Standards and Mastery Learning

Book excerpt: This book describes the concept of mastery learning in the classroom and the various foundations upon which it is built. Five chapters discuss: (1) "Understanding Mastery Learning" (e.g., the learning/memory base, the measurement base, theoretical bases, and the brain base); (2) "Examining the Standards: Math, Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts" (e.g., mastery as a beginning, beyond mastery, and standards); (3) "Planning Standards-Based Lessons using Mastery Learning" (e.g., overlap among state and national standards, enrichment and remediation, and planning lessons using six elements of mastery learning); (4) "Implementing Standards and Mastery Learning in the Classroom" (13 steps to implementing mastery learning); and (5) "Professional Development and Mastery Learning" (e.g., a plan for action and a professional development agenda and teaching for mastery). The appendix looks at what the literature can tell (e.g., two approaches to mastery learning, empirical evidence, research examples, and memory by fast and slow learners). (Contains approximately 160 references.) (SM).