Recent Issues of Educational Research Newsletter
February 2010 ** Download PDF here ** Walk-throughs put focus on 4-12 teachers' literacy practices in the classroom Is principal autonomy overrated? Report makes case for better instructional leadership from district Preventing bullying within a PBS framework
How to address obstacles to data use for instructional
decision-making in your school or district After-school program helps adolescent ELLs build academic vocabulary with games, other activities
January 2010 ** Download PDF here ** Pre-testing on new material leads
to higher scores later How principals manage their time
is key to improving instruction in their schools Metacognitive questions work best
after reading science text
Benefits of intensive 1st-grade
intervention for ELLs evident 1 year later Experts on
assessing students with disabilities give guidance on Race to the Top
competition
2009
December 2009
** Download PDF here ** Vocabulary instruction in math is
as important as it is in reading College instructors of reading
teachers flunk phonics test
How 1st grade teachers would spend
reading instruction time
Habits of highly effective
professional learning communities Teachers' praise notes to linked
to fewer ODRs Hispanic-white achievement gap vs.
black-white gap
November 2009 ** Download PDF here ** How Florida assesses 3-12 reading
with statewide system How FAIR assesses reading in K-2
Use data to design prevention
efforts in 3-tiered PBS system, study says
Study identifies 9 approaches to
classroom discussions of text Teaching subtraction with
regrouping with visuals Community colleges as
steppingstones to 4-year degrees
October 2009 ** Download PDF here ** Principal effectiveness tools are
short on instructional leadership Expressive reading plays role in
fluency and comprehension Use data to design prevention
efforts in 3-tiered PBS system, study says
Math students don't grasp concept
of multiplication-division inversion Comparing different solutions to
one math problem is effective learning tool Many
schools rely on zero-tolerance policies despite lack of evidence September 2009 ** Download PDF here ** 8 recommendations for doing math
RtI from expert panel Focus on content may be even more effective than reading strategies in increasing comprehension, study says ORF measures for 6th-graders less
accurate as reading rate increases
Helping 2nd-graders understand
meaning of equal sign with use of blocks Children act as "literacy brokers"
for parents
May-June 2009 ** Download PDF here ** Stimulus funds offer opportunity
to combat summer learning loss Mass. Expanded Learning Time
Initiative improves access to enrichment Fed study says 4 interventions for reading
comprehension ineffective
What is best way to use extra 20
minutes/day to increase comprehension Playwriting program also results
in improved student essays April 2009 ** Download PDF here **
College-prep-for-all policy in
Chicago shows little pain--and little gain "What Works" practice guide gives
5 recommendations for implementing RTI 8 variations on repeated reading
for fluency keep students engaged Syllable skills instruction helps struggling middle-school readers Charter school students more
likely to graduate, but caution needed on start-ups
March 2009 ** Download PDF here **
Large new federal study takes
sides in curriculum 'math wars' 8th-grade algebra for all may be
fair, but are students learning any math? Ability or effort? How parents
answer that question affects child's performance Without
mental health screenings, school officials miss many suicide risks
If weekly CBMs are too much,
testing less frequently is also valid
February 2009 ** Download PDF here **
Math instruction trumps math
curricula in boosting achievement, study says
Never too
late: Study finds social skills training matters for teen EBD students
To what lengths must early reading
intervention go for low-responders?
Many students have limited
understanding of rational number representations
Even when
using nonverbal tests, it's important to compare ELLs with other ELLs
Volunteer
e-tutors fill gap, earn experience
January 2009 ** Download PDF here **
What to include in a job
description for a literacy coach
Teachers describe how literacy
coaches changed their practices
Students identify teacher
behaviors, practices that motivate learning
Using
student engagement as key measure in teacher observation
Home
learning kits increase parent participation Volunteer
e-tutors fill gap, earn experience
2008
December 2008 ** Download PDF here **
Negative attitudes toward
gifted--an instinct to protect social fabric?
