Explains that the Teacher Rating of Oral Language and Literacy (TROLL) measures skills critical to the New Standards for Speaking and Listening. Notes that TROLL is used to track children's progress in language and literacy development; to inform curriculum; and to stimulate parent teacher communication. Concludes children who are busy talking,…

Suggests that be sharing power in the classroom teachers allow the development of participatory classrooms in which all students can thrive. Examines participatory teaching and critical pedagogy, components of the participatory learning experience, manifestations of participatory teaching, an application of the language experience approach,…

Responds to a critique of this author's article on consideration of purpose and intended use when making evaluations of assessments, commenting on three areas from that critique that warrant further discussion: considering the uses of assessment tools; global quality versus content specificity; and creating a toolkit of measures for examining…

This article discusses the effects on gifted education of standards-based education, inclusive education, statewide assessment, including underrepresented students in gifted programs, and reaching different levels of giftedness in a classroom. It argues that educators of the gifted have become distracted and off-task in meeting the needs of gifted…

Major initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels reflect expectations of what college students are to learn, particularly in key cognitive abilities and communication skills. These external pressures may ultimately influence more faculty and administrators to find ways to raise student levels of learning, reform the curriculum, and…

College faculty have been concerned about grade inflation for years, particularly at selective colleges, but the few recent attempts to remedy the problem have met with resistance or proved ineffective. Institutions feel pressure to grade as others do, and have abandoned efforts to develop stricter policy. In addition, teachers who do distribute…

A series of standardized tasks was developed using the same constructs as operationalized in a state's large-scale assessment program. Student performance (n=437) was then analyzed. In reading and math, teachers (n=131) were successfully trained to administer the tasks and judge performance, providing a system with instructional and evaluative…

All college faculty have the responsibility of understanding whatever professional assessments their students must undertake to enter a profession. The results of these and other student evaluations can show faculty how to improve their own teaching by aligning curriculum and instruction with professional standards and ensuring that students can…

Focuses on whether music teachers should teach reading to their students. Addresses the effects of reading instruction in the music classroom, how music teachers do not want to be reading teachers, and reading skills that are already being taught in the music classroom. Offers ideas on what reading skills can be taught. (CMK)

Describes an art activity in which third-grade students learned about elements of color and value by mixing paints to create new colors. Discusses in detail how the students created three snowmen using the colors they mixed. Includes learning objectives, list of materials, and a national visual art standard addressed in this lesson. (CMK)

Changing sociological trends and technological advances will require the nation's university system to prepare better qualified graduates for school administration careers. Without an emphasis on proficient, high-tech skills; stringent standards; and redirected certification procedures, the twenty-first-century administrator will not succeed.…

A national survey of faculty at colleges of all sizes indicates that professors are increasingly optimistic about their profession but are deeply troubled by the attitudes and academic credentials of their students and the quality of academic administration. (MSE)

Suggests the 1980s education reform movement created a climate that was benefited for arts education. Argues that the arts education community should use commitment to excellence as a means to achieve comprehensive and sequential curriculum. Criticizes the notion that education should build skepticism of, rather than appreciation for, excellence.…

One of the few states to link reform in elementary and secondary education to higher education is Maryland, which is working toward linking statewide minimum competency testing to business hiring practices, college admission, and eventually even scholarship money. The plan is designed to end the need for remediation classes for recent high school…

Fearing increased federal regulation, college accreditors are re-examining the ways they assess colleges. Agreed-upon principles include establishing minimum standards for institutions seeking accreditation in all regions of the country, setting higher standards for teaching and learning, and issuing public reports of their findings about…