The increasing impact of performance based judgments on schools and teachers in the classroom has its critics and supporters. Some oppose the trend and seek to deny the importance of quantitative measures. Others have sought to find ways of implementing educational measurement constructively and with understanding of the concerns. Classrooms are where the operational business of learning takes place and it is on the quality of life within the classroom that the broader process of learning, concerns for the wider community and others, is nurtured. The climate of the classroom has a large impact on the final outcome measure to which so much interest is directed. To help our understanding of the dynamics involved much work has been done in the development and refinement of quantitative studies to this area by studying essential information about how teachers and students perceive the environments in which the work. Research on classroom climates has reached a practical and theoretical maturity and this volume offers an account of the developments that have taken place and the potential for understanding the classroom as a vital component of the curriculum. This book will also be an essential resource tool for anyone engaged in classroom research.

In a sequence of observations of six children aged 5-11 in six different state schools this book offers a slice of classroom life, a microcosm of the educational scene. Since the book was first written there have been many changes in the curriculum, structure, governance and funding of British primary schools, as well as in the language used to describe these changes. But Observing Children in the Primary Classroom remains as valid now as earlier, as a lively and entertaining indicator of children's daily school experience. We see the reception class of an infants' school through the eyes of Mike, a lively five-year-old traveller boy. Six-year-old Rashda, a girl of Asian heritage, grapples with English as a Second Language at her multi-ethnic city school. Slow-learner David finds school life rather overpowering, despite receiving expert extra help. Lucy, eight, is a star in everything she does at her Roman Catholic school, while Lorraine, one year older, is cheerful but utterly bewildered. Finally, Peter, organises his work in an open-plan setting and makes some surprising choices.

Focusing on pupils moving from primary to middle or secondary school, it describes and evaluates the schools programmes to ease transfer, and includes material provided by the pupils themselves. The main body of the book is a rich and detailed account of the first months of life in new secondary schools, where the pleasures and perils of new friends, new teachers and new subjects, and a new approach to teaching are encountered. The book conveys vividly how pupils experience a new environment, and meet its dangers, rules and regulations, timetable, complex groupings and ideology.

Inside the Secondary Classroom was the first comparative ethnography of school life in Britain, carried out in six schools. It reveals surprising similarities and differences between them.The cases studied range from highly successful pupils with nine O levels to others with severe social and personal problems.

The acquisition and use of language are just as vital to children's learning when the newer classroom methods are being employed as ever they were when the more traditional approaches were being used. Child centred learning has increasingly influenced language use and language work in the classroom - mainly in the primary sector, but also in the teaching of English, and indirectly in the teaching of other subject areas including the sciences. Interest in school learning and the special language it requires, compared with the language demands of everyday life, have recently developed in answer to the concern about allocation of the time available within the school timetable for each subject-based learning experience. In this volume the author focuses mainly on the language of subject learning in the secondary schools. She looks critically at some current notions concerned with language and learning and examines their translation into classroom practice. She then develops a picture of the language demands made by other subject areas using collected language material and finally, in the light of this evidence, she attempts to identify the range of language in everyday use in schools, goes on to draw conclusions and then makes recommendations.

This book, by closely recording and reflecting upon the work and play of a group of 9 to 11 year-old children in a primary classroom, develops an approach to teaching and learning which is based upon the ways in which children are able to exercise a controlling influence over their own learning activity. It also suggests the sharing and analysis of classroom experience should be part of a teacher 's day-to-day life. The material for the book was gathered during a year of classroom enquiry in which the author combined the roles of teacher and researcher, working alongside the normal class teacher in a primary school. Samples of the children 's work are carefully described and analysed in an attempt to get behind the overt behaviour of the children and reveal the purposes, concerns and thinking that underlies their activity.

Firmly based on the authors personal experience, this book tackles a wide range of issues relating to the teaching of the arts in the primary school. The authors illustrate how primary children of all ages can be educated to both know about and to practice all the major art forms, and how a school staff can effectively accommodate and practice them all, even within the constraints of the National Curriculum. This book is unique in primary school education terms, as its primary focus is specific and it embraces every major art form dance, drama, literature, music, visual arts and film.

