Achievement Now!

This research-based book provides details on how educators can dramatically increase student achievement. It offers numerous experience-based ideas and strategies which can be applied to any school or district.This book will help you: - establish a results-oriented focus on the curriculum - increase time-on-task and academic rigor for ALL students - provide a supportive accountability system for all staff members - identify and eliminate educational practices that lower student achievement - introduce an achievement audit process that will increase student performance in any school or district

About the Author

iv

Dedication and Acknowledgments

v

Introduction

ix

Focus the Mission

1

(12)

The Mission Statement

1

(2)

The Values of a Limited Mission Statement

3

(6)

Develop Guiding Questions

9

(4)

Increase Academic Rigor

13

(80)

Increase Time on Task

13

(28)

Increase Student Engagement

15

(1)

Determine Minimum Time on Core Areas

16

(5)

Analyze the Current Time Spent on Core

21

(3)

Realign the Purpose of Noncore Areas

24

(2)

Change School Schedule to Give Priority to Core Areas

26

(2)

Increase Length of the Day

28

(2)

Increase Length of the Year

30

(2)

Require Regular, Consistent, Quality Homework

32

(5)

Establish Nonschool Tutorial Programs

37

(4)

Focus the Curriculum

41

(23)

Use a Standards-Based Approach

41

(3)

Align Vertical Curriculum

44

(3)

Increase Graduation Requirements

47

(4)

Introduce Weighted Grades

51

(1)

Introduce Harder Subjects Earlier

52

(4)

Prevent Regression to Easier Subjects

56

(2)

Eliminate Grade Inflation

58

(4)

Teach What Is Tested and Test What is Taught

62

(2)

Modify Practices That Lower Student Achievement

64

(29)

Whole Language

66

(4)

Developmentalism

70

(4)

Lessening of Importance of Basic Mathematical Computation

74

(2)

Multiple Intelligences

76

(4)

Middle School Philosophy

80

(13)

Establish Supportive Accountability

93

(32)

Face the Fear of Accountability

93

(4)

Become Results-Oriented

97

(3)

Use High-Stakes Assessments

100

(6)

Initiate Accountability Via Evaluation

106

(14)

Superintendent

106

(1)

Principals

107

(8)

Other Administrators

115

(1)

Teachers

116

(3)

Support Personnel

119

(1)

Develop Financial Incentives

120

(5)

Introduce Cooperative Competition

125

(20)

Start Public Schools of Choice

125

(7)

Magnetize or Focus Traditional Schools

132

(3)

Switch to Whole-School Reform Models

135

(6)

Restructure Traditional Schools

141

(4)

Define the Power Structure

145

(16)

Empower School Leaders

145

(2)

Determine the Final Authority for All Decision Points

147

(7)

Change the Funding Mechanism

154

(7)

Implement Traditional Achievement Factors

161

(20)

Employ and Retain Quality Teachers

162

(3)

Create and Maintain Student Discipline, Mutual Respect, and School Order

165

(4)

Upgrade Skills Through Ongoing and Frequent Staff Development

169

(2)

Involve Parents

171

(1)

Lower the Class Size

172

(3)

Begin a Preschool Program

175

(1)

Switch Elementary and Secondary School Starting Times

176

(2)

Create Smaller Schools

178

(3)

Undertake an Achievement Audit

181

(10)

The Center for Achievement in Public Education

189

(2)

Bibliography

191

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials