Educational administration and organization Books

Book SynopsisThe Teaching and Learning Playbook is a book and online resource containing more than 100 techniques that teachers and school leaders can use to drive improvements in their schools. Each technique includes a summary of what the technique is, why it is important, the effect size and a four-step guide to how it should be performed. The Playbook provides a unique tool for teachers to identify how they can improve their teaching, and practise with absolute clarity on what they need to do next. All techniques are accompanied by a video to show the technique in action and spotlight the four key elements with detailed audio commentary to make it easier for teachers to replicate. These can all be found on the website: www.teachingandlearningplaybook.com Codifying the key skills for every teacher to get better and for every school leader to drive improvements in their school, the Playbook covers: Routines for Learning Questioning and Checking for UnderTrade Review"What is expert teaching? How might research help teachers improve their practice? And, crucially, how can schools ensure that teachers have a clear understanding of what great teaching looks like? In The Teaching and Learning Playbook, Feely and Karlin provide persuasive answers to these very tricky questions. In simple terms, this is a comprehensive, highly-practical manual for excellent teaching. Alongside helpful explanations of each pedagogical technique, the book also provides compelling and convincing video footage of what this might look like in the cut and thrust of a real classroom. With its exemplification of key teaching concepts, in one fascinating and cohesive volume, The Teaching and Learning Playbook is a game-changer for both school leaders and classroom teachers." Mark Roberts, Author, English Teacher, and Director of Research at Carrickfergus Grammar School "A superb directory of carefully chosen and categorised classroom techniques that every classroom teacher will be better for using. Simple to follow steps, along with video explanations makes this a bible of 'go to' strategies for every teacher, irrespective of their age or stage. I only wish I'd had access to this playbook of experience and expertise when I first started teaching!" Jon Tait, Education Author, Leader, and Speaker "Effective PD thrives when we have clarity and consensus around 'what good looks like'. The Playbook is the most comprehensive attempt to codify great teaching in the UK to date." Peps Mccrea, Dean, Ambition Institute "The Teaching and Learning Playbook is a great guide for those who want to get better, or who want to help others do the same. It is as useful for teacher educators as it is for classroom teachers. The seven barriers is a concise summary of the best available evidence on why getting better is tough, and what we can do about it. The playbook contains a precise, clear guide for what teachers can productively focus their efforts on, and the right ways to implement teaching techniques." Josh Goodrich, Founder Steplab, Teacher and Educator "The Teaching and Learning Playbook is essential reading for school leaders looking to ensure the highest outcomes for their pupils. What we know about most successful schools in the county is they have a high level of organisational clarity. The Playbook provides evidence and research based approaches to support school leaders in the implementation of dozens of proven school improvement strategies. This is all done with a level of detail that prevents them from transforming into ‘lethal mutations’ or less effective versions of the strategy. I will recommend the Playbook to my colleagues and use it in all the leadership coaching and training I undertake." Dr James Lane, Executive Headteacher and Leadership Coach "What is expert teaching? How might research help teachers improve their practice? And, crucially, how can schools ensure that teachers have a clear understanding of what great teaching looks like? In The Teaching and Learning Playbook, Feely and Karlin provide persuasive answers to these very tricky questions. In simple terms, this is a comprehensive, highly-practical manual for excellent teaching. Alongside helpful explanations of each pedagogical technique, the book also provides compelling and convincing video footage of what this might look like in the cut and thrust of a real classroom. With its exemplification of key teaching concepts, in one fascinating and cohesive volume, The Teaching and Learning Playbook is a game-changer for both school leaders and classroom teachers." Mark Roberts, Author, English Teacher, and Director of Research at Carrickfergus Grammar School "A superb directory of carefully chosen and categorised classroom techniques that every classroom teacher will be better for using. Simple to follow steps, along with video explanations makes this a bible of 'go to' strategies for every teacher, irrespective of their age or stage. I only wish I'd had access to this playbook of experience and expertise when I first started teaching!" Jon Tait, Education Author, Leader, and Speaker "Effective PD thrives when we have clarity and consensus around 'what good looks like'. The Playbook is the most comprehensive attempt to codify great teaching in the UK to date." Peps Mccrea, Dean, Ambition Institute "The Teaching and Learning Playbook is a great guide for those who want to get better, or who want to help others do the same. It is as useful for teacher educators as it is for classroom teachers. The seven barriers is a concise summary of the best available evidence on why getting better is tough, and what we can do about it. The playbook contains a precise, clear guide for what teachers can productively focus their efforts on, and the right ways to implement teaching techniques." Josh Goodrich, Founder Steplab, Teacher and Educator "The Teaching and Learning Playbook is essential reading for school leaders looking to ensure the highest outcomes for their pupils. What we know about most successful schools in the county is they have a high level of organisational clarity. The Playbook provides evidence and research based approaches to support school leaders in the implementation of dozens of proven school improvement strategies. This is all done with a level of detail that prevents them from transforming into ‘lethal mutations’ or less effective versions of the strategy. I will recommend the Playbook to my colleagues and use it in all the leadership coaching and training I undertake." Dr James Lane, Executive Headteacher and Leadership Coach "The Teaching and Learning Playbook’s premise of using clear models of excellence to evaluate teaching performance, combined with its video library, means it is an invaluable tool for teacher development. Its approach to developing a shared language of excellence and setting high standards for teaching is accessible and actionable." Sarah Ashton, Schools Week Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Teaching and Learning Playbook Why don’t teachers get better? 1. Routines for Learning 2. Questioning and checking for understanding 3. Modelling, explaining and feeding back 4. Resilience, independence and retrieval 5. Curriculum 6. Beyond the subject classroom

