At a time when teacher quality has emerged as a key factor in student learning, a statistical technique that determines the "value added" that teachers bring to student achievement is getting new scrutiny. Value-added measures compare students' growth in achievement to their expected growth, based on prior achievement and demographic…

The intensifying attention to college and career readiness of late poses many challenges for public education, but it also presents opportunities for innovative changes in the quality and type of education provided to students. To take full advantage, educators must have a clear answer to this question: What does college and career readiness mean…

For generations of educators who grew up on the printed word (as compared to the electronic one), books remain an enjoyable activity that can contribute to knowledge building for professional educators with wide-ranging responsibilities. Yet they have broader value beyond personal consumption. In many school districts throughout the country, books…

The traditional kindergarten program often reflected a rich but generic approach with creative contexts for typical kindergartners organized around materials (manipulatives or dramatic play) or a developmental area (fine motor or language). The purpose of kindergarten reflected beliefs about how children learn, specialized training for…

During a 10-day visit to China last year, 25 American superintendents observed a global giant in pursuit of educational excellence. In this article, two of the travelers reflect on what they learned from their experience and what it could mean for Americans. They saw a profound respect for education and pride in learning. They also found support…

The number of school districts using instructional coaches is growing at a staggering rate. Coaching is becoming popular, in part, because many educational leaders recognize the old form of professional development, built around traditional in-service sessions for teachers, simply does not affect student achievement. By offering support, feedback,…

Brain is the source of all human thoughts, feelings and emotions. Now the mysteries of the human brain are rapidly being elucidated by neuroscience research. For more than 150 years, neuroscience has held that most of the brain's functionality develops during critical periods in early childhood and that once past these critical periods, the window…

The author discusses the use of technology in helping educators manage and lead learning with precision. With the proper framework in place, however, today's technology can make possible this daunting task of both leading and managing students and standards. This is true for the teacher with more than 100 students and the administrator responsible…

In this article, the author states that gifted student population is itself diverse, with variability in intensity, maturity, risk-taking, creativity and degree of giftedness, among other traits. Appropriate services are equivalent to a life preserver; the opportunity to spend time with others who are sufficiently similar in ability, interests and…

After a decade of math reform, the Pittsburgh Public Schools learned some valuable lessons. Assessments must be aligned with appropriate instructional targets; standards-based instruction involves more than manipulatives and cooperative learning; teachers need appropriate instructional materials and continuing professional development; district…

The "Net Generation" refers to children born after 1977 who are growing up as intimate computer users and enthusiastic Internet surfers. Technoliterate youngsters will challenge educators to accommodate their learning needs in imaginative ways. The Internet has democratized information and demolished geographical borders. Memorization is…

This article suggests several proven strategies to help students move beyond the knowledge-telling stage of writing to the knowledge-transforming approach, which involves not only putting one's knowledge into words but the reflection upon, revision, and improvement of that knowledge. Eleven references are listed. (DCS)

In recent years, thanks to the evolution of the Internet, wide availability of classroom computers and increased broadband access, blended learning is emerging as a new tool in the K-12 educational toolkit. Defined as learning that combines online and face-to-face approaches, blended learning is accomplished through the combined use of virtual and…