In this new edition, internationally recognized assessment expert Kay Burke provides an updated, comprehensive six-step walk-through of how to create tasks that promote learning for all students and how to write rubrics linked straight to the requirements of state standards and the No Child Left Behind Act. Burke demonstrates how to build a performance task unit as the ideal curriculum framework for clustering standards and differentiating instruction within a single cohesive unit of study. She shows how to share checklists and rubrics with students for ongoing formative assessment and self assessment. Teachers and administrators will find everything they need, including: - Templates for all six steps - Tools and tips to help teachers build their own tasks, checklists, and rubrics - Theory, examples, applications, and explanations to help apply the six-step process - Guidance for differentiating for special needs within standards-linked tasks - Sample tasks, rubrics, and units The new edition of From Standards to Rubrics in 6 Steps provides the path and tools for flow-through from standards to rubrics to high student achievement.

'Wow! Burke has written a book for schools that really gets to the point! It is easy to use and rich in resources such as checklists, rubrics, and sample unit designs to help every principal be an effective learning leader and allow teachers to utilize an approach rich in best practices for balanced assessment' - Lee Adams, Principal, Parklane Elementary School, Atlanta, GA Create assessments that meet state standards and target students' learning needs! For many years, assessment was relegated to a secondary role in the educational process. But with the increased emphasis on high-stakes testing, effective assessment has emerged as one of the major factors in raising student achievement. In this latest edition of her bestseller, renowned educator Kay Burke provides a wide range of updated, easy-to-implement alternative assessments that address today's accountability requirements and focus on improving learning. Designed for use across all content areas, these formative assessments are rooted in the language of state standards and emphasize differentiating instruction to meet students' individual learning needs. Revised throughout with updated research, this new edition helps teachers: - Build Response to Intervention checklists for struggling students - Develop unit plans using differentiated learning and assessment strategies - Create portfolios that emphasize metacognition - Design performance tasks that motivate and engage students - Construct rubrics that describe indicators of quality work - Create tests that focus on higher-order thinking skills Offering numerous applications and examples, How to Assess Authentic Learning guides teachers in developing the assessment tools needed to help all students meet or exceed mandated academic standards.

"As a new teacher, I am always looking for ideas that will make me feel more confident. Using a portfolio will help me show evidence that the students are making progress toward meeting state standards." -Stephanie Jones, Teacher Forrest City High School, AR "A good overview of the entire portfolio process, from its philosophical foundations to the celebration of student achievement." -Michael F. Dwyer, English Department Chair Otter Valley Union High School, Brandon, VT Encourage student creativity and academic growth through portfolios and authentic assessment! Research and practice show that portfolios are powerful tools for assessing students authentically, communicating with parents about the learning process, and helping learners across all grade levels and content areas record their successes and take ownership of their learning. The third edition of The Portfolio Connection offers practical advice and reader-friendly strategies for implementing student portfolios in the classroom. Through step-by-step procedures, the authors help teachers incorporate standards into the portfolio process by providing expanded checklists and rubrics to monitor student progress. The updated edition also includes: Additional information on e-portfolios and integrating technology Steps for conducting student-led conferences Portfolio examples for children with special needs Guidance on increasing parent involvement Information on the impact of NCLB on student assessment Discover how you can use portfolios to heighten students' self-reflection while expanding their critical and creative thinking skills.

The third edition of The Portfolio Connection: Student Work Linked to Standards offers practical advice and reader-friendly strategies for using portfolios to assess students authentically, demonstrate student learning and growth, and help students celebrate their own achievement. With a focus on incorporating standards into the portfolio process, the authors show teachers how to help students collect portfolio pieces and how to develop checklists and rubrics to monitor student progress. This essential resource includes: Tips for integrating technology into the portfolio process Steps for conducting student-led conferences Reproducibles for immediate classroom use

Formerly a SkyLight publication This updated edition of Mentoring Guidebook Level 1: Starting the Journey defines the mentor's role and provides tools for building trust and effective communication. New selections include information on successful observation and multiple intelligences. This guidebook covers the basic principles of mentoring and important teaching practices shared by mentors, including: Teaching with the multiple intelligences Assessing student work Managing an interactive classroom Handling disruptive students Selections from experts in the field make this an invaluable resource for beginning the mentoring process.

Formerly a SkyLight publication.Let's face it, effective classroom management is the key to a respectful, cooperative learning environment. Tips for Managing Your Classroom, excerpted from What to Do With the Kid Who..., establishes the fundamental ground rules for managing a classroom. From creating procedures and rules with students to using proactive teacher behaviors, this book suggests strategies that teachers can use to create the environment they want.

Formerly a SkyLight publication. "Can I see your portfolio?" It's a phrase teachers will hear from their current administrators and potential employers. Portfolios capture an educator's teaching style, philosophy, and accomplishments, and lay them out for everyone to see. But portfolios are not only used for performance reviews, job searches, and promotion justifications; they also aid educators in long-term development and goal setting. Portfolios allow teachers to make a realistic evaluation of their own progress, and if necessary, adapt accordingly. Kay Burke discusses the two major types of portfolios-professional growth and performance-and walks teachers through every aspect of developing and maintaining a useful piece. Teachers learn how to: Review resources Collect data Collaborate with peers Select and organize content Reflect on finished portfolio projects Complete with blacklines and a sample portfolio, this how-to guide is a keystone for a professional development library.

This new edition offers both new and experienced teachers over 200 updated strategies and techniques to meet the critical challenges of today's diverse classroom and unique student needs. This resource features the latest theories and research on classroom management, violence prevention, emotional intelligence, inclusion, and cooperative learning. Addressing 19 common discipline problems, the author offers practical interventions and helps teachers put best practices into action-establishing a warm classroom climate, providing clear expectations, using authentic assessment techniques, and teaching social skills.

This second volume in a two-part mentoring series uses the foundations presented in Mentoring Guidebook Level 1: Starting the Journey and further explores the key skills and strategies of a successful mentoring relationship. Each skill is examined in greater detail and includes: Observation and data-gathering techniques Integrated lesson planning Brain-compatible teaching Cooperative learning Performance tasks Portfolios The professional development process Mentoring Guidebook Level 2: Exploring Teaching Strategies also explores the importance of establishing successful communication strategies and building effective learning communities of paraprofessionals, parents, volunteers, and teachers.