May, 2007 
| |
May, 2007 |
Charter schools: "More bang for the buck" Dads Can Make a Difference in Reading Success with Dad’s Playbook Research suggests fathers can make a huge difference in their children’s success at school, even if they do not live with or near their children. Dad’s Playbook: Coaching Kids to Read, is a colorful booklet for dads to improve the quality of time they spend with their children by teaching them about the skills children need to become strong readers. Special Report: eSchools Work! In April, the U.S. Department of Education released a report which revealed that the use of certain mathematic software programs did not lead to improved student achievement. While the results of the study are not in question, the perception among some has been that technology has no impact on student achievement. To correct this misperception, eSchool news has pulled together several studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of technology in the classroom when used correctly in an effective learning environment. Study Sheds Light on Qualities of Best Training for Principals A new report, prepared by researchers at Stanford University, examined eight principal-preparation programs' effectiveness. The report found that programs for building effective principals exist, but most districts lack the infrastructure needed to support them.
Register now for the Dawn Launch Educator Conference Visit Cape Canaveral, see the Dawn spacecraft launch, and discover a host of exciting educational activities to spark students’ interest in space science. Join us at Cape Canaveral, Florida June 28th–June 30th. Conference participants receive a behind-the-scenes bus tour of Kennedy Space Center, engaging sessions featuring Dawn mission and science team members, a VIP launch pass, and more.
The cost of the conference is $60. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses, including air transportation, hotel accommodations, and automobile rental.
Interested educators must register by May 31st. Join our CASL study to receive free professional development McREL is looking for participants in a study of Rick Stiggins’ Classroom Assessment for Learning program. The study is open to Colorado and California districts and offers free professional development to schools and teachers. The enrollment period ends on June 8. Join our RISE/OWE study and receive free teacher training and classroom materials Attention California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas educators, McREL is seeking elementary schools with 33 percent or more Spanish-speaking LEP students for a two-year study of Harcourt Achieve’s Responsive Instruction for Success in English (RISE) teacher training and On Our Way to English (OWE) classroom materials. NanoLeap field test open to high school teachers Summer Balanced Leadership Institutes McREL’s Summer 2007 Professional Development series of workshops continues with four two-day Balanced Leadership Institutes, in which school administrators will learn and apply insights from McREL’s research on effective principals, as reported in School Leadership that Works: From Research to Results. On July 31-Aug.1, Balanced Leadership: An Overview will examine findings from research on principal leadership and the concepts of shared and balanced leadership. On Aug. 2-3, Balanced Leadership: Developing a Purposeful Community will engage participants in hands-on learning that promotes a deep understanding of the importance of creating a purposeful community. On Aug. 6-7, Balanced Leadership: Managing Change will show how to initiate, monitor, and lead change effectively. Finally, on Aug. 8-9, Balanced Leadership: Choosing the Right Focus shows how to focus your school on the school and classroom practices and leadership responsibilities that McREL research shows are positively associated with student achievement.
FCAT mistake fuels critics, upsets parents May 26
The Orlando Sentinel interviewed McREL Principal Researcher and large-scale assessment expert Bruce Randel for an article on problems with Florida’s statewide assessment. Randel described trends in the testing industry that may have led to errors on the FCAT test. Kettle Moraine looks at standards May 25
A new 113-page report created by a special task force in Kettle Moraine recommends the district abandon a top-down leadership approach, increase community outreach and change how it communicates, with the aim that the changes would help it remain flexible as technology and global competitiveness alter expectations for how students are prepared. The report is the culmination of a year-long scenario-planning project that the task force conducted with consultation from McREL.
USM will oversee training program May 25
McREL and the University of Southern Mississippi are partnering on a $1.2 million project funded by the Mississippi State Department of Education to prepare experienced educators to go out into school districts and provide leadership training for building-level administrators. High-tech show in Knappa May 18
Six teachers will present the technology skills they acquired from participants of last year's McREL Technology Solutions (MTS) program. MTS is designed to train select staff members on the use of technology in the classroom. Those staff members then pass that training on to other teachers, building capacity for self-sustaining technology integration throughout the school or district. States told to improve American Indian student achievement May 16
Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota and Nebraska joined together in a first-of-its kind regional forum on American Indian student achievement, sponsored by the North Central Comprehensive Center. Education officials are working together to teach American Indians their native languages and cultures in school to help increase their interest in completing their education. |
Classroom Instruction that Works online course offered Power Walkthrough software Principals can make the most of their classroom observations and PDA technology by using McREL’s new Power Walkthrough software . Based on McREL’s popular manual, Classroom Instruction that Works, this software allows administrators to recognize the most effective teaching strategies and record their usage in brief (3-5-minute) classroom visits—all with a convenient hand-held Palm or Windows Mobile device. The data can then be uploaded and analyzed on desktop computers—and help principals in coaching their teachers to higher levels of performance. In addition, the software helps measure the extent to which technology is being used in the classroom. Changing Schools Addressing both the tangible and intangible aspects of school improvement is the message in the Spring 2007 issue of Changing Schools: Getting a New Perspective on School Improvement. Read about common school improvement mistakes and how to avoid them; how to create a culture of high expectations; using the Response to Intervention model to apply data to instruction in a timely manner; the importance of small, simple, and quick improvements; and one example of a school that has sustained improvements over many years. Classroom Instruction that Works with English Language Learners workshop This workshop, based on the book of the same name, shows participants how to apply the instructional strategies found in Classroom Instruction that Works to ELL students in K-6 classrooms. Participants will also learn about the stages of language acquisition and how they relate to instruction, and the research background and recommended practices for each of the nine categories of strategies.
AIR Study Uses U.S. Standards to Compare U.S. 8th Grade Math and Science Students with Their Foreign Counterparts Similar English Learner Students, Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better? School Choice by the Numbers: The Fiscal Effect of School Choice Programs, 1990-2006 Standards-Based Reform of Mathematics Education in Rural High Schools This analysis of an interview of rural high school principals suggested that schools were undertaking reform efforts to comply with state testing and accountability. The principals' responses indicated that the reforms adopted by their schools led to incremental changes involving curriculum and individualized instruction, but neither fully embraced their reform agendas, nor fully ignored them. NICHD/NCATE Report Identifies Gaps in Research to Practice in Child and Adolescent Development This report recommends more attention be focused on teaching future teachers how to apply the current research on child and adolescent development in their classrooms, rather than simply taking one course on development. In addition, teachers need ongoing access to current research, more information about the application of this research, and the time, resources, and support required to integrate the research on development into classroom practices. New Research Shows How Companies Can Help Transform Public Education, Tackle Concerns Over Workforce Readiness In a new whitepaper, Ernst & Young suggest that many of the problems plaguing education today could be solved by applying known principles of Corporate America in our school systems. In particular, the report offers 6 guidelines for improving education: 1) Start at the top, 2) Lead with your strengths, 3) Scale appropriately, 4) Adapt, don’t prescribe, 5) Be in it for the long haul, and 6) Measure and manage. The Autonomy Gap This report, based on a series of interviews with a small sample of district and charter-school principals, concludes that there is a sizable difference between the autonomy principals believe they need to do their jobs effectively, and the autonomy they actually experience.
Mid-continent Research for Education & Learning |
Research Headlines 
