Deborah Meier – författare

A comprehensive assessment system for working with underperforming students

This book describes a comprehensive assessment system especially appropriate for multilingual and "differentiated" classrooms with large numbers of underperforming students. Drawing from Multiple Intelligences theory, the approach is specifically aimed at helping teachers understand how each student learns and how best to tailor instruction to serve individual students'' needs. Although the program makes use of conventional standardized tests and disability screenings, it places special importance on two approaches in particular: Student Portfolio Assessments and Personalized Learning Profiles.

Provides detailed guidance and practical tools (including a DVD) for implementing successful portfolio and "profile" practices in the classroom Includes real-world examples of model assessment programs from five schools Explains how to integrate assessment into the instructional process as well as how the portfolio program can be used

Formal profiles provide vital information about each student''s cultural background, interests, strengths, and capabilities as well as their individual learning and language needs.

A comprehensive assessment system for working with underperforming students

This book describes a comprehensive assessment system especially appropriate for multilingual and "differentiated" classrooms with large numbers of underperforming students. Drawing from Multiple Intelligences theory, the approach is specifically aimed at helping teachers understand how each student learns and how best to tailor instruction to serve individual students'' needs. Although the program makes use of conventional standardized tests and disability screenings, it places special importance on two approaches in particular: Student Portfolio Assessments and Personalized Learning Profiles.

Provides detailed guidance and practical tools (including a DVD) for implementing successful portfolio and "profile" practices in the classroom Includes real-world examples of model assessment programs from five schools Explains how to integrate assessment into the instructional process as well as how the portfolio program can be used

Formal profiles provide vital information about each student''s cultural background, interests, strengths, and capabilities as well as their individual learning and language needs.

Signed into law in 2002, the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) promised to revolutionize American public education. Originally supported by a bipartisan coalition, it purports to improve public schools by enforcing a system of standards and accountability through high-stakes testing. Many people supported it originally, despite doubts, because of its promise especially to improve the way schools serve poor children. By making federal funding contingent on accepting a system of tests and sanctions, it is radically affecting the life of schools around the country.But, argue the authors of this citizen''s guide to the most important political issue in education, far from improving public schools and increasing the ability of the system to serve poor and minority children, the law is doing exactly the opposite. Here some of our most prominent, respected voices in education-including school innovator Deborah Meier, education activist Alfie Kohn, and founder of the Coalition of Essential Schools Theodore R. Sizer-come together to show us how, point by point, NCLB undermines the things it claims to improve:* How NCLB punishes rather than helps poor and minority kids and their schools * How NCLB helps further an agenda of privatization and an attack on public schools * How the focus on testing and test preparation dumbs down classrooms * And they put forward a richly articulated vision of alternatives.Educators and parents around the country are feeling the harshly counterproductive effects of NCLB. This book is an essential guide to understanding what''s wrong and where we should go from here.From the Trade Paperback edition.

An examination of the role of play in the lives of children. Based on close observations of a school playground, this shows children at play in a relatively natural, unstructured environment, and makes a strong case for the importance of free exploration, wonder, imagination, and play to the learning and growth of children.

How do teachers and schools create meaningful learning experiences for students with diverse skills, abilities, and cultures? How can teachers authentically assess the learning of their students and build on their strengths and interests in ways that enrich the larger community? How can schools be turned into places where everyone is learning from each other? These are the big questions that guide the work of teachers at the well-known Mission Hill School in Boston and that are addressed in this book. Teaching in Themes will help schools incorporate a whole-school, theme-based curriculum that engages students across grade levels K–8. The authors provide detailed descriptions of four thematic units: What’s Baking in Kathy’s Classroom?, The Impact of Nature and Play, The Struggle for Justice: U.S. History Through the Eyes of African-Americans, and Astronomical Inquiries. Readers will see how teachers and students design “emergent inquiries” within the themes and create artwork, music, presentations, and a variety of hands-on learning experiences that support differentiated instruction across the curriculum.Book Features:Examples of whole-school projects designed to create a deep sense of immersion in a curricular theme and to build a multi-age learning community.Details of how teachers developed rich curriculum tailored to their unique students.The insights of legendary educator Deborah Meier on how whole-school thematic units were used to encourage collaboration among teachers.An afterword by teachers (and film makers) about the thinking behind their work featured in the widely-viewed film series “A Year at Mission Hill.”

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.

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.