Guskey Thomas R.

How do assessments for learning differ from assessments of learning? What is the purpose of grading? After nearly two decades of immersion in standards-based curriculua and instruction, our nation's educators are often still confounded by the (admittedly complex) landscape of standards, assessment, and reporting. Lead author Tom Guskey has a remarkable knack for bringing clarity to even the most complex of concepts. In this brief, practical guide, he and co-author Lee Ann Jung address the frequently-asked questions that almost inevitably surface in his work with school districts, state DOEs, and international agencies. The authors respond to these questions in short, simple, jargon-free, reader-friendly responses that will make sense to all levels of readers. As schools proceed with the implementation of the Common Core curriculum and the use of corresponding assessments, this invaluable guide will help clarify the meaning of these critical issues for key stakeholders and greatly facilitate communication among and between group members.

As schools increasingly focus on standards-based educational requirements, many educators face significant issues about equitable grading policies for diverse student populations. This edited volume distinguishes critical concerns around standards-based grading from those less consequential and describes the research base for each issue as it relates to grading and reporting. Relating the research to implications for better practice, the contributors offer specific suggestions for improving grading policies and practices at the school and classroom levels. Their insightful essays offer practical responses for serious questions such as: - Why is grading inconsistent across states and districts? - Why do students' report card grades and classroom performance vary? - How can teachers assign fair and accurate grades to students with special learning needs? - How can educators assign fair and accurate grades to English Language Learners and effectively communicate the meaning of those grades to parents or guardians? - What are the legal issues that influence grading and reporting policies in an era of high-stakes accountability?

As schools increasingly focus on standards-based educational requirements, many educators face significant issues about equitable grading policies for diverse student populations. This edited volume distinguishes critical concerns around standards-based grading from those less consequential and describes the research base for each issue as it relates to grading and reporting. Relating the research to implications for better practice, the contributors offer specific suggestions for improving grading policies and practices at the school and classroom levels. Their insightful essays offer practical responses for serious questions such as: - Why is grading inconsistent across states and districts? - Why do students' report card grades and classroom performance vary? - How can teachers assign fair and accurate grades to students with special learning needs? - How can educators assign fair and accurate grades to English Language Learners and effectively communicate the meaning of those grades to parents or guardians? - What are the legal issues that influence grading and reporting policies in an era of high-stakes accountability?

Teachers, parents, students, administrators and community members all generally agree that we need better grading and reporting systems. Here is the first serious look at the issue to provide all involved with a coherent and thoughtful framework. The goal to develop a deeper and more reflective understanding of the various aspects of the subject, and to bring some organization and clarity to this topic.

Teachers, parents, students, administrators and community members all generally agree that we need better grading and reporting systems. Here is the first serious look at the issue to provide all involved with a coherent and thoughtful framework. The goal to develop a deeper and more reflective understanding of the various aspects of the subject, and to bring some organization and clarity to this topic.

The term `student-led conference' is almost self-explanatory. A student-led conference is a conference with parents led by the student. The classroom teacher's role becomes that of a facilitator. In a student-led conference, students lead parents through a discussion of their work which is usually organized in a portfolio collection. Typically, several conferences are conducted simultaneously in a classroom with family groups seated far enough apart to allow privacy. The teacher circulates among family groups, stopping long enough to make pertinent comments and answer questions. Students primarily direct the conversation which is focused on their work and classroom behavior. The real power in this innovation is that student-led conferences require students to take most of the responsibility for reporting what they have learned. The authors' goal in writing this book is to help readers understand: · Why it is effective for students to lead a conference · What an effective model for student-led conferences looks like · How to prepare and organize for student-led conferences · How to evaluate the effectiveness of student-led conferences

Book of the Year 2000 National Staff Development Council, USA How do we determine the effects and effectiveness of activities designed to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of educators so that they might improve the learning of students? Thomas R. Guskey explores the processes and procedures involved in evaluating professional development, from the very simple to the very complex, at five increasing levels of sophistication: - Participants' reactions to professional development - How much participants learn - Evaluating organizational support and change - How participants use their new knowledge and skills - Improvement in student learning . . . complete with sample evaluation forms, checklists, and helpful hints and tips.

The knowledge base in education is constantly expanding. Practitioners in education, like those in other professional fields, must keep abreast of this emerging knowledge base and use it to upgrade their craft skills regularly. How this is to be accomplished can be viewed from a variety of perspectives, each with its own conceptual premises, each informed by different bodies of research, and each offering different prescriptions for improvement. This book contains a collection of these varied perspectives, with individual chapters written by researchers and theoreticians renowned for their work in the area of professional and career development. Their contributions not only detail their particular perspective and the conceptual ground from which it derives, they also offer specific prescriptions for practice based on that perspective. Each chapter's discussion is framed by a common set of issue questions provided by the editors; as a result, the reader can draw upon these unifying themes to compare the various perspectives.

The implementation of a 'high stakes', performace-based assessment system has resulted in financial rewards being granted to those schools demonstrating improved results, while sanctions have been imposed on schools whose academic performance is poor. Contributors to this book examine the complex issues associated with this system in the state of Kentucky and offer diverse opinion on the topic.

The implementation of a 'high stakes', performace-based assessment system has resulted in financial rewards being granted to those schools demonstrating improved results, while sanctions have been imposed on schools whose academic performance is poor. Contributors to this book examine the complex issues associated with this system in the state of Kentucky and offer diverse opinion on the topic.