SIRS: 1987 - 1995

The School Improvement Research Series was produced by the School Improvement Program of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory under a contract with the Office of Educational Research and Improvement U.S. Department of Education.

Each School Improvement Research Series Includes

Topical Syntheses of research findings and bibliographic information on special topics.
Close-Ups on specific methods and techniques that can be adopted as a part of school improvement efforts including statements of research results, examples of practices, and bibliographic information.
Snapshots describing exemplary uses of effective schooling practices.

Series I

• Close-Up #2 - Instructional Grouping in the Classroom by Beatrice A. Ward
• Close-Up #1 - Homework by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #4 - Grouping for Mastery by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #3 - Improving Writing Skills by Richard N. Cowell and Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #2 - Improving School Culture by Jocelyn A. Butler and Kate M. Dickson
• Snapshot #1 - Cooperative Learning by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Topical Synthesis #1 - Effective Schooling Practices and At-Risk Youth: What the Research Shows by Greg Druian and Jocelyn A. Butler

Series II

• Close-Up #4 - Monitoring Student Learning in the Classroom by Kathleen Cotton
• Close-Up #3 - Instructional Reinforcement by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #8 - Monitoring and Reinforcement by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #7 - Cooperative Learning by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #6 - Clear, Consistent Discipline by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #5 - Peer Tutoring by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #2 - Teaching Composition: Research on Effective Practices by Kathleen Cotton

Series III

• Close-Up #6 - Parent Involvement in Education by Kathleen Cotton and Karen Reed Wikelund
• Close-Up #5 - Classroom Questioning by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #12 - Parent Involvement by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #11 - Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #10 - Creative Staffing Arrangements by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #9 - Literature-Based Reading Instruction by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #3 - Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education by Kathleen Cotton and Nancy Faires Conklin

Series IV

• Close-Up #8 - Educational Time Factors by Kathleen Cotton
• Close-Up #7 - Expectations and Student Outcomes by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #16 - Staff Development to Improve Student Writing Performance by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Snapshot #15 - Teaching and Assessing Writing Skills by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #14 - Improving Student Attitude and Behavior by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #13 - Teaching Questioning Skills by Kathleen Cotton

Series V

• Close-Up #10 - Computer-Assisted Instruction by Kathleen Cotton
• Close-Up #9 - Schoolwide and Classroom Discipline by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #20 - Mathematics Problem Solving Improvement by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Close-Up #19 - Improving Student Reading by Kathy Busick
• Snapshot #18 - Frequent Monitoring and Student Recognition by Nancy Olsen
• Snapshot #17 - Improving Mathematics Learning by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #4 - Educating Urban Youth: Research on Effective Practices by Kathleen Cotton

Series VI

• Close-Up #12 - Staff Development by Jocelyn A. Butler
• Close-Up #11 - Teaching Thinking Skills by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #24 - Restructuring the Curriculum to Promote Child-Initiated Activity by Jan Jewett
• Snapshot #23 - Improving Student Performance Through Mastery Learning by Carole Hunt and Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #22 - Using School Time Productively by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #21 - Learning to Write and Assess Writing Quality by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #5 - School-Community Collaboration to Improve the Quality of Life for Urban Youth and Their Families by Kathleen Cotton

Series VII

• Close-Up #14 - Nongraded Primary Education by Kathleen Cotton
• Close-Up #13 - Developing Empathy in Children and Youth by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #28 - Restructuring in a Multiethnic Environment by Barbara K. Hernandez
• Snapshot #27 - Success for At-Risk Students Through Computer-Assisted Instruction by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #26 - Achieving Success in Mathematics Through Innovative Programming by Al Fitzpatrick
• Snapshot #25 - Building Positive Self-Concept by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #6 - School-Based Management by Kathleen Cotton

Series VIII

• Close-Up #16 - Integrated Curriculum by Kathy Lake
• Close-Up #15 - Developing Employability Skills by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #32 - Rejuvenating a Multiethnic Urban School by Angela Wilson and Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #31 - Restructuring at the Secondary Level: Grouping, Instruction, and Assessment by Nancey Olson
• Snapshot #30 - School Improvement Through Teacher Decision Making by Al Fitzpatrick
• Snapshot #29 - Implementing a Nongraded Elementary Program by Kathleen Cotton
• Topical Synthesis #7 - Fostering Intercultural Harmony in Schools: Research Findings by Kathleen Cotton

Series IX

• Close-Up #18 - Peer and Cross-Age Tutoring by Page Kalkowski
• Close-Up #17 - Reducing the Dropout Rate by E. Gregory Woods
• Snapshot #36 - Preparing High School Students for the World of Work in a Tech Prep Program by Joan M. Shaughnessy
• Snapshot #35 - Applying Total Quality Management Principles to Secondary Education by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #34 - Promoting Student Mathematics Learning Through A Hands-On and Visual Math Program by Joan M. Shaughnessy
• Snapshot #33 - Engendering School Improvement Through Strong Instructional Leadership by E. Gregory Woods

Series X

• Close-Up #20 - School Size, School Climate, and Student Performance by Kathleen Cotton
• Close-Up #19 - Educating for Citizenship by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #40 - Leading an Inner-City School to "Overall Excellence" by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #39 - Improving Elementary School Climate by Kathleen Cotton
• Snapshot #38 - Integrating Middle School Curriculum Around Real-World Issues by James W. Kushman
• Snapshot #37 - Providing Integrated Services in an Inner-City School by Joan Shaughnessy
• Topical Synthesis #8 - Community-Based Learning: A Foundation for Meaningful Educational Reform by Thomas R. Owens and Changhua Wang