This book sets out a clear and logical framework for the teaching of reading throughout different age groups, whereby systematic progression can be developed within a structured framework. A detailed set of recommendations are offered and are both illustrated and justified, for the teacher to examine and use. Much has been written about the importance of skilled and efficient reading and language usage in the early years of education, but all too few teachers are aware of the need for the development of reading skills in an ordered sequence with older children as well. Problems such as the motivation of the learner, the place of reading in a mass media age, the extent and classification of reading failure and the diagnosis of reading problems are examined, and the complexities of the linguistic background and of linguistic deprivation are covered thoroughly.

This is a study of the nature of the process whereby children go about the business of learning to read. The author relates her own practical teaching experience closely to studies in developmental psychology, and also considers the special needs of individual children. In all, the book provides an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the processes involved in learning to read, and it should be of interest not only to teachers, but also to parents of young children.

This book investigates children's use of language and considers its implications for children's learning at home and at school. The author compares the language used by children from different social environments at the ages of three, five and seven and considers the different approaches that children take towards their school experiences. The book discusses the problems of studying children's use and development of language and in doing so looks at the implications of a number of theories. It uses theory in order to establish a useful framework which will help teachers to become aware of the skills that children have established in using language when they come to school.

Language is the basic means of communication in the classroom. It is therefore vital that teachers should know something about its acquisition, development, possible defects and the ways in which they may understand and develop its communicative powers. Peter Herriot describes the relationship with thinking, with personal and social development and its manifestations in the classroom. All this is described from the point of view of the psychologist and incorporates many of the findings of contemporaneous psychological research. But the author carefully avoids the jargon of psychology nor does he assume any prior knowledge of linguistics or psychology. Thus Language and Teaching should be especially useful to the student of education or those already engaged in teaching. It is a primer of communication.

An examination of the research relating to school reform proposals. It features essays covering: early childhood education; class-size reduction in grades K-3; small schools; grouping students for instruction; public schools and their communities; teacher characteristics; and more.

Spontaneous Activity in Education details the principles of Maria Montessori's educational philosophy, allowing the reader to grasp her unique and innovative style of teaching. Published in the early 20th century and translated to English in 1917, this manual of education contains a step-by-step account of the approach Montessori took in teaching youngsters. Although a doctor by trade, Montessori held a profound interest in the development of young people's minds, and how best to ensure they fulfill their academic potential. To this end, she devised a system of education which aims to give every child the best chance of success, irrespective of their individual capacity for learning. In this book, the Montessori system is explained in terms useful for parents and teachers alike. Explaining the nature of a child's life, Montessori discusses her personal contributions to experiments in education, and how when these were applied correctly the achievement and advancement of children was improved.

From the inner-city to the suburbs, thousands of school children are being systematically subjected to mandatory classroom policies which inflict both physical and emotional harm. Hundreds of school officials from across the country have been found guilty of sexual harassment, the illegal use of undercover agents, strip searches, corporal punishment, verbal abuse, punitive isolation, and other forms of institutional abuse. In Dangerous Schools, Professor Irwin Hyman and Pamela Snook, passionate advocates against the institutional maltreatment of children, reveal exactly what is going on in our nation's schools and what we must do about it.

"This book makes a strong argument against school abuses and offers clear and proven strategies for change. It will appeal to parents who suspect that their children have been maltreated by educators and for advocates who desire a blueprint for social change."---James Garbarino, codirector, Family Life Development Center, Cornell University; author, What Children Can Tell Us

Using their tried-and-tested English Method training, the authors unpack the core learning issues, such as differentiation and the development of thinking skills, essential to all initial teacher training programmes. Linking theory and practice, with direct links to key theorists and ideas about learning, each chapter includes: a modelled analysis of a pupil's writing or talk on a particular theme; an exploration of the learning challenges within a specific age range or modality of English; focussed, practical activities centered upon a specific text, including oral, written, visual, multi-modal, print-bound and electronic material; and follow-up activities, including immediate questions for reflection, guided reading and ideas for use in the classroom. This is the complete guide that every trainee English teacher planning for learning in the secondary classroom needs.

