You are here

What Every Parent Should Know About Schools, Standards, and High Stakes Tests
Share
Share

What Every Parent Should Know About Schools, Standards, and High Stakes Tests


October 2005 | 88 pages | Corwin

"Full of wonderful information, and very thought provoking!"
-Susan E. Fisher, NBCT
Douglas County School District, CO

"Cuts through all the jargon."
-Stephanie A. Slowik, NBCT, Nationally Certified School Counselor
Wake County Public Schools, NC

"Gives a better understanding of what the standards mean, what to do with the standards, and what to do if standards aren't being met by a school."
-Shannon Journell, Teacher
Enon Elementary School, OH

"Not only am I an educator, but I am also a single mom of two. I read this book from both perspectives and was enlightened by the information. Every parent should be aware of the information in it, especially those who move frequently."
-Stacy Slomko, Teacher
Perth Amboy High School, NJ

The essential resource for parents who want to help their children succeed in school!

Expert educator and award-winning author Donna Walker Tileston helps parents take the guesswork out of understanding educational standards, mandated tests, No Child Left Behind, and the myriad other issues affecting their children's schools today. Within this concise, reader-friendly guide, parents will find a wealth of easy-to-understand information, including:

  • How to understand and access local and national standards
  • Five things parents can do to improve standards-based teaching and testing
  • Ten guides to asking the right questions at open-school events and parent-teacher conferences
  • Three ways to help children master high stakes tests
  • What to do if schools don't achieve adequate yearly progress
  • A glossary that defines the buzzwords that mystify non-educators

With this one handy guide, all parents can become active, informed, and involved participants in their children's education.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Chapter One: Whose Standards?
The History Behind School Standards

 
No Child Left Behind

 
How To Access The Standards For Your Child’s School

 
National Standards

 
 
Chapter Two: Why Standards Are Important to Education
How Standards Help Produce Alignment That Leads to Equity

 
Alignment in the Classroom

 
Standards as a Measuring Rod for Schools

 
Why Adequate Yearly Progress Matters

 
What To Do If Adequate Yearly Progress Is Not Being Achieved

 
Why Alignment Is Important

 
The Reality of Alignment

 
Five Things Parents Can Do

 
 
Chapter Three: Standards and Alignment
The Format Of Standards and Benchmarks

 
How Standards Are Used as a Guide for What Teachers Teach

 
Why The Instructional Practice Is Important to Student Success

 
How Standards Are Used as a Guide for What Teachers Assess

 
What Does The Research Say is the Best Way to Teach Vocabulary?

 
What Processes Will Students Need To Know?

 
 
Chapter Four: Asking the Right Questions
What are the Standards and Benchmarks for My State’s Schools?

 
How do I Know That My Child’s School is Teaching to the State Standards?

 
What Do I Need to Know About the High Stakes Test Given in My State?

 
What Information Do I Need at the Local School Level?

 
What Other Information is Important to Examine on the School’s State Report Card?

 
How Can I be Sure That My Child’s School Keeps Current With Quality Research on Learning?

 
What Questions Should I Ask When Adequate Yearly Progress Is Not Being Achieved?

 
What Can We Do To Improve the Education System?

 
Where Can I Go For More Information?

 
What If?

 
 
Chapter Five: Helping Your Child Master High Stakes Tests
Know the Vocabulary

 
Practice Compare and Contrast

 
Pay Attention to Your Child’s Stress Levels

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

"Very informative to me – both as an experienced teacher and a parent. It was an easy read, full of wonderful information, and very thought provoking!"

Susan E. Fisher, NBCT
Douglas County School District

"A definite contribution to this field...it relays the facts of the past and the wave of the future."

Melanie Sitzer-Hedges
West Gate Elementary

"Parent friendly and an easy read.The material is useful as it explains not only what the standards are, but how to read them."

"The author did an adequate job of explaining the standards so that the lay person could not only read them, but also apply them by using the questions to check the standards at their school."

Sandra Kraynok
St. Louis Public Schools

"Very timely with the push of the 'No Child left Behind' legislation, which has really highlighted school standards and the attainment of these standards. It seems to cut through all of the language/jargon and give a clearer understanding of standards and what is going on in education."

Stephanie A. Slowik
Wake County Public Schools

"Not only am I an educator but I am a single mom of two. I read this book from both perspectives and was enlightened by the information. Every parent should be aware of the information in it, especially those who move frequently."

Stacy Slomko
Perth Amboy High School

"Gives a better understanding of what the standards mean, what to do with the standards, and what to do if standards aren't being met by a school."

Shannon Journell
Enon Elementary School
Key features
  • A parent's guide to No Child Left Behind and other changes affecting children and schools today
  • Written by authoritative speaker, educator, and best-selling author Donna Walker Tileston
  • Demystifies the often bewildering buzzwords that confront parents and communities: standards, tests, data, equity, accountability, yearly progress, and more.
  • Includes tools and resources that will help parents ask principals and teachers questions and then understand the answers they receive. 

 

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1


For instructors

Select a Purchasing Option


Rent or Buy eBook
ISBN: 9781483361451

Paperback
ISBN: 9781412914703
$15.95