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Book SynopsisPathways to Personalization offers an innovative five-step framework to help school leaders and teacher teams design and implement blended and personalized learning initiatives based on local needs and interests. The book draws on principles of improvement science and change management, as well as work in nearly five hundred classrooms, to help educators define their own rationale for personalized learning; it guides them as they establish small pilot initiatives, determine criteria for success, evaluate their efforts, and create a path for replication and scale. Filled with activities and templates for organizing information and student feedback, the book also includes many examples of how district leaders, school principals, and teachers have successfully navigated the change process to create more student-centered classrooms.Shifting a school or district to offer more personalized learning requires a great deal of commitment, passion, and energy, but it also demands a strategic process. Pathways to Personalization meets this need by providing a field-tested road map for educators seeking ways to meet the academic and emotional needs of all students, and to empower them to take charge of their own learning.Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface Introduction 1. The Pathway to Personalization Framework SECTION I. PLAN 2. Building Knowledge 3. Laying the Groundwork 4. Designing Your Plan SECTION II. PILOT 5. Recruiting Pilot Teachers 6. Structuring the Learning Process 7. Evaluating the Pilot SECTION III. REFINE 8. Creating Pathways SECTION IV. GROW 9. Aligning Communication and Strategic Scaling 10. Contemplating the Curriculum Challenge 11. Personalizing Professional Learning SECTION V. NETWORK 12. Accelerating Through Collaboration Epilogue APPENDICES A. Sample Memorandum of Understanding for Design Team Members B. Human Capital Assessment C. Priority Practices Tool D. Sample Memorandum of Understanding for Pilot Teachers E. Priority Practices Tool with Strategies F. Common Blended and Personalized Entry Points Notes Acknowledgments About the Authors Index

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Book SynopsisThe Only College Guide You'll Ever NeedFind Meaning, Growth, and Joy in Your College JourneyThe Complete U is a supportive, real-world guide to thriving in collegeacademically, socially, and emotionally. With warmth, humor, and deep insight, Dr. Deborah J. Cohan delivers over 100 empowering lessons to help students navigate every aspect of campus life.The Complete U is your empowering, honest, and compassionate guide to navigating every step of the college experience. With over 100 lessons from sociologist and beloved professor Dr. Deborah J. Cohan, this transformative book offers the wisdom, support, and practical strategies every student needs to succeed in and beyond the classroom.Whether youre a first-year student or preparing to graduate, this book is like a trusted mentor, cheering you on while offering real talk about everything from picking a major to building mental resilience. From managing course loads and professors to making friends, coping with anxiety, and defining your purpose, The Complete U helps you grow not only as a studentbut as a person.Inside, youll find: Practical advice for every aspect of college lifefrom homesickness and time management to healthy relationships and stress relief. Supportive lessons for mental, emotional, and academic well-being, especially tailored to modern challenges like social media burnout, identity, and uncertainty. Lively reflections and real stories from students and parents, offering encouragement and insight in equal measure. Your College Compass and Survival ToolkitIf you liked The Anxious Generation, The Freshman Survival Guide, or The Naked Roommate, then you'll love The Complete U.

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Book SynopsisEach story in this collection begins with an undesirable or out-of-balance situation and, through the use of metaphor and an imaginative story journey, leads to a more desirable resolution. In this way, the stories also have the potential for nurturing positive values.The stories cover many kinds of universal behaviour. Following the alphabet from A to Z, the behaviour is identified in the story title e.g. anxious, bossy, cranky greedy jealous lazy swearing uncooperative ... and more. The stories can be told directly, or adapted. They can be turned into home-made picture books and puppet shows, or used as springboards for the creation of new tales for particular behaviour challenges and situations.

