How Teachers Compare: The Prose, Document, and Quantitative Skills of America's Teachers
How Teachers Compare: The Prose, Document, and Quantitative Skills of America's Teachers, Educational Testing Service.
How do teachers compare with other professionals in terms of literacy skills? How do their salaries compare with those of professionals with similar educational levels and literacy skills? In this report, Barbara Bruschi and Richard Coley analyze the National Adult Literacy Survey data that provide measures of literacy across prose, document, and quantitative scales.
The results may not be surprising: Teachers are a labor-market bargain. The study found that as a group, teachers score relatively high in literacy, with about half the teachers surveyed scoring at levels 4 and 5 (the two highest levels) on the three literacy scales. In addition, teachers perform on average as well as other college-educated adults across all three literacy scales. However, substantial salary differences exist between teachers and other professional workers; teachers scoring at level 5 on the literacy scales earn significantly less than other college graduates with similar scores.
Available from Educational Testing Service, ETS Policy Information Center, 04-R, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541; e-mail: pic@ets.org; Web site: http://www.ets.org/research/pic; $10.50 or download from the ETS Web site for free.
Diversity Icebreakers: A Trainer's Guide
Diversity Icebreakers: A Trainer's Guide,Selma Myers and Jonamay Lambert.
Recent years have brought pressure to bear on teachers to educate their students not just about the three Rs, but also about multiculturalism, tolerance, and diversity. Without understanding and acceptance, classrooms become hostile places full of hate and bigotry. Selma Myers and Jonamay Lambert's Icebreakers: A Trainer's Guide encourages understanding of the broad spectrum of differences among people and the impact those differences have on daily life.
Originally intended for corporate training programs, the activities are useful for classroom groups, especially with junior and senior high school students. Separated into chapters like "Personal Awareness," "Perception," and "Communication," this guide provides a springboard for teachers looking for ways to increase awareness of diversity in their classes.
Available from Intercultural Development, Inc., 755 San Mario Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075; 619-755-3160; fax: 619-755-8637; 60 pp.; Paperbound; $59.95 plus shipping.
The Century: America's Time.
The Century: America's Time. The History Channel.
In April 1999, the History Channel showed a 15-part series chronicling the 20th century in the United States, from the fledgling years of the century to the birth of personal computers, MTV, and international terrorism. Anchored by Peter Jennings, these one-hour segments profiled key events in chronological order through the eyes of those who experienced and wrote about them.
Sharing their memories about this century were literary figures John Updike, E. L. Doctorow, and Studs Terkel; political figures Robert McNamara, Pat Buchanan, and Caspar Weinberger; entertainers Janet Leigh, Oliver Stone, and Keith Richards; and unsung heroes including veterans from every major 20th century conflict, survivors of the Warsaw ghetto and Hiroshima, Freedom Riders, and political hostages. In addition, leading historians provided interpretations and commentary.
The Century, available on videocassette for $99.95, will air again in May and June 1999. Teachers of grades 5–12 can take advantage of free educational supporting materials, including full-color posters, curriculum suggestions, study guides, and time lines of pivotal events. Available A&E Community Marketing, 235 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017; fax: 212-551-1540; Web site: http://www.HistoryChannel.com.
A Policymaker's Guide to Incentives for Students, Teachers and Schools
A Policymaker's Guide to Incentives for Students, Teachers and Schools, Allan Odden, Education Commission of the States.
This publication, part of a series from the Education Commission of the States on accountability, identifies the elements for improving performance in a standards-based system. It focuses on incentives for students, teachers, and schools, as well as on the state role in creating incentives for them.
Available from the Education Commission of the States, 707 17th Street, Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202; 303-296-3600; fax: 303-296-8332; e-mail: ecs@ecs.org; Web site: http://www.excs.org; 44 pp.; $6.50 plus $4 shipping.
Converge
Converge. Government Technology.
Converge magazine, launched September 1998, takes its title from the convergence of technology and education. It addresses technology issues in education at all levels: K–12, community college, university, corporate university, and corporate training.
Editor-in-chief Bernard Percy states that the goal is "to present, in clear and easy-to-read format, workable solutions regarding education and technology that have real impact and value for the student, parent, teacher, administrator, or manager."
Among articles in its premier issue are "Animating Careers for Tomorrow," "PCs: The Right Choice for Now and the Future," and "Making Things Happen: Iowa Schools." The magazine's monthly departments are diverse and have something of interest for everyone: Funding Technology, Professional Development, Special Education, Smart Schools, Innovating Partnering, and Lifelong Learning.
Available free from Converge, 9719 Lincoln Village Drive, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95827; e-mail: ljessup@convergemag.com; Web site: http://www.convergemag.com.
