What Works in Schools: Translating Research Into Action

What Works in Schools: Translating Research Into Action Review

What Works in Schools: Translating Research into Action

Any school in the United States can operate at advanced levels of effectiveness-if it is willing to implement what is known about effective schooling. "If we follow the guidance offered from 35 years of research," says author Robert J. Marzano, "we can enter an era of unprecedented effectiveness for the public practice of education." In What Works in Schools: Translating Research into Action, Marzano synthesizes that research to provide clear and unequalled insight into the nature of schooling.

Marzano defines the factors affecting student achievement and offers compelling answers to once-elusive questions:

* How can schools set academic goals that do not underestimate student potential? * How critical are staff collegiality and professional development? * Do all students have equal opportunity to learn given current curriculum requirements? * Supplemental versus required content-is there room for redefinition? * What types of parental and community involvement make a real difference? * What instructional strategies really work? * What influence can an individual teacher have on students? * How can teachers manage classrooms that promote positive student-and-teacher relationships? * How can teachers structure their curricula to better sequence and pace content? * Can teachers really overcome a student's negative home environment? * How does an understanding of motivation theories help students and teachers overcome learning obstacles? * What specific learning strategies can enhance learned intelligence and background knowledge?

In each chapter, Marzano recommends specific-and attainable-action steps to implement successful strategies culled from the wealth of research data.

Schools can and do affect student achievement. In his latest work, Marzano leads the way in establishing positive approaches that can make the long-held dream of effective public education a reality.

Improving Schools Through Action Research: A Comprehensive Guide for Educators (2nd Edition)

Improving Schools Through Action Research: A Comprehensive Guide for Educators (2nd Edition) Review

This text emphasizes the reflective processes used in planning and conducting action research studies, data analysis techniques (quantitative and qualitative), and displaying and explaining results. It provides specific information needed to complete each step of the action research cycle with chapter activities that help the student/reader conduct projects focused on school improvement. Each activity includes a research paper component that helps students create a research paper as they complete the activities.

Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education.

Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education. Review

Can charter schools save public education? This radical question has unleashed a flood of opinions from Americans struggling with the contentious challenges of education reform. There has been plenty of heat over charter schools and their implications, but, until now, not much light. This important new book supplies plenty of illumination.

Charter schools--independently operated public schools of choice--have existed in the United States only since 1992, yet there are already over 1,500 of them. How are they doing? Here prominent education analysts Chester Finn, Bruno Manno, and Gregg Vanourek offer the richest data available on the successes and failures of this exciting but controversial approach to education reform. After studying one hundred schools, interviewing hundreds of participants, surveying thousands more, and analyzing the most current data, they have compiled today's most authoritative, comprehensive explanation and appraisal of the charter phenomenon. Fact-filled, clear-eyed, and hard-hitting, this is the book for anyone concerned about public education and interested in the role of charter schools in its renewal.

Can charter schools boost student achievement, drive educational innovation, and develop a new model of accountability for public schools? Where did the idea of charter schools come from? What would the future hold if this phenomenon spreads? These are some of the questions that this book answers. It addresses pupil performance, enrollment patterns, school start-up problems, charges of inequity, and smoldering political battles. It features close-up looks at five real--and very different--charter schools and two school districts that have been deeply affected by the charter movement, including their setbacks and triumphs. After outlining a new model of education accountability and describing how charter schools often lead to community renewal, the authors take the reader on an imaginary tour of a charter-based school system.

Charter schools are the most vibrant force in education today. This book suggests that their legacy will consist not only of helping millions of families obtain a better education for their children but also in renewing American public education itself.

Renewing America's Schools: A Guide for School-Based Action (Jossey Bass Education Series)

Renewing America's Schools: A Guide for School-Based Action (Jossey Bass Education Series) Review

NEW IN PAPERPBACK

An excellent 'how-to-do-it book' for educators in schools and school districts who are involved in or about to begin major school-based reforms.


?Thomas W. Payzant, superintAndent of schools, San Diego, California

Renewing America's Schools raises the most fundamental questions about the purpose of public education, the role of schools, and the needed school-based application to fulfill the promise of education in a democratic society. This is a book that shows teachers, principals, students, parents, central office personnel, school boards, and community members exactly what they need to do to create schools that are purposeful, moral, and successful places.

A down-to-earth and provocative look at the school reform movement, Renewing America's Schools keeps the focus of renewal squarely on teaching and learning concerns. It is an invaluable resource for anyone involved with school change.

Contents

1. Introduction: Recapturing the Essence of Schools

Part One: A Framework for Renewing Schools

2. The Covenant: Establishing Common Principles of Teaching and Learning

3. The Charter: Understanding How Decisions Are Made

4. The Critical Study Process: Making the Most of Important Information

Part Two: The Work of School Renewal

5. Educational Tasks and Organizational Readiness

6. Becoming an Educative Community

7. Dealing with Tough Questions of Practice

8. Supporting School Renewal: The District's Role

9. Common Dilemmas of Good Schools

10. Conclusion: Staying the Course

Carl D. Glickman is professor of educational leadership and executive director of the Program for School Improvement at the University of Georgia.