Research, testimonies and descriptions of successful projects and initiatives have shown the benefits of well-planned inclusive arts education for students with disabilities. The group of students with disabilities is diverse. The only thing they have in common is a disability that prevents them from taking advantage of the general curriculum…

Through our national thematic reports HM Inspectors of Education share their professional view on particular aspects of education. This report focuses on sharing the key features which, when taken together, make the greatest difference to using assessment effectively to improve learning and teaching and in turn, outcomes for children and young…

With career-long professional learning increasingly seen as a significant element of teacher education, this paper proposes that there is a need to acknowledge the complex nature of the professional learning process. The paper explores lessons learnt from over a decade of professional learning efforts by the Developmental Physical Education Group…

The current fiscal climate in California and the country has had a tremendous impact on every facet of society. Education has experienced budget reductions that have impacted every aspect of serving students and their families. Research provides educators with evidence-based strategies that have shown to improve student achievement. This study…

In order to better understand literacy coaches' impact on teachers, the authors analyzed interviews with 35 teachers who participated in a statewide professional development effort, the South Carolina Reading Initiative. For 3 years, literacy coaches facilitated bimonthly study groups for teachers and spent 4 days a week in teachers' classrooms…

Teachers and administrators are faced with a basic question when planning for a school year: how should the students be grouped when coming to school? Should students of similar age be together or should students be assigned to multi-age classrooms at the elementary school level? If the multi-age method is chosen, how will academic progress be…

Success in Sight focuses on the interrelated parts of an education system. This systemic school improvement intervention is designed to address schools' specific needs while building their capacities to plan, implement, and evaluate school improvement practices. It is intended to help schools, leadership teams, and teachers systemically engage in…

Past research has documented that the effectiveness of three different math strategies delivered to students via one-on-one instruction (i.e., cover-copy-compare (CCC); e.g., Skinner, Turco, Beatty, & Rasavage, 1989, traditional drill and practice (TDP); e.g., Cybriwsky & Schuster, 1990, and constant time delay (CTD); Kulik, 1994). This study…

This study compares teacher candidates' initial and changed beliefs, dispositions, and uses of technology in two credential program models: a one-to-one laptop program with ubiquitous technology use and a traditional credential program in which students are expected to have specific technology experiences and requirements in each course (a model…

This study examined the effects of individualized, integrated language arts as a reading approach on struggling readers' comprehension scores obtained from oral narrative, silent narrative, and silent expository passages at three levels: below-grade, on-grade, and above-grade levels. Students (N = 93) in grades four through eight, who were reading…

This overview is presented in three sections. Thomas Guskey outlines the development of mastery learning, its application in the classroom, and its benefits and drawbacks. LuOuida Phillips answers questions about the student's role in mastery learning. Kay Miller describes the success of mastery learning at Westover School. (SJL)

Notes that in teacher study groups (TSG), teachers meet to converse and to study teaching and learning. Discusses key features of TSGs, TSGs in action, and benefits of TSGs. Suggests that it is important that each teacher begin exploring the topic of interest through his or her best learning mode. (SG)

Considers how poor readers at Key Stage 2 need ongoing support for reading development. Notes that they are frequently weak in the metacognitive skills that enable good readers to make their own progress and they require a repetition of much phonics material from Key Stage 1. Charts the development of a phonics booster programme for poor readers…

This report discusses the results of the third year--1998-99--of California's Class Size Reduction (CSR) program. Assessments of the program show that CSR was almost fully implemented by 1998-99, with over 92 percent of students in K-3 in classes of 20 or fewer students. Those K-3 classes that had not been reduced in size were concentrated in…

A study of 4 children with autism and 12 typical children (ages 5-8) investigated the effectiveness of a social skills program. Typical peers were provided disability information and training in behavior management strategies along with social skills training. Results showed increased frequency and duration of interactions for all children.…