As an elementary school library media specialist, the author has always tried to improve the authenticity of student research and increase collaboration with classroom teachers. Two years ago all those efforts came together and exceeded her highest expectations: a school-wide ecology fair showcased student research alongside the displays of…

High schools are under tremendous pressure to increase graduation rates and lower dropout numbers. A survey conducted for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation indicated that over a third of students entering high school never graduate on time. Students who drop out claim that the curriculum is disconnected from real life and that their schools…

A library media specialist recounts her completion of the first collaboration project as part of a graduate class. She describes the problems she had to face while selecting the teacher to work with and also the lessons learned during the course of project.

Twelve ideas for stimulating interest in the Bicentennial are briefly described. Ideas contained in this booklet are intended for implementation by library media specialists and teachers. The projects, interdisciplinary in nature, can be used as stated or adapted to meet individual differences of the Library Media Staff. The suggestions include:…

Authentic assessment is a process involving multiple forms of performance measurement reflecting student learning, achievement, motivation, and attitudes. This article examines types of authentic assessment (interviews, story or text retelling, writing samples, projects and exhibitions, experiments and demonstrations, constructed response items,…