Developing Successful K-8 Schools

Jon Wiles is a highly experienced educator who has provided curriculum leadership to schools and educational agencies for over thirty years. His specialty is the creation and implementation of curriculum plans. Wiles's work as an educational consultant has taken him to hundreds of agencies in more than forty states and a dozen foreign nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Wiles is the author or coauthor of twelve widely used books addressing curriculum and educational leadership. His text, Curriculum Development: A Guide to Practice (Seventh Edition), has been used for nearly thirty years in colleges and universities throughout the world to train curriculum leaders. Other areas of publication by Wiles include teacher training, administration, school supervision, theory of change, politics of education, middle grades education, and technology.

List of Figures Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Here Comes the K-8 School Origins of the New K-8 School Rationale for Changing the School Design Bedrock Beliefs About Educating Children An Initial Look at the New K-8 Program We Need Some Issues Associated With K-8 Education Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 2. Using Standards to Define K-8 Programs Origin of Standards National Standards for K-8 Education Subject Matter Standards in K-8 Schools Extending Standards in K-8 Schools Learning Targets for Standards-Based School Managing Standards-Based Programs Nurturing Intellectual Competence Transfer of Knowledge Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 3. Using Skills to Create the Seamless Curriculum Two Conceptions of Ends The Curriculum Design Tasks What Kind of Skills Should be Taught? Sample Tasks for Each Learner Collaborative Emphasis A Final Word About the Subjects Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 4. New Instructional Patterns for the K-8 School General Design Organization Patterns Modifying Standards-Based Curriculum New Uses of School Buildings New Deployment of Teachers New Ways of Assessing Students New Patterns for Involving Parents Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 5. A Return on Investment Parents Students Teachers Administrators Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 6. Implementing the K-8 Program The Unfolding Process Prerequisite Conditions Acquiring Resources Assessment Putting It All Together Questions for Study Groups Summary Notes 7. Validating Progress Concept Development Mission Statements Curriculum Design Instructional Features Teachers Parents Facilities and Transportation Technology Resource A. Summary of K-8 Research Findings Resource B. Standards Organizations Resource C. Instructional Resource Sites on the Internet Resource D. Teaching Through the Internet Resource E. Glossary References Index

"This book provides a clear and concise road map for turning the current trend towards K-8 schools to the advantage of children. The return to K-8 schools is an opportunity to step back, be purposeful and thoughtful, and plan for what we want for young persons in our schools. This book provides the vision and the tools we need to plan and build something better in Grades K-8." -- Heather MacTaggart, Executive Director "As a middle school principal, I find many of these arguments compelling. This book makes a major contribution to the field of education. School leaders developing K-8 schools will find this book helpful." -- Ed Sansom, Principal "A valuable resource for all educators. It not only provides a timeline of past mistakes and successes we've made educating students of these ages, but goes further to provide a prescription for future schools that emphasizes developmental levels, content, skill-building, and involvement of students, parents, teachers, and administrators." -- Marie Blum, Superintendent