High Marks for EL
A recent survey of a randomly selected group of ASCD members and subscribers gave Educational Leadership high marks, especially in the areas of article quality and writing style. Respondents value EL's relevance, credibility, readability, coverage of important issues, multiple perspectives, and overall worth as a forum for new ideas and as a source of new information. Nine of 10 respondents in the survey consider EL to be one of the top three education publications.
- Seventy-seven percent of respondents in the survey are regular readers of Educational Leadership (they have read three out of the last four issues).
- Pass-along rates—the number of people who read the magazine and pass it on to others—are relatively high, averaging 1.3 readers per copy (excluding subscriber).
- A majority of readers spend more than an hour reading each issue, with 26 percent spending more than 90 minutes.
- Each issue of EL has a long life, with 78 percent of readers retaining the publication for reference purposes.
- Ninety percent of readers took specific action after reading EL, by discussing an article with colleagues, clipping out an article, contacting the author, or using the article as a reference.
What's Up with Affiliates
- Arkansas ASCD is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Tech University's Center for Leadership and Learning to sponsor the 2004 Shareholders Retreat: Leadership Symposium. The influence grant will enable Arkansas ASCD to host follow-up forums with wider groups of community members to formulate policy recommendations.
- Illinois ASCD will use its grant to organize face-to-face meetings with state and federal legislators to communicate the affiliate's and the Association's position on various issues affecting teaching and learning in Illinois.
- Iowa ASCD is initiating a scenario activity that will take place at major universities and regional locations throughout the state to help determine what is best for Iowa's schools.
- New Jersey ASCD will add 30 districts to the Structured Task Performance Assessment Pilot Project, in which nine diverse New Jersey school districts have implemented the New Jersey Performance Alliance's state-approved recommendations project.
- Ohio ASCD will work with its leadership council to develop strategies to enhance and inform state conversations about racial achievement gaps.
- Oregon ASCD will continue its work on the issue of high-stakes testing by publishing a white paper and creating Web resources that share the results of statewide assessment forums.
- With the school finance bill a major part of Texas's 2005 legislative session, Texas ASCD plans to develop and implement a campaign to persuade legislators to oppose the legislation. Texas ASCD is opposed to the school finance bill, which is attempting to cut monies from curriculum development funding to districts and advocates using a “universal curriculum.”
- Virginia ASCD continues its work with the Virginia Education Coalition, which plans to issue a report card on whether or not the goals set forth in the Blueprint for Virginia Public Schools have been met.
- Wisconsin ASCD is planning a “Day at the Capitol” to develop relationships with legislators and establish Wisconsin ASCD as the go-to organization in that state on education issues.
Reaching Out
ASCD's Staff Community Outreach Team recently led a school supply drive to benefit Parklawn Elementary, a Title I school in Alexandria, Virginia. The drive quickly became three-pronged: ASCD worked at the same time with one of its worldwide affiliates to provide school supplies to students in poverty and with the Florida ASCD affiliate to help hurricane-torn schools in southwest Florida. In the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, districts throughout the state mobilized to reopen schools as quickly as possible. Hardest hit was Charlotte County, which had at least six schools damaged by the hurricane.
We'll Help You Search!
When educators need solid information on such topics as the effects of smaller class size, they can find answers with ASCD's Education Search Service. ASCD members use the service to keep up on everything from grade configuration to community schools.
Drawing on a large collection of print and digital resources, the Education Search Service can provide fast answers to your questions via mail, fax, or e-mail. We can help track down elusive must-have articles from Educational Leadership, provide research reports and statistics on virtually any topic, and even find a good listserver that fits your professional interests.
In recent months, hot topics have included teacher mentoring, differentiated instruction, and special education. Members who wish to take advantage of the Education Search Service should contact David Snyder, ASCD Reference Librarian, at 703-575-5745 or via e-mail at dsnyder@ascd.org.
Resources for “Writing!”
<BIBLIST><HEAD>Action Tool</HEAD>Strategies for Teaching Writing: An ASCD Action Tool. (2004). By Roger Caswell and Brenda Mahler. Three-ring binder, 396 pages. Stock No. 704015. Price: $99 (member); $119 (nonmember).</BIBLIST>
<BIBLIST><HEAD>Videos</HEAD>How to Use Prewriting Strategies, Tape 17. (2003). One 15- to 20-minute videotape. Stock No. 403115. Price: $79 (member); $95 (non-member).The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing: Making the Words Come Alive Books-in-Action Video. (2003). One 15-minute videotape. Stock No. 403325. Price: $79 (member); $95 (nonmember).</BIBLIST>
<BIBLIST><HEAD>Books</HEAD>The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing: Making the Words Come Alive. (2003). By Thomas Armstrong. Stock No. 102280. Price: $18.95 (member); $22.95 (nonmember).Essential Ingredients: Recipes for Teaching Writing. (2001). By Sandra Worsham. Stock No. 101241. Price: $19.95 (member); $23.95 (nonmember).</BIBLIST>
Write a Book for ASCD
Through ASCD publications, educators discuss the most significant ideas in the field of education. If you would like ASCD to consider publishing a book that you have written or plan to write, send a book proposal and sample chapters to Scott Willis, Director of Book Acquisitions, ASCD, 1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714 USA. For more information, visitwww.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=654.