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Book SynopsisYou can buy in the best behaviour tracking software, introduce 24/7 detentions or scream 'NO EXCUSES' as often as you want - but ultimately the solution lies with the behaviour of the adults. It is the only behaviour over which we have absolute control. Drawing on anecdotal case studies, scripted interventions and approaches which have been tried and tested in a range of contexts, from the most challenging urban comprehensives to the most privileged international schools, behaviour training expert and Pivotal Education director Paul Dix advocates an inclusive approach that is practical, transformative and rippling with respect for staff and learners. An approach in which behavioural expectations and boundaries are exemplified by people, not by a thousand rules that nobody can recall. When the Adults Change, Everything Changes illustrates how, with their traditional sanction- and exclusion-led methods, the 'punishment brigade' are losing the argument. It outlines how each school can build authentic practice on a stable platform, resulting in shifts in daily rules and routines, in how we deal with the angriest learners, in restorative practice and in how we appreciate positive behaviour. Each chapter is themed and concludes with three helpful checklists Testing, Watch out for and Nuggets designed to help you form your own behaviour blueprint. Throughout the book both class teachers and school leaders will find indispensable advice about how to involve all staff in developing a whole school ethos built on kindness, empathy and understanding. Suitable for all head teachers, school leaders, teachers, NQTs and classroom assistants in any phase or context, including SEND and alternative provision settings who are looking to upgrade their own classroom management or school behaviour plan. When the Adults Change Everything Changes was a silver winner 2017 Foreword INDIES Awards in the Education category. Named one of Book Authority's best education reform books of all time. Named one of Book Authority's best education books of all time. Click here to read the review on Humanising Language Teaching. Click here to read the review on Schools Week. Click here to read the review on 'Saved You a Spot' blog.Table of ContentsContents include: 1. Visible Consistency, Visible Kindness 2. The Counter-Intuitive Classroom 3. Deliberate Botheredness 4. Certainty in Adult Behaviour 5. Keystone Classroom Routines 6. Universal Microscripts: Flipping the Script 7. Punishment Addiction, Humiliation Hangover 8. Restore, Redraw, Repair 9. Some Children Follow Rules, Some Follow People 10. Your Behaviour Policy Sucks! 11. The 30 Day Magic

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Book SynopsisThis book is a call to action for educators who seek to move beyond superficial learning and engage students in deeper, more meaningful thinking. At a time when education is dominated by standardisation and a crowded curriculum, this book champions a different path, prioritising student agency, curiosity, and thinking.Grounded in the influential Cultures of Thinking approach developed by Dr. Ron Ritchhart from Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, this book showcases real-life case studies from Australian classrooms where these principles have been successfully applied. It explores how teachers can develop students' thinking dispositions, make thinking visible, and shape classroom cultures that foster engagement and intellectual growth. Editors Cameron Paterson and Simon Brooks, who have worked extensively with the Cultures of Thinking approach, bring together voices from across Australia, offering a rich tapestry of insights, strategies, and experiences. Through practical examples and compelling analysis, Cultivating Cultures of Thinking in Australian Schools provides educators with a concrete blueprint for transformative teaching.This book is an essential read for teachers, school leaders, and education professionals who want to create vibrant learning environments that prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. It is a powerful resource for those seeking to move beyond traditional assessment-driven teaching and cultivate a culture where thinking and learning flourish.

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Book SynopsisWhen it first appeared in the 1970s, The Little Red Schoolbook was banned by the UK authorities, which confiscated copies and prosecuted the publisher under the Obscene Publications Act. Why? Because this little book aimed to educate teenagers about democracy, sex and drugs - in frank, simple language - and encouraged them to view adults as "paper tigers". The Little Red Schoolbook has been unavailable for more than 40 years, but it remains surprisingly relevant for young people today. Reissued here in its original and uncensored format, with informative footnotes and a new foreword by the surviving author Soren Hansen, it encourages teenagers to have the confidence to seek information for themselves, challenge authority and question the status quo.

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Book Synopsis'This book is refreshing and distinctive. It takes the individual as the starting-point and builds outwards from there, to the vital but often neglected interpersonal dimension and the turbulent contexts of modern education. Vignettes help to make the theory concrete and activities bring the reader right into the frame.' -Ron Glatter,Emeritus Professor of Educational Administration and Management, The Open University and Hon. President of BELMAS Effective leadership combines organisational skills and personal qualities. Building on notions of leadership at all levels, this book contains an invaluable bank of creative ideas to help teachers already in management positions, as well as those just starting out, to reflect on their personal and leadership development. With a focus on organisational improvement and leading strