March/April 2002 | NW REPORT

What’s New on the Web

Professional Development for Instructional Paraeducators

Paraeducators are valuable assets in the classroom. But just as gold needs to be carefully mined and refined, talented paraeducators need to be recruited and cultivated to optimally assist students. This report emphasizes the importance of providing paraeducators with clear objectives coordinated with the mission of the school.
[www.nwrel.org/planning/paraeducator.html]

Serving Smaller Learning Communities

Research shows that students in smaller settings generally have better attendance, are less likely to drop out, have fewer discipline problems, and perform better academically. The site contains recent findings about smaller learning communities, resources, regional partners, and an events calendar.
[www.nwrel.org/scpd/sslc/index.shtml]

Tutoring Our Youngest Readers

The Winter 2002 issue of Tutor newsletter shares what educational research and the best of teaching practice reveals about the skills children need to become independent and fluent readers and writers. Articles discuss phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, text comprehension, and references and resources.
[www.nwrel.org/learns/tutor/win2002/win2002.html]

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