This workbook provides four classroom-proven steps to improve students' narrative, expository, and persuasive writing, and to raise student scores on standardized state writing tests. Following an introduction, the workbook is divided into the following sections which conform to the four steps: Step One: Teach Students to Write Strong Verb…

This paper addresses the movement to "improve" schools by means of legislating mandatory testing and then publishing students' results in local newspapers and on the Internet. Students who attend schools where the standards are not met are often the ones who would benefit most from a broad-based language arts program. These students are…

The purpose of the Idaho Direct Mathematics Assessment (DMA) is to measure Idaho students' mathematical problem-solving skills, including their ability to apply basic skills to problem-solving situations as stated in the Idaho Achievement Standards document. Problem solving is valued as an essential tool for success in a complex, modern world. The…

The long-term goal of the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) is for all students to show mastery of skills and knowledge in the subject areas tested. Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards describe the skills children should have and the things they should know by the end of grades 4, 8, and 12. Each subject is divided into content standards…

Although in most of the schools of U.S. cities and large towns various types of testing have become an integral part of the instructional and guidance procedures, the introduction of measurement practices has been relatively slow in rural areas because of the smallness of the administrative units and because of the lack of funds and adequate…

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) Verbal, Performance and Full Scale IQ's were compared for blacks and whites (matched in age, sex, geographic region, father's occupation, and urban-rural residence). Although whites had significantly higher verbal and Full Scale IQ's at all age levels, Performance IQ was significantly…

This study attempted to diagnose specific areas of mathematical difficulty for college students. The results are broken down by majors: engineering, further education (crafts), and preservice teaching. Some attitudinal information and teacher estimates of difficulty are also reported. Questions raised by the study are listed. (LS)

Rebuttal to E. Hombitzer's Die Nacherzahlung--ein traditionelles Relikt'' (The Paraphrase Exercise--A Traditional Relic)? Praxis des Neusprachlichen Unterrichts, n4 p327-335 1968, and to her contention that the paraphrase exercise is dead'' as a teaching device. (RS)