Preparing Students for Testing and Doing Better in School


Book Description

Help students master test taking through preparation strategies that lead to academic success! As the stakes on high-profile student tests such as the SAT continue to rise, student preparedness is becoming increasingly important. As a result, helping students do well on tests and succeed in school has become a top priority for teachers. This indispensable guide responds to this need by providing resources to promote content learning and test-taking abilities in middle and secondary school students. This practical text provides charts, checklists, Internet resources, and sample exercises for teachers to use with students, plus a final test covering content from each chapter. Using research-based practices, educators will be able to help students develop • Strategies for dealing with test anxiety • Effective time management and organizational skills • Note-taking and study techniques applicable across content areas • Methods for taking essay and objective tests Tests are often a source of anxiety for students and teachers alike, but they don’t have to be! Use these proven tools and strategies to help your students develop the skills and confidence that lead to positive academic experiences.




The Knowledge Gap


Book Description

The untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty. It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.




Wonder


Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face—who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that inspired the Choose Kind movement, a major motion picture, and the critically acclaimed graphic novel White Bird. And don't miss R.J. Palacio's highly anticipated new novel, Pony, available now! I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Beginning from Auggie’s point of view and expanding to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others, the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.




Tests That Teach


Book Description

Now that the No Child Left Behind Act has left its mark on public education, educators across the United States are all the more invested in preparing their students for state and national assessments. In Tests That Teach: Using Standardized Tests to Improve Instruction, Karen Tankersley guides you with proven tips and instructional strategies to help your students perform to their potential. Covering all core contents areas—language arts, social studies, math, and science—and respecting all levels of student performance, Tankersley *Examines the various types of questions that routinely appear on these assessments; *Provides sample multiple-choice and constructed-response questions from the tests; *Offers guidelines on how to create daily lessons that encourage students to practice the skills and demonstrate the knowledge they'll need to use on the high-stakes tests; *Suggests word lists, games, discussion topics, and testing ideas for your classroom; and *Describes how school staff can create a learning community that fosters collaboration among teachers and high performance in students. Also included are a wealth of online resources for lesson plans, daily classroom activities, and virtual field trips, as well as links to every state's released materials on its own assessment. As Tankersley explains, teaching students the skills they need to do well on constructed-response tests will better prepare students both to score well on state and national assessments and to take their place as thoughtful and organized thinkers in a rapidly changing, competitive society.




The Ant Hill Disaster


Book Description

Will it happen again, Mama? After the Ant Hill School is destroyed, a little boy ant is afraid to go back to school. His mom caringly explains to him that sometimes things happen in life over which we have no control, but we have to find a way to keep living and growing. To do that, "We breathe in and breathe out, and hold onto each other. We shed a lot of tears, and we love one another. We all come together as a strong team of ONE, and then we rebuild, and get things done!" The Ant Hill Disaster thoughtfully addresses fears associated with both natural and man-caused disasters. It models effective parenting and teaching responses. This book can help assure children that through love, empathetic understanding, preparation, and effective communication, they can stand strong, even in the midst of uncontrollable events.




FTCE Reading K-12


Book Description

Pass the FTCE Reading K-12 Test Are you working on your reading endorsement? The NavaED FTCE Reading K-12 study guide with practice tests is fully aligned to the skills and competencies assessed on the exam. The study guide has content and test questions that cover everything assessed on the FTCE Reading K-12, so you can pass your exam the first time you take it. The study guide includes: Detailed content sections for all competencies of the test, so you understand everything covered on the exam. 10 practice test questions after each competency, so you can practice the specific skills for each type of question you'll see on the test. Detailed answer explanations for every test question in the study guide, so you know exactly why you answered correctly or incorrectly. Multiple teaching scenarios and assessment questions, so you are prepared for complex situational questions on the test. Test tips and strategies specific to the FTCE Reading K-12 Test, so you can think like a test maker and not a test taker. A full 120-question practice test with detailed answer explanations, so you can practice your skills. A list of "good words" to look for in the answer choices, so you can identify the correct answers and eliminate incorrect answers quickly. The 9 competencies covered in this study guide are: Knowledge of research and theories of reading processes Knowledge of text types and structures Knowledge of reading assessment and evaluation Knowledge of learning environments and procedures that support reading Knowledge of oral and written language acquisition and beginning reading Knowledge of phonics and word recognition Knowledge of vocabulary acquisition and use Knowledge of reading fluency and reading comprehension Knowledge of reading program development, implementation, and coordination




The Testing Charade


Book Description

America's leading expert in educational testing and measurement openly names the failures caused by today's testing policies and provides a blueprint for doing better. 6 x 9.




The Kansas Silent Reading Test


Book Description




McKeachie's Teaching Tips


Book Description

This indispensable handbook provides helpful strategies for dealing with both the everyday challenges of university teaching and those that arise in efforts to maximize learning for every student. The suggested strategies are supported by research and adaptable to specific classroom situations. Rather than suggest a “set of recipes” to be followed mechanically, the book gives instructors the tools they need to deal with the ever-changing dynamics of teaching and learning. Available with InfoTrac Student Collections http://gocengage.com/infotrac. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.




Preparing Students for Standardized Testing, Grade 7


Book Description

Familiarize students in grade 7 with the format and language of standardized tests using Preparing Students for Standardized Testing. This 128-page book is organized in a clear, concise way so that the lessons and tips build students' confidence and practice tests support skill reinforcement. This book covers topics such as vocabulary, language mechanics and comprehension, math computation and problem solving, scientific process, history and culture, government, and geography. The book includes reproducibles and an answer key.