In schools, a lesson functions as an individual building block to support the learning of new material. Experts have identified key elements in an effective lesson, and education leaders--including school based administrators, instructional coaches, department and grade-level chairs--usually look for these elements when reviewing lesson plans and…

College- and career-readiness skills can easily get lost if you don't have a clear school-wide plan for teaching them. While curriculum in schools is primarily meant to ready students for college and career skills, ensuring those skills actually transfer is another story. Andrew Miller lays out a system for teaching and assessing key…

The Common Core State Standards have been adopted by 46 states and the District of Columbia. They enjoy a huge following of well-wishers and supporters who are optimistic that the standards will boost achievement in U.S. schools. Setting aside the cheerleading and fond hopes, what are the real chances of success? The most reasonable prediction is…

A former Teach for America recruit who completed her training in a university-based program compares the two approaches to teacher preparation. In Teach for America, she learned how to design units and prepare lesson plans; in her university-based program, she had the time to learn from master teachers and build valuable skills, then practice…

During the past three years, staff at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy have developed a partial reconstruction of Whitehead's "one subject matter," a course reconnecting biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, and physics into an integrated science program. Staff successfully overcame dilemmas regarding thematic…

Describes a method of monitoring the district curriculum during an extended maintenance period. The program audit for each subject area addresses the degree of fidelity to curriculum objectives, determines whether teachers are emphasizing the curriculum objectives, and identifies factors constraining curriculum implementation. (MJL)

Individually Guided Education (IGE) has been promoted to schools through two agencies: The Institute for Development of Educational Activities, Inc. (I/D/E/A/), and Wisconsin R & D Center for Individualized Schooling. The problems IGE has experienced and the role of the supervisor are discussed. (Author/MLF)

Authors look at some of the issues that must be faced by local educators who must conceive and manage career development programs. (Authors/CB)

Describes work by The After-School Corporation in New York to support community-based organizations to run after-school programs. Provides examples of these programs in P.S. 106 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, that focuses on academic achievement, and the Family Academy in East Harlem that focuses on enrichment. Suggests several ways other urban school…

In a data-driven school culture, there is an institutionalized willingness to use numbers systematically to reveal important patterns and answer focused questions about policy, methods, and outcomes. A central data team relies on input from teachers, ultimately responsible for student success. Massachusetts applications and examples are described.…

Outlines the services provided to schools by The Wisconsin School Evaluation Consortium. It exists to provide evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programs to its members. Includes references. (MD)

Presents suggestions for developing meaningful changes in social studies curriculum and reviews past educational social studies programs. (RK)

An evaluative study of teacher centers suggests that they make an impact upon classroom performance of teachers, improving their confidence and their relationship with pupils. (JD)

The National Diffusion Network (NDN) not only alerts educators to exemplary education programs, but also provides inservice training before and after a program adoption. (Author)

Compares time-block scheduling efforts at two Pennsylvania high schools. The small-town school chose a semester-block system; the small rural school chose a trimester arrangement. Despite setbacks arising from changing leadership in one school and changing programs (mastery learning) in the other, the intensive time scheduling projects will…