring about results for the greatest number of students; (2) Look around in order to…

In "Effective Literacy Coaching: Building Expertise and a Culture of Literacy," literacy experts Shari Frost, Roberta Buhle, and Camille Blachowicz provide more than 50 practical activities designed to help K-12 literacy professionals: (1) Assess the current literacy program; (2) Plan changes that will foster a culture of literacy; (3) Collaborate…

Describes seven life skills identified by the 4-H program as being essential for productive and happy lives: creative thinking, decision making, acquiring knowledge, responsibility, communication, understanding of self, and getting along with others. Suggests how camp staff can develop program goals and outcomes for teaching these skills. (SAS)

This paper examines the relationship between outdoor recreation and environmental education. Observations of resident environmental education centers in Minnesota and of recreational programs on U.S. Forest Service lands found that, to the extent that planned and unplanned outcomes can be equated, the two types of programs seemed to produce the…

Examines the benefits of dual-language (two-way) bilingual education programs. Discusses critical components in the development of such programs: defining the optimal program model, gradual phase-in of the program, importance of a balanced population of minority and majority language speakers, materials, teacher training, administrative support,…

Part 1 of this article presents a systematic methodology for organizing course content, a review of literature relevant to the structuring and sequencing of instruction, and its implications. Part 2 discusses five factors that provide insight for persons who develop instructional strategies for the delivery of course content. (CT)

In an effort to increase the application of "transfer of learning" (a phenomenon of connecting experiences encountered during an adventure activity to future situations) in the field of adventure education, workshops were presented at the 1984 Association for Experiential Education Conference at Lake Junalaska, North Carolina and the 1984 National…

High levels of parent involvement in their children's education result in higher student achievement; higher attendance levels; a decline in dropout rates; fewer disciplinary problems; and better student motivation, self-esteem, and behavior. Since unacknowledged parents withdraw from the school, schools should acknowledge parent participation. To…

This article describes how to create a "literature oasis" that will encourage gifted students to read. The process involves conducting student interviews to determine interests and attitudes, evaluating programs and practices regarding literature, designing a conducive classroom, and using literature circles and literature response logs. (CR)

Offers 20 guidelines that facilitators can use in planning effective workshops and staff development sessions. The guidelines take into account the diversity of individuals attending the workshops and ways in which to accommodate various learning styles. (GLR)

This guidebook describes procedures followed by National Diffusion Network (NDN) certified trainers when they are helping to disseminate information about the NDN or when they are helping school personnel adopt an NDN program or practice. It is noted that, because NDN certified trainers can help in information dissemination and program…

Often personnel performing managerial functions within educational systems are educators with almost no training in management. This paper presents ideas on how to organize a training activity intended to develop management knowledge and skills among educational systems officials and to implement an organizational self-study on management…