"There are no more capable people to advise school districts on improving academic performance of children with disabilities than Judy Elliott and Martha Thurlow. This book is the definitive resource for all who are struggling to meet the challenges put forth first by IDEA 97 and now by NCLB. Simply put, this is a 'must-have' resource. Elliott and Thurlow have combined the most recent research with practical recommendations that go beyond improving test performance to provide the basis upon which real educational equity can be achieved for students with disabilities." -Thomas Hehir, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education Former Director, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Dept. of Education Maximize the academic performance of every student, every day! Students with disabilities must overcome unique obstacles in order to learn, and the pressure of testing often exacerbates existing challenges. With increased focus on accountability for all, how can educators properly prepare students for tests without sacrificing meaningful learning? In Improving Test Performance of Students With Disabilities . . . On District and State Assessments, Second Edition, authors Elliott and Thurlow offer numerous strategies for improving instruction, student accommodations, and test preparation, all with the goal of improving the test performance of students with disabilities. Emphasizing practical application, this comprehensive resource delineates the key elements district, school, and state professionals must consider in order to maximize the academic performance of students with disabilities. The second edition of this insightful text addresses the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on instruction and assessment practices for students with disabilities, including those who are also English Language Learners. Featuring inserts and easy-to-follow worksheets, tables, and appendices, this indispensable resource will enable all educators to help students with disabilities learn more effectively and show what they know on the day of the test. Improving Test Performance of Students With Disabilities . . . Second Edition includes: Practical steps for linking district and/or state standards with student IEP goals Helpful tips enabling instructors to determine the best ways to accommodate their students during instruction and on tests Detailed instructions for improving performance on general and alternate assessments Tables and worksheets to engage both instructors and learners
"This fascinating, well-researched book makes a wonderful contribution to the field. It provides helpful information on what test anxiety is and what we can do about it. This topic is as important today than ever due to education reform initiatives across the country." -James Kelleher, Assistant Superintendent Scituate Public Schools, MA "The book offers answers to the most important question of all: If test anxiety can hinder our ability to make accurate inferences and good decisions for kids, what can we do to ease students' fears? As it turns out, researchers have answers, and the authors present helpful ideas for all of us-parents, educators, and students themselves." -Linda Wacyk, Trustee Grand Ledge Board of Education, MT What can we do about test anxiety that will help our students? Testing is expanding at every level of education and into every corner of social and vocational enterprise, and test anxiety can have devastating effects on students' test scores, confidence, and motivation to learn. Testing has become more extensive and more consequential at every level. The higher the stakes on tests, the greater the concern about the presence and effects of test anxiety. Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment provides straightforward explanations, practical suggestions, and reasonable recommendations for addressing test anxiety. This practical resource offers: An overview of the concept of test anxiety A glossary of assessment and measurement terms Current research findings on test anxiety and which students it is most likely to affect Information on the prevalence, correlations, and effects of test anxiety Situations in which test anxiety can be helpful Suggestions for preventing and reducing the effects of test anxiety
"This fascinating, well-researched book makes a wonderful contribution to the field. It provides helpful information on what test anxiety is and what we can do about it. This topic is as important today than ever due to education reform initiatives across the country." -James Kelleher, Assistant Superintendent Scituate Public Schools, MA "The book offers answers to the most important question of all: If test anxiety can hinder our ability to make accurate inferences and good decisions for kids, what can we do to ease students' fears? As it turns out, researchers have answers, and the authors present helpful ideas for all of us-parents, educators, and students themselves." -Linda Wacyk, Trustee Grand Ledge Board of Education, MT What can we do about test anxiety that will help our students? Testing is expanding at every level of education and into every corner of social and vocational enterprise, and test anxiety can have devastating effects on students' test scores, confidence, and motivation to learn. Testing has become more extensive and more consequential at every level. The higher the stakes on tests, the greater the concern about the presence and effects of test anxiety. Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment provides straightforward explanations, practical suggestions, and reasonable recommendations for addressing test anxiety. This practical resource offers: An overview of the concept of test anxiety A glossary of assessment and measurement terms Current research findings on test anxiety and which students it is most likely to affect Information on the prevalence, correlations, and effects of test anxiety Situations in which test anxiety can be helpful Suggestions for preventing and reducing the effects of test anxiety
Succeeding With Your Doctorate offers complete, up-to-date guidance and discussion on all aspects of successful doctoral work. The five experienced authors give advice on every stage in the process of completing a doctorate, from helping to engage in critical reflection to better understand the reader's own research biases, to useful guidelines on preparing for, and surviving, the viva. Combining general discussion with practical advice, this book is an essential companion to research. Topics include: Preparing for a doctorate Embarking on your Research Adapting to life as a student Working with a supervisor Reading critically Conceptualising your research Thinking about methodologies and approaches Producing a thesis Preparing for and taking the viva Disseminating your research
Succeeding With Your Doctorate offers complete, up-to-date guidance and discussion on all aspects of successful doctoral work. The five experienced authors give advice on every stage in the process of completing a doctorate, from helping to engage in critical reflection to better understand the reader's own research biases, to useful guidelines on preparing for, and surviving, the viva. Combining general discussion with practical advice, this book is an essential companion to research. Topics include: Preparing for a doctorate Embarking on your Research Adapting to life as a student Working with a supervisor Reading critically Conceptualising your research Thinking about methodologies and approaches Producing a thesis Preparing for and taking the viva Disseminating your research
In today's standards-based and accountability-driven classroom, teachers are increasingly seeking ways to demonstrate that their students know what they are learning and are aware of why they are learning it. This groundbreaking guide shows how the combination of portfolios and student-led teacher-parent conferences can increase student understanding. Using this technique, students will be able to take charge of their learning, and are able to clearly communicate the goals of their education with fellow students, administrators, and parents. Real-life examples show how the approach has been successfully applied at any level and for any subject matter. Newly added features include: Strategies for beginning the portfolio process with students; Current research findings that support student-led conferencing; Easy-to-use timelines and sample schedules; Masters that cut down on teacher prep-time; The latest information on electronic portfolios
In today's standards-based and accountability-driven classroom, teachers are increasingly seeking ways to demonstrate that their students know what they are learning and are aware of why they are learning it. This groundbreaking guide shows how the combination of portfolios and student-led teacher-parent conferences can increase student understanding. Using this technique, students will be able to take charge of their learning, and are able to clearly communicate the goals of their education with fellow students, administrators, and parents. Real-life examples show how the approach has been successfully applied at any level and for any subject matter. Newly added features include: Strategies for beginning the portfolio process with students; Current research findings that support student-led conferencing; Easy-to-use timelines and sample schedules; Masters that cut down on teacher prep-time; The latest information on electronic portfolios
This textbook provides a theoretical framework for considering past and current developments in research into views of the mind and of learning. Controversial aspects of learning theories are examined, in particular the differing perspectives on the process of knowledge construction. The implications of the various theories for assessment practice are also made explicit. The text illustrates the way different theories lead to particular models of curriculum assessment, using examples from different phases of education. The final part of the book explores learning and assessment processes derived from particular views of learning knowledge. Learners, Learning and Assessment is a Course Reader for The Open University course E836 Learning Curriculum and Assessment.
According to the recently enacted "No Child Left Behind" legislation, "Each state, school district, and school will be expected to make adequate yearly progress toward meeting state standards. This progress will be measured for all students by sorting results for students who are economically disadvantaged, from racial or ethnic minority groups, ......
