JAN 02
Florida
#2
Department of Eduation
EQUAL EDUCA TIONAL OPPOR TUNITY PROGRAM
Ensuring Quality and Unleashing
Improved Performance
How Teaching Matters
A recent study,
How Teaching Matters: Bringing the Classroom Back Into Discussions of
Teacher Quality,
conducted by Harold Wenglinsky for the Educational Testing Service (ETS)
and the Milken Family Foundation describes the national picture for teacher inputs, professional
development and classroom practices.
Data for linking classroom practices to achievement
came from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Considering all aspects
of teacher quality, classroom practices appeared to be the most important. Some key findings
are:
• Students, whose teachers major or minor in the subject they teach, are 39% of a grade
level ahead of other students in mathematics and science
• Students, whose teachers conduct hands-on learning activities on a weekly basis, are
72% of a grade level ahead in mathematics and 40% ahead in science over students
exposed to hands-on activities on a monthly basis
• Students, whose teachers emphasize higher order thinking skills, outperform other
students by 40% of a grade level
• Students, whose teachers have received professional development in working with
different populations (cultural diversity, LEP students, special needs students), outperform
other students by a full grade level (107%) in mathematics
• Students, whose teachers have received professional development in higher order thinking
skills, outperform other students by 40% of a grade level
• Students, whose teachers have received professional development in laboratory skills,
outperform other science students by 44% of a grade level
How Teaching Matters: Bringing the Classroom Back Into Discussions of Teacher Quality
Harold Wenglinsky, October 2000
Complete report available at http://www.ets.org/research/pic/teamat.pdf
The EQUIP series provides summaries of current data and research to enhance the decision making and planning process
as Florida’s educational institutions conduct comprehensive self-assessments to identify measurable methods and strate
gies to ensure access to high quality instruction.
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