Organized around the four key areas outlined in the U. S. Department of Education's Race to the Top program, this volume presents a collection of seminal articles on standards and assessment; using data to improve learning; recruiting and retaining great teachers and leaders; and turning around failing schools. Following a foreword by Robert B.…

Authors have found that the test-like atmosphere of undivided attention and high motivation extant during short quizzes provides the instructor with a unique opportunity to enhance learning. (Editor)

This paper presents guidelines for valid and effective test preparation and presentation. Working on the assumption that teacher secrecy about tests and the subsequent student test-fear are pointless and harmful, this paper outlines some tools for test preparation, such as pretests, teacher file cards as to items covered in class and clearly…

Consisting of nine individualized inservice packets, the Teaching Teen Reading Series describes reading procedures applicable to instruction in all subjects in the elementary, middle, and secondary school. The second packet assists the teacher in analyzing the reading competencies of students in order to differentiate instruction and utilize…

Inservice self-study was utilized to improve the qualitative level of classroom method among teachers of the gifted. Ten judges selected 45 of 75 elementary and secondary teachers by a rating scale of significant behaviors, classroom observation ratings, the Weiner Attitude Scale, and the Terman Concept Mastery Test. The 45 were considered…

While some proponents of testing rest their hopes for stronger learning on the expectation that tests alone will motivate students to work harder, most posit that better learning will result primarily from better teaching--due to curriculum changes, greater attention to student needs, stronger teacher motivation, or focused investments in…