The Cost-Effectiveness of 22 Approaches for Raising Student Achievement

The Cost-Effectiveness of 22 Approaches for Raising Student Achievement
Author: Stuart S. Yeh
Publisher: IAP
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2011-03-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 161735404X

As a consequence of the federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) law, there is tremendous pressure on school principals, teachers, school superintendents, district staff, state departments of education and governors to maximize the increase in student achievement that is obtained with every dollar of expenditure. Currently, teachers are forced to rely on extremely inefficient approaches that take enormous amounts of time, both during the school day and throughout the K-12 learning years. This is experienced in terms of the reduced time that is available to teach subjects other than math and reading, as schools resort to double periods of math, double periods of reading, and enormous amounts of remedial instruction that directly reduce the time available for other subjects including science, art, and music. In contrast, this book suggests that student achievement may be increased in a way that is not only cost-effective in dollar terms, but efficient in the sense that it does not rely on unusual investments in the time required to obtain results. The book draws upon a wealth of cost-effectiveness data to dispel common notions about "what works" in addressing the achievement gap: increased expenditure per pupil, charter schools, voucher programs, increased educational accountability, class size reduction, comprehensive school reform, increased teacher salaries, more selective teacher recruitment, the use of "value-added" methods to measure and reward teacher performance, the use of National Board teacher certification to identify high-performing teachers, and a host of other approaches.

Solving the Achievement Gap

Solving the Achievement Gap
Author: Stuart S. Yeh
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2016-12-21
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1137587679

This book examines the cause of the student achievement gap, suggesting that the prevailing emphasis on socioeconomic factors, sociocultural influences, and teacher quality is misplaced. The cause of the achievement gap is not differences in parenting styles, or the economic advantages of middle-class parents, or differences in the quality of teachers. Instead, schools present learning tasks and award grades in ways that inadvertently undermine the self-efficacy, engagement, and effort of low-performing students, causing demoralization and exacerbating differences in achievement that are seen to exist as early as kindergarten. This process systematically maintains and widens initial gaps in achievement that might otherwise be expected to disappear over the K-12 years. Misdiagnosis of the nature of the achievement gap has led to misguided solutions. The author draws upon a range of research studies to support this view and to offer recommendations for improvement. “/div>div

Improving Reading Comprehension of Self-Chosen Books Through Computer Assessment and Feedback

Improving Reading Comprehension of Self-Chosen Books Through Computer Assessment and Feedback
Author: Keith James Topping
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2022-07-12
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1000598705

Schools around the world use online programs like Accelerated Reader and Reading Counts to improve students’ reading comprehension of real books, but how can such software be used most effectively? In this unique resource, researcher Keith Topping analyzes independent research studies and brings you best practices on quality implementation to enhance effectiveness. He explains the evidence base for the programs in a comprehensible way and addresses many common questions, such as "Does it work?," "How should it be implemented to make it work?," and "Is it cheaper and more efficient in teacher time than what we were doing before?" He also discusses best practices for using the assessment data, for tailoring implementation in elementary vs. high schools, and for working with disadvantaged students. Appropriate for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum leaders, and other stakeholders, the book will provide you with a strong research foundation and easily accessible information to help you fine-tune your understanding of the reading programs and implement them more successfully in your schools and classrooms.

Money and Schools

Money and Schools
Author: R. Craig Wood
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2019-05-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0429829795

For both aspiring and experienced education leaders in school budgeting, finance, and resource management courses, Money and Schools explains and demonstrates the relationship between money and equality of educational opportunity in a way that is clear, precise, and engaging. Grounded in research and best practices, this book provides a broad overview of school finance, budgeting, and resource allocation, an understanding of the underlying economic, social, legal, and political principles that drive how schools are funded, as well as a detailed examination of day-to-day funding operations. Rich pedagogical features include chapter opening challenges, chapter drivers, point/counterpoint discussions, case studies, and recommended resources. This accessible and engaging book offers strong connections to real-world experiences and detailed information on pre-K–12 funding history, concepts, and current operations. New to this edition: Coverage of environmental sustainability and other emerging trends in this unprecedented uncertainty of schools' economic and social environment. Updates to references and overall funding changes since the previous edition. Revised end-of-chapter activities and additional resources that are aligned with the key concepts and content of each chapter. Updated supplemental downloads, including editable PowerPoints.

Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom

Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom
Author: Carol A. Tomlinson
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2013
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416617736

Carol Ann Tomlinson and Tonya R. Moon take an in-depth look at assessment and show how differentiation can improve the process in all grade levels and subject areas. After discussing differentiation in general, the authors focus on how differentiation applies to various forms of assessment--pre-assessment, formative assessment, and summative assessment--and to grading and report cards. Readers learn how differentiation can --Capture student interest and increase motivation --Clarify teachers' understanding about what is most important to teach --Enhance students' and teachers' belief in student learning capacity; and --Help teachers understand their students' individual similarities and differences so they can reach more students, more effectively Throughout, Tomlinson and Moon emphasize the importance of maintaining a consistent focus on the essential knowledge, understandings, and skills that all students must acquire, no matter what their starting point. Detailed scenarios illustrate how assessment differentiation can occur in three realms (student readiness, interest, and learning style or preference) and how it can improve assessment validity and reliability and decrease errors and teacher bias. Grounded in research and the authors' teaching experience, Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom outlines a common-sense approach that is both thoughtful and practical, and that empowers teachers and students to discover, strive for, and achieve their true potential. This is PDF Format E-book: ISBN 978-1-4166-1773-0

Intelligent Web-Based English Instruction in Middle Schools

Intelligent Web-Based English Instruction in Middle Schools
Author: Jia, Jiyou
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2014-10-31
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1466666080

The integration of technology into educational environments has become more prominent over the years. The combination of technology and face-to-face interaction with instructors allows for a thorough, more valuable educational experience. Intelligent Web-Based English Instruction in Middle Schools addresses the concerns associated with the use of computer-based systems in teaching English as a foreign language, proving the effectiveness and efficiency of technological integration in modern classrooms. Highlighting cases based on current practices in four diverse schools, this book is a vital reference source for practitioners and researchers interested in the educational benefits of educational technologies in language acquisition.

Formative Classroom Walkthroughs

Formative Classroom Walkthroughs
Author: Connie M. Moss
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 234
Release: 2015-01-21
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416619887

"[Authors provide teachers with numerous examples and guides to improve teaching and student learning.]"--

Rethinking Value-Added Models in Education

Rethinking Value-Added Models in Education
Author: Audrey Amrein-Beardsley
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2014-04-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1136702776

Since passage of the of No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, academic researchers, econometricians, and statisticians have been exploring various analytical methods of documenting students‘ academic progress over time. Known as value-added models (VAMs), these methods are meant to measure the value a teacher or school adds to student learning from one year to the next. To date, however, there is very little evidence to support the trustworthiness of these models. What is becoming increasingly evident, yet often ignored mainly by policymakers, is that VAMs are 1) unreliable, 2) invalid, 3) nontransparent, 4) unfair, 5) fraught with measurement errors and 6) being inappropriately used to make consequential decisions regarding such things as teacher pay, retention, and termination. Unfortunately, their unintended consequences are not fully recognized at this point either. Given such, the timeliness of this well-researched and thoughtful book cannot be overstated. This book sheds important light on the debate surrounding VAMs and thereby offers states and practitioners a highly important resource from which they can move forward in more research-based ways.

Relational Aspects of Parental Involvement to Support Educational Outcomes

Relational Aspects of Parental Involvement to Support Educational Outcomes
Author: William Jeynes
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2022-07-18
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1000619494

Offering contributions from international leaders in the field, this volume builds on empirically informed meta-analyses to foreground relationship-based aspects of parental involvement in children’s education and learning. Chapters explore how factors including parent-child communication, cultural and parental expectations, as well as communication with a child’s teacher and school can impact educational outcomes. By focusing on relationships between parents, teachers, and students, chapter authors offer a nuanced picture of parental involvement in children’s education and learning. Considering variation across countries, educational and non-educational contexts, and challenges posed by parental absence and home schooling, the book offers key insights into how parents, schools, communities, and educators can best support future generations. Using multiple forms of research from the relational perspective, this volume will be of interest to students, scholars, and researchers with an interest in educational psychology as well as child development.

Visible Learning for Teachers

Visible Learning for Teachers
Author: John Hattie
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2012-03-15
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1136592326

In November 2008, John Hattie’s ground-breaking book Visible Learning synthesised the results of more than fifteen years research involving millions of students and represented the biggest ever collection of evidence-based research into what actually works in schools to improve learning. Visible Learning for Teachers takes the next step and brings those ground breaking concepts to a completely new audience. Written for students, pre-service and in-service teachers, it explains how to apply the principles of Visible Learning to any classroom anywhere in the world. The author offers concise and user-friendly summaries of the most successful interventions and offers practical step-by-step guidance to the successful implementation of visible learning and visible teaching in the classroom. This book: links the biggest ever research project on teaching strategies to practical classroom implementation champions both teacher and student perspectives and contains step by step guidance including lesson preparation, interpreting learning and feedback during the lesson and post lesson follow up offers checklists, exercises, case studies and best practice scenarios to assist in raising achievement includes whole school checklists and advice for school leaders on facilitating visible learning in their institution now includes additional meta-analyses bringing the total cited within the research to over 900 comprehensively covers numerous areas of learning activity including pupil motivation, curriculum, meta-cognitive strategies, behaviour, teaching strategies, and classroom management. Visible Learning for Teachers is a must read for any student or teacher who wants an evidence based answer to the question; ‘how do we maximise achievement in our schools?’