Science fairs, clubs, and talent searches are familiar fixtures in American education, yet little is known about why they began and grew in popularity. In Science Education and Citizenship, Sevan G. Terzian traces the civic purposes of these extracurricular programs for youth over four decades in the early to mid-twentieth century. He argues that Americans' mobilization for World War Two reoriented these educational activities from scientific literacy to national defense -- a shift that persisted in the ensuing atomic age and has left a lasting legacy in American science education.

This book addresses the relationship between the production of social problems in educational policy, the research practices required to inform policy, and the daily production of normalcies and differences in school contexts. It reports on the opportunities and consequences for policy, research, and practice when normalcy is stigmatized at the same level as difference. The book employs a critical analysis combining queer, feminist, and post-representational theories to understand the implications of dominant ways of understanding the division between normal and different subjectivities and how they reiterate structures of inequality in schools.

Many teachers use traditional counting and shape books in math class. But what would happen if we approached any story with a math lens? How might mathematizing children's literature give learners space to ask their own questions and make connections between stories, their lives, and the world around them? These are the questions Allison Hintz and Antony T. Smith set out to explore in this book as they invite us to consider fresh ways of using interactive read-alouds to nurture students as both readers and mathematicians. Inside Mathematizing Children's Literature, you'll learn how to do the following: Select picture books according to the goals of the read aloud experience. Plan and facilitate three kinds of read aloud discussions-Open Notice and Wonder, Math Lens and Story Explore. Utilize Idea Investigations-experiences that invite students to pursue literacy and math-focused ideas beyond the pages of the-read aloud. Connect with students' families and communities through stories. Along the way, Allison and Antony offer a wide range of picture book suggestions and appendices that include ready-to-use planning templates, a note-taking form, and a bookmark of guiding questions. Mathematizing Children's Literature is a practical resource you'll find yourself referring to frequently.

This volume is a thorough and comprehensive examination of the concerns about educational choice. Judith Pearson identifies errors, omissions, and fallacies in the economic and political theories used to justify choice and raises questions about the potential impacts of choice on both urban and rural public schools and consumers. The range of potential consequences of choice have not been thoroughly examined before implementation--a serious problem because educational choice may undermine the basic principles of public education in a democratic society and increase existing inequities in educational opportunities for many students. The bandwagon for choice is already rolling at great speed, with such high-powered proponents as President George Bush and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander.

The book opens with a skeptical examination of the popular perception of a general crisis in education and the interpretation of test scores upon which this notion is based. Chapter 2 describes the implementation of educational choice in Minnesota and critically examines the thoroughness and objectivity of the program monitoring and evaluation. Chapter 3 describes Minnesota's K-12 open enrollment program and critically examines the three Working Papers that are the total of the state's program evaluation. The chapter also explores abuses of the laissez-faire choice program and the impacts of student and dollar transfers on local school districts. In chapters 4 and 5, the author investigates the popular concept that bureaucracy is the cause of problems in education and questions the appropriateness of applying a policy of deregulation to public education. Chapter 7 examines the existing inequities in educational funding and suggests that choice may make a bad situation much worse, particularly in urban schools. In Chapter 8, the author looks at the probable ways that abuses of the competitive market system will adversely affect consumers of education. Chapter 9 addresses the obvious: Where there are winners in a competitive marketplace, there are also losers. Who are they, individually and collectively? Also analyzed are the impacts of choice on educators, school boards, administrators, and teachers. Finally, Pearson challenges the constitutionality of choice through the probable inclusion of public funding for private schools.

Fred Gann, founder of four alternative education programs, believes that all true alternative education programs exist for one fundamental purpose: to make a positive difference in a student's life. In "Groundwork, " Gann delivers a roadmap to re-engage disenfranchised students through an effective alternative education program.This step-by-step guide demystifies the principles of alternative education and outlines how to create a program in which each student assumes personal responsibility for his or her learning and experiences a framework for developing success. With personal examples and anecdotes, Gann provides a clear, accessible plan for the implementation of alternative programs in support of a district's traditional school setting. "Groundwork" examines the following: The four questions that must be asked when founding a new program The components of a true alternative educational program Five techniques for implementation Positive-based disciplinary practices Program longevity and the art of survivalIn "Groundwork, " Gann presents a blunt and uncompromising demand for educators to invest in kids and calls for public education to provide programs which reconnect at-risk youth with their educational environments.

