Search results for: Student achievement

In this article, the authors examine specific learning outcomes—notably, increases in teachers’ knowledge, changes in their practice, and the impact on student achievement—as a result of teachers’ participation in a situative-based, adaptive professional development (PD) program. The findings suggest that participation in the Problem-Solving Cycle (PSC) model of PD can support at least modest improvements in teachers’ knowledge and classroom instruction within a relatively short time frame. This study of the PSC highlights one way to examine the effectiveness of adaptive PD using longitudinal data and quantitative analyses. Based on those analyses, the PSC does appear to have the potential to substantially affect teachers’ knowledge and instruction and, perhaps, their students’ achievement.

This study compared the impact of effective teachers and less effective teachers on their students tests scores in reading and math. The authors used a two-phase study to shed light on the connection between teacher effects and teaching practices. The findings reveal that top-quartile teachers had fewer classroom disruptions, better classroom management skills, and better relationships with their students than did bottom-quartile teachers.

The current paper examines the design of a professional development model. The purpose of this model is to improve student achievement. The model has been designed by combining and supplementing elements from school-improvement literature and existing professional development models. The combined elements resulted in six aspects which incorporated in a new model which includes presentation of theory, demonstration of skills, practice in a secure environment, pre-conference, observation and post-conference.

This study identifies practices of effective teachers of writing. Three schools with significantly higher achievement in an area that underperforms nationally were identified and within them teachers whose students exhibited superior progress were selected. This article argues that student achievement in writing is likely to be higher when teachers exhibit strengths in these hallmarks.