Matthew Knoester

This practitioner-friendly resource will help parents and educators with different values and viewpoints to better communicate, understand, and collaborate for the benefit of all children (K– 2). Drawing from personal stories and current research, this book suggests ways in which families and schools can work together to optimize the academic, social, and emotional development of all students, with a focus on diverse students and families. Utilizing their unique backgrounds as professional educators, scholars, parents, and immigrants, the authors provide vivid descriptions of successful family–school collaborations, powerful culturally relevant educational experiences, effective communication models, and strategies parents can use to become stronger advocates for public schools in their communities. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter are designed to improve communication so parents can better understand the work of schools and, in turn, educators can learn from families. Book Features: Offers a road map for creating a school community grounded in the tenets of integrated, multicultural education.Provides tools for creating high-quality communication between families and educators, including guidance for overcoming common obstacles.Provides information for parents about how to navigate the school system and its resources.Includes reflection and discussion questions that can be used in book clubs or study groups with both parents and educators.Contains a list of books that the authors recommend reading and discussing following this one.

This practitioner-friendly resource will help parents and educators with different values and viewpoints to better communicate, understand, and collaborate for the benefit of all children (K– 2). Drawing from personal stories and current research, this book suggests ways in which families and schools can work together to optimize the academic, social, and emotional development of all students, with a focus on diverse students and families. Utilizing their unique backgrounds as professional educators, scholars, parents, and immigrants, the authors provide vivid descriptions of successful family–school collaborations, powerful culturally relevant educational experiences, effective communication models, and strategies parents can use to become stronger advocates for public schools in their communities. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter are designed to improve communication so parents can better understand the work of schools and, in turn, educators can learn from families. Book Features: Offers a road map for creating a school community grounded in the tenets of integrated, multicultural education.Provides tools for creating high-quality communication between families and educators, including guidance for overcoming common obstacles.Provides information for parents about how to navigate the school system and its resources.Includes reflection and discussion questions that can be used in book clubs or study groups with both parents and educators.Contains a list of books that the authors recommend reading and discussing following this one.

2024 AESA Critics’ Choice Book AwardThis volume demonstrates how multilingual schooling can enhance democracy through a connection with the policies and practices of critical education.With its in-depth analysis of real schools that focus on the dual emphases of multiculturalism and integration, this book offers a comparative look at educational and political controversies over race, citizenship, and societal power relations. The authors describe the ambitious goals and critical multicultural and bilingual education strategies used at these schools, and, in doing so, they highlight how the challenges involved relate to larger theoretical issues that are inherent to a critically multicultural and bilingual education.This book examines what a truly critical multicultural and bilingual education means and what it requires of those who are intimately connected with these processes. As such, it will be important reading for those studying, teaching, or researching in Sociology of Education, Multicultural Education, Multilingual and Bilingual Education, Educational Policy, and Critical Education Studies.

2024 AESA Critics’ Choice Book AwardThis volume demonstrates how multilingual schooling can enhance democracy through a connection with the policies and practices of critical education.With its in-depth analysis of real schools that focus on the dual emphases of multiculturalism and integration, this book offers a comparative look at educational and political controversies over race, citizenship, and societal power relations. The authors describe the ambitious goals and critical multicultural and bilingual education strategies used at these schools, and, in doing so, they highlight how the challenges involved relate to larger theoretical issues that are inherent to a critically multicultural and bilingual education.This book examines what a truly critical multicultural and bilingual education means and what it requires of those who are intimately connected with these processes. As such, it will be important reading for those studying, teaching, or researching in Sociology of Education, Multicultural Education, Multilingual and Bilingual Education, Educational Policy, and Critical Education Studies.

Un problema fundamentalmente complejo sobre c mo evaluar el conocimiento de un ni o no se puede reducir a una simple calificaci n de prueba. Ese es el argumento principal del libro M s all de las pruebas, que describe siete formas de evaluaci n m s efectivas que los resultados de las pruebas estandarizadas: (1) autoevaluaciones de los estudiantes, (2) observaciones directas del maestro sobre los estudiantes y su trabajo, (3) revisiones descriptivas del ni o, (4) entrevistas de lectura y matem ticas con ni os, (5) portafolios y defensa p blica del trabajo de los estudiantes, (6) revisiones escolares y observaciones de profesionales externos, y (7) juntas escolares y reuniones de la ciudad. Seg n los destacados autores Deborah Meier y Matthew Knoester, estas evaluaciones ser an lo que podemos y no podemos saber sobre el conocimiento, las habilidades y las disposiciones de los ni os, y son m s adaptables a las distintas misiones educativas. Por primera vez en espa ol, el libro ganador del Critics' Choice Award 2019 (American Educational Studies Association). "En una poca en la que el uso de pruebas estandarizadas se ha visto como un mecanismo para mejorar los resultados educativos en todo el mundo, este libro ofrece a los educadores poderosas perspectivas y ejemplos detallados de formas en las que podemos descubrir, documentar y celebrar lo que los ni os saben y pueden hacer. Lo recomiendo con entusiasmo a profesores, formadores de maestros y responsables de la formulaci n de pol ticas". Guadalupe Vald s, Profesora de Educaci n en la Universidad de Stanford.

The authors of this timely book argue that a fundamentally complex problem—how to assess the knowledge of a child—cannot be reduced to a simple test score. Beyond Testing describes seven forms of assessment that are more effective than standardized test results: (1) student self-assessments, (2) direct teacher observations of students and their work, (3) descriptive reviews of the child, (4) reading and math interviews with children, (5) portfolios and public defense of student work, (6) school reviews and observations by outside professionals, and (7) school boards and town meetings. These assessments are more honest about what we can and cannot know about children's knowledge, skills, and dispositions, and are more adaptable to varying educational missions. Readers can compare and contrast each approach and make informed decisions about what is most appropriate for their school.Book Features:Legendary educator Deborah Meier's thinking on assessments as they relate to the central goal of educating for democracy.Effective approaches for getting to know the strengths and challenges of individual students and schools.Multiple examples of children and schools for each assessment.A case study of 38 successful high schools in New York using performance assessments in place of standardized tests.

Beyond Testing describes seven forms of assessment that are more effective than standardized test results. These assessments are more honest about what we can and cannot know about children’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Readers can compare and contrast each approach to determine which is most appropriate for their school.