Provides information for school administrators and curriculum specialists on ways to align the curriculum to state standards to improve student achievement and teacher effectiveness.

This is an invaluable resource (sold as part of a kit) for developing a curriculum which aligns teaching and testing

Why do testing and accountability efforts in today's schools fail? In Deep Curriculum Alignment, English and Steffy explore the flaws in state mandated testing, advocating a more comprehensive approach to teaching and testing. This highly practical book will guide you into a deeply aligned curriculum that produces academic results and a level playing field. Each chapter covers principles of testing and curriculum building, and concludes with a summary of the key concepts presented. The authors survey various studies, present the ethical dilemmas involved in testing, and present a step-by-step guide to pedagogical parallelism and alignment.

The need for a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum that intentionally connects standards, instruction, and assessment has never been more pressing. For educators to meet the challenging learning needs of students they must have a clear road map to follow throughout the school year. Rigorous Curriculum Design presents a carefully sequenced, hands-on model that curriculum designers and educators in every school system can follow to create a progression of units of study that keeps all areas tightly focused and connected.

What the experts say about how the Balanced Curriculum process can tip the scales in favor of your students! "The work that Dr. Squires has done in moving the curriculum development process onto the Web has removed some of the tedium involved in crafting curriculum, making it ′user friendly′ and open to the kinds of ongoing changes that make the promise of continual renewal of curriculum a reality." From the Foreword by Fenwick W. English --R. Wendell Eaves Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "A coherent approach to curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the age of standards-driven education.... It will be an excellent contribution." --H. Lynn Erickson Author, Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction "I′m happy with the Balanced Curriculum process, my Board is happy, and my students are benefiting by it." --Philomena T. Pezzano, District Superintendent Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Public Schools "The book builds a bridge of confidence that will convince readers of both the ideas and of their own ability to succeed." --David W. Champagne, Professor Emeritus University of Pittsburgh "A wonderful and thorough explanation of the Balanced Curriculum." --Michelle Barnea, Educational Consultant Milburn, New Jersey Aligning and Balancing the Standards-Based Curriculum highlights the research, theory, method, practice, and implementation guidelines from a successful 15-year track record of schools already using the BalancedCurriculum.com Web site and its curriculum balancing process. Benefit from the invaluable insights, experience, and expertise of author David A. Squires, as he outlines curriculum innovations that include: Web-based solutions to simplify curriculum development and writing Professional development opportunities designed to achieve school and districtwide consensus on curriculum development Practical methods for ensuring that the curriculum is consistently reviewed, evaluated, enhanced, aligned, and rebalanced Full of field-tested practices, clear-sighted diagrams, sample lessons, assessments, and case studies, this comprehensive handbook shows how schools and districts all across the nation can use the Balanced Curriculum process to put their schools on the track to success.

Started by Dr. Seuss, finished by Jack Prelutsky, and illustrated by Lane Smith, Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! is a joyous ode to individuality starring unsinkable teacher Miss Bonkers and the quirky Diffendoofer School (which must prove it has taught its students how to think--or have them sent to dreary Flobbertown). Included is an introduction by Dr. Seuss's longtime editor explaining how the book came to be and reproductions of Dr. Seuss's original pencil sketches and hand-printed notes for the book—a true find for all Seuss collectors! Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith pay homage to the Good Doctor in their own distinctive ways, the result of which is the union of three one-of-a-kind voices in a brand-new, completely original book that is greater than the sum of its parts. For all of us who will never forget our school days and that special teacher, here is a book to give and to get.