Ronald S. Schneider is a New York City alternative high school teacher/leader, department coordinator, and professional developer/coach. He also serves as Coalition of Essential Schools teacher, leader, and facilitator, and is a Project Director with the faculty of Queens College (CUNY) and staff of New-York Historical Society for a professional development program for humanities teachers. This program, Enlivening American History through Primary Documents was funded by the Improving the Teaching of American History Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. My work with social studies teachers in New York City high schools provides them with innovative teaching practices in their content area and with literacy strategies for their students who are struggling readers and writers. In order to accomplish these objectives primary and secondary source documents in American and World History as well as works of historical fiction are used extensively. Appropriate student assessment is crucial to find out what students know, understand and are able to do. Thus, teachers learn how performance based assessment used in conjunction with certain standardized tests (e.g. New York State Regents Exams) can best determine the progression of student learning. I have also been a consultant to school districts in and outside New York City.