The book compares the standardized test scores of both elementary and high schools charter schools with the scores for regular public schools located nearby. It examines the position supported by charter school advocates that charter schools should be supported because they outperform regular public schools. Given that charter schools in Chicago have enjoyed a great deal of support from the past two mayors, and that they make up some 20% of all public schools in the city, Chicago is the perfect location in which to examine this critical issue. Charter schools siphon money and in theory better students from regular public schools at a time when public schools in almost every big city faces financial difficulties. Teachers unions oppose them, as do most liberal scholars. Conservatives and big business support them, as do most conservative scholars. The existence of charter schools is a most divisive issue! Yet, little real data exist to allow us to properly judge the effectiveness of charters. The current work changes that by examining test data in a sophisticated manner that allows comparisons between charters and regular schools. This work should move the debate forward, but will no doubt generate controversy as well.

Quality Assessment In South African Schools provides a balanced view of assessment in terms of the policy statement on assessment for South African schools. The book offers guidance through recommended assessment guidelines and principles which will help teachers to design and implement sound, meaningful learner assessment strategies.

This second edition contains:

• a new chapter on blended learning
• a strong focus on remote learning throughout the book in order to mirror recent changes in teaching and learning
• new text on leadership in assessment
• open book testing as an assessment technique
• updated examples of reporting and recording

The Peripatetic Journey of Teacher Preparation in Canada situates teacher training, preparation and education in Canada within national and global histories. The authors lead the reader through an exploration of the objectives of schooling, the contextual role of teachers, and the political undercurrents sustaining various educational conceptions and policies. Taking a 'longue duree' approach, the authors begin by considering traditional practices in Indigenous nations encountered by the colonizers of Canada, including the role of the community as an educator. Tracing teacher preparation through colonization, the authors then move on to the formation of the educational state, the development of educational sciences and educational debate, the professionalization of teaching, its feminization at the elementary level, and its integration into the university, along with changes that emerged out of the 'long 1960s.' The book closes with a discussion of the process by which Indigenous people are reclaiming control over their education, and with it their spirituality, as well as gaining control over the formation of their own teachers. Placing the historical analysis of teacher preparation within prevailing political and socio-economic processes, the authors showcase a series of overlapping discourses and internationally relevant educational trends.

Children begin their literacy journeys from the moment of their birth as they begin to read the world around them. They embark on their journeys as they observe and react to the gestures and voices of their family members, and hear and use the language in which they are immersed to communicate with others. Through their interactions with the sign systems surrounding them, they become socialized into the cultural practices of their communities and construct meaning in their lives. Children's entrance into formal education, where they begin to read the "word", further connect them with literacies of other communities, both nationally and globally. Thus, the early years become a critical time to build and support current and future learning where children develop into creative problem solvers, thoughtful communicators and productive leaders and citizens of the next generation. This volume extends current knowledge of children's learning by exploring the importance of children's earliest years within the context of their families and communities and connecting those years with their formal education. Development is viewed through a child's perezhivanie; a concept by Vygotsky (1933-1934/1994) that expresses the unity of the individual's biological and cultural development. According to Vygotsky, development does not isolate the individual from her/his social context. Children are social beings from birth who acquire and make meanings of their world through their interactions with their families, friends, childcare providers, religious groups, and other community members. These interactions encompass the way children use language within children's ecosocial (physical and social worlds) where development occurs. How these ecosocial worlds support each other or collide will impact children's literacy development. This unique contribution provides the reader with opportunities to: a) Recognize the importance of literacy practices as cultural and social within the context of the multiple worlds of young children, b) promote a continuity of children's ecosocial worlds into their formal education through concepts of perezhivanie and resourcebased pedagogies, and c) envision an alternative framework for recognizing children's ecosocial worlds outside of the classroom and integrating aspects of those worlds to involve families in their child's formal education.