Building
relationships legitimizes authority in class
Linguistic
demands of Texas' math test for ELLs
Behavior problems trigger academic
problems
CBMs predict performance on
statewide assessments 1-2 years later Girls create "hybrid spaces" in
science to participate on their own terms
November 2008 ** Download PDF here **
Number-sense tests in kindergarten
screen for future math difficulties
What schools need to do to get
low-income parents involved
Academic self-regulation meets
with approval of 8th graders
Teachers need to tie questions to
ELLs' language level
Study finds supervision in hallways is effective for preventing tardiness
October 2008 ** Download PDF here **
More focus on disciplinary literacy needed to improve adolescent reading
Importance
of male teachers as role models for boys exaggerated
Silence
can play important role in classroom learning
Social
skills should be included in daily instruction, researchers say
Self-regulated intervention in
reading helps teenage boys with behavioral disorders
September 2008 ** Download PDF here ** Word-problem tutoring in 3d grade
works as 2nd-tier math program in RTI Bilingual education works best for
ELLs Oral reading rate not a good
measure of reading comprehension, study warns Study
demonstrates how to profile struggling readers to target needs Children
from more advantaged families benefit from "concerted cultivation" Parent liaison program in urban
district helps schools reach hard-to reach parents Most DIBELS
subtests not predictive of reading comprehension
May-June 2008 ** Download PDF here ** How educators talk to each other can influence outcome of reforms Maryland study finds biggest challenge
of PBIS is accentuating the positive Special ed teachers cite effective behavior management strategies Integrating math and social studies: "Ten Black Dots" and September 11 No fall boost in reading achievement from grade 1-5 summer reading program
April 2008 ** Download PDF here ** Key issues in implementing RTI Reading strategies to help middle school and high school students understand their textbooks Four steps for applying Universal Design for Learning to a curriculum Small classes benefit high achievers more than others, K-3 study shows Social learning plays growing role in second language acquisition theory
March 2008 ** Download PDF here ** Study of four popular reading interventions fails to answer $10 million question National math panel puts focus on pre-K to grade 8 readiness for algebra
Four steps to ensure greater equity in discipline Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning benefits English learners as much as native speakers Mixed results for 21st Century after-school programs: Students feel safer, but have more behavior issues BLOG: Measuring learning like measuring hurricanes
February 2008 ** Download PDF here ** Four lessons on helping teachers rethink tracking
Intervention on social skills expanded to academic motivation and responsibility How to grade individuals for group work: Peer- and self-assessments may be key Early-grade retention: Are benefits real or imagined? Lessons from TIMSS about changes needed in U.S. curricula Curriculum-based measurement helps evaluate writing progress before high-stakes tests
January 2008 ** Download PDF here ** K-8 restructuring for middle school achievement--is it worth it?
Less than ideal interventions for ADHD still productive Reading intervention targets motivation to read What Wal-Mart can teach us about data-driven decision-making Rapid assessment most cost-effective way to raise achievement
2007 December 2007 ** Download PDF here ** Reading intervention targets middle schoolers Classroom management strategies for novice teachers How to use positive behavior supports with unresponsive students Study questions whether boys see male teachers as role models
Eight lessons from NCLB and eight recommendations for change
November
2007 **
Download PDF here **
Four indicators to identify potential dropouts in 6th grade
Character education not just about ethics, but also about good performance in school English language learners need to be matched with appropriate test accommodations Think-Aloud Strategy not as helpful for beginning and advanced ELLs, study says Study of foreign language has potential for transformative learning Adapt writing instruction to students' own writing strategies, researchers say
October 2007 ** Download PDF here ** What's fair and unfair in assessment: Survey finds teachers divided on ethics
Middle school study makes case for teaching math in single-gender classes Leading change? Four best practices for productive communications Teaching critical thinking most effective when tied to specific content, knowledge What's the best way to teach writing? Study examines how 41% of low-performing high schools made 'adequate yearly progress'
September 2007 ** Download PDF here ** Math curriculum modeled on top-ranked countries transplants well in U.S. Often neglected, vocabulary drives reading comprehension, study reports Question to ask in grade retention debate: Will student have different experience Inclusion not enough to change attitudes toward students with intellectual disabilities The slippery slope of an early literacy gap
May/June
2007 **
Download PDF here ** Don't judge students only by
results of standards-based tests, study says Dept. of Defense schools model for
helping mobile students Fear
of failure key to understanding underachieving students, psychological study
says Responsive Classroom
shows promising results Research finds school climate plays
role in reducing aggression in middle school Gaze aversion gives teachers cues
on students' thinking Economist sees little benefit from
full-day kindergarten
April 2007 ** Download PDF here ** Boys score as well as girls in computerized tests, study finds Math screenings in 1st grade and RTI can detect math disabilities early How valid is the practice of weighting grades for honors and AP courses? Expert panel recommends tools for mental health screenings International lessons in teacher retention
March 2007 ** Download PDF here ** 4th-grade summer reading program keeps at-risk youth from falling behind Quality teaching, not class size raises student achievement Three-level approach to scaffolding can be applied to teaching math Gifted children attribute failures to lack of effort, not lack of ability Students with disabilities seldom to blame for schools not meeting AYP
February 2007 ** Download PDF here ** Read-aloud testing improves math scores for high school students Phonics may be greater problem for poor readers with high IQs Assess teacher autonomy in reform efforts and in hiring decisions, study advises Teachers identify speech disorders in only 1.5% of students in grades K-6 Parents as Tutors reduces family tension Schools with large Latino populations beat the odds with use of data
January 2007 ** Download PDF here ** Is there a disability for learning foreign languages? Teachers' lower expectations for Maori students a self-fulfilling prophecy The four characteristics of "authentic learning" Student suspension data show inequities by race and type of disability In dropout prevention, effective teaching practices are first line of defense
2006
December 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Why do teachers leave their jobs? Principal's humor increases job satisfaction Teachers need to be more accurate in identifying early literacy problems Authentic learning boosts girls' performance and interest in physics Struggling ELLs benefit from reading interventions in English with ESL tactics
November 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Teachers unimpressed with effects of single-sex classes in one school NYC theme high schools show benefits, but inequity is an issue Research supports both pros and cons of No Child Left Behind debate Parental involvement in middle school linked to greater student engagement Oral reading fluency predicts students' performance on statewide tests Experiential education narrows gap
between low- and high-income students How black students view help-seeking behaviors
October 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Creating a data-driven culture for instructional improvement Girls more likely to take advanced science and math if same-sex friends take these subjects Who gets into eighth-grade algebra? Self-perception of competence in sports may be more important than actual skill Delaying kindergarten entry shows no benefit
September 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Cheating: How students decide to resist or yield to temptation Peers, parents and teachers influence amotivation in teenage students Myths about teaching writing across the curriculum Study questions belief that retaining students in early grades does less harm than good Early assessments for reading disabilities miss reading problems that emerge in grades 2-4 How do students discuss literature in peer-led groups
May/June 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Students participate more if they are trained in self-directed IEPs New York middle school shows big gains in math after making leap to accelerated curriculum for all students When documentary replaced textbook, LD students mastered social studies content, study finds Many teachers have favorite techniques for ELLs, but more disciplined approach needed Curricular approach to improving reading more effective than other educational reforms Survey of high school students shows lack of preparation to do college work Teachers' supervision key to success of tutor model for early readers, study says
April 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Self-grading may be more effective and accurate than peer grading Struggling readers show big gains when they tutor younger readers facing similar challenges Students make gains in literacy by seeing themselves read fluently on edited videos Religious youths less likely to smoke Targeting reading difficulties or anti-social behavior in early years can improve behavior in both areas To improve teaching practices, New Zealand teachers go beyond surveys to get student critiques
March 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Dropouts reflect on why they left school, how schools can help students graduate Grade 2 boys respond to boy-friendly books, but male readers have little impact on attitudes Teaching students how to combine sentences more effective than formal grammar instruction 15% of Seattle sixth-graders identified "in distress" in universal emotional health screening Use of college counseling services is better predictor of college enrollment for Latinas than academic record Maine survey of 17,000 students finds motivation low, expectations high; ninth grade is pivotal year
>February 2006 ** Download PDF here ** New intervention strategies needed to help "excessively mobile" students South Carolina schools seek to identify low-income, gifted minority students by enriching curriculum for all Kansas center finds early success with 3-tiered intervention for students with reading problems Child's bond with first teacher plays pivotal role Science teachers need to bridge cultural divide Caution needed in use of Observation Survey
January 2006 ** Download PDF here ** Understanding motivations of parents is key to getting them involved in school Comprehensive mathematics reforms boost achievement at three urban middle schools Praise can have negative effect if used inappropriately Self-regulation can be valuable tool for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Struggling first- and second-grade readers benefit from supplemental reading instruction Principals say lack of teaching skills and strategies a bigger problem than lack of content knowledge
2005
November/December 2005 ** Download PDF here ** Quality of instruction is better predictor of performance than English proficiency Above-average learners show big gains with flexible grouping and adaptive testing Children from urban, disadvantaged neighborhoods do better in after-school programs than at home Strong instructional and emotional support make difference for at-risk first grade students Torrance tests of creative thinking identify hidden talents of children seen as behavior problems Less classroom time spent on social studies as focus turns to subjects included in NCLB testing
October 2005 ** Download PDF here ** Improving schools by addressing students' health Character education in British schools Public understanding of the limitations of tests Lessons from high-poverty schools Students' reasons for doing homework Approaches to successful urban school reform
September 2005 ** Download PDF here ** A meta-analysis of multiple-choice tests Tutoring improves reading among struggling first-graders High turnover in urban schools Reliability of informal reading inventories Explicit grammar instruction improves writing Negative effects of working during high school One educator's opinion: Good education research
May/June 2005 ** Download PDF here ** One district narrows the achievement gap Attention deficits vary in ADHD Improving schools in disadvantaged communities The Olweus Bullying Prevention program Head growth studied in autism
April 2005 ** Download PDF here ** Comparing first-graders' reading texts Teaching vocabulary One expert's opinion on testing International comparison of math skills
March 2005 ** Download PDF here ** What students' drawings reveal One urban elementary school reform Disappointing picture emerges in third-grade classrooms
February 2005 ** Download PDF here ** A report on developmental mentoring Performance of charter school students Parent participation in disadvantaged schools Supporting new teachers
January 2005 ** Download PDF here ** School improvement in challenging circumstances Class organization and student behavior in kindergarten Successful anti-bullying program focuses on victims Effective strategies for fluency instruction
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