Standards in the Classroom: An Implementation Guide for Teachers of Science and Mathematics

"The ′standards movement′ offers great promise for strengthening American education; however, its success will depend upon how the standards affect classroom practice. Standards in the Classroom provides an excellent set of strategies to assist teachers in this critical task. Audet and Jordan have written a clear guide for making standards work in science and math education." Larry Wakeford, Clinical Professor of Biology/Science Education Brown University "Studying Audet and Jordan′s book before I developed my biology and chemistry curricula allowed a more thorough understanding of state adopted standards and how I can help all students meet them." Dale Rudolph, High School Biology and Chemistry Teacher Clarksville High School, TN  "In my work with teachers and teaching fellows, I have found no better method for enhancing understanding of the importance of standards and their implementation into content lessons than this book." Vicki Metzgar, Coordinator, NSF Grade K-12 Teaching Fellows Vanderbilt University Medical Center Discover how to effectively integrate standards-based reform into the curriculum! Standards have been executed at the national, state, district, and school levels. Teachers, however, have not received the support needed to effectively implement them into their classrooms. Now, professional educators and authors Richard H. Audet and Linda K. Jordan have designed a much-needed, unique guide that gives educators the tools for understanding today′s standards and aligning them with their curriculum and instruction. While primarily targeting math and science, this book allows teachers to adapt its contents to any subject while proceeding at their own timetable and pace. Clearly written, practical, and easy to use, the book provides the missing link in standards-based reform. Comprehensive in its coverage of topics related to standards, the book is a valuable resource for both preservice and practicing teachers. A full range of issues and topics are presented in this guide, including: Understanding the principles of teacher change, and teaching and learning in a constructivist environment Using national standards resources to better understand state and local standards Developing performance assessments linked to standards and using them to direct the selection of curriculum materials Mapping a curriculum by using principles in the guide Understanding the standards-based reform movement  Standards in the Classroom is organized around a five-stage learning cycle that models good teaching instruction. It applies an interactive approach that incorporates follow-up reflections, questionnaires, surveys, inventories, and rubrics to help users monitor their progress towards mastery of key concepts and applications. This guide is an absolute must for teachers, administrators, and professors to provide the support needed to effectively implement standards in the classroom.

Table of Contents:
Preface to the Guide About the Authors 1. Engagement: Thinking About Standards and Instruction 2. Exploration: Discovering National Standards Resources 3. Explanation I: Researching National Resources to Clarify Learning Goals 4. Explanation II: Assessment in a Standards-Based System 5. Extension A: Developing Standards-Based Materials 6. Extension B: Analyzing and Evaluating Curriculum Materials 7. Extension C: Curriculum Mapping 8. Evaluation: Discoveries About Standards-Based Teaching and Learning 9. Endurance: Sustaining Change References and Further Readings Resource: Professional Development Resources Index

About the Author :
Richard Audet, Co-Editor, is an Associate Professor of Science Education at Roger Williams University (Bristol, RI). After teaching high school science for more than twenty years, he completed his Masters Degree at Providence College and received an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston University. Richard co-authored GIS in Schools and Standards in the Classroom: An Implementation Guide for Teachers of Mathematics and Science. Linda Jordan, Co-Editor, is Science Coordinator for the Tennessee State Department of Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction. She provides technical assistance to local education agencies and coordinated the recent revision of Tennessee′s state science framework. She co-authored Standards in the Classroom: An Implementation Guide for Teachers of Mathematics and Science. Linda is active in the Council of State Science Supervisors and has extensive national and statewide experience as a professional development specialist. Before assuming her present position she taught high school biology. She earned her Master of Science and Ed.S. Degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Review :
The standards movement offers great promise for strengthening American education; however, its success will depend upon how the standards affect classroom practice. Standards in the Classroom provides an excellent set of strategies to assist teachers in this critical task. Audet and Jordan have written a clear guide for making standards work in science and math education. Studying Audet and Jordan′s book before I developed my biology and chemistry curricula allowed a more thorough understanding of state adopted standards and how I can help all students meet them. In my work with teachers and teaching fellows, I have found no better method for enhancing understanding of the importance of standards and their implementation into content lessons than this book. The success or failure of reform in education depends on how well each teacher learns how to implement standards in classroom instruction . . . This guide should be helpful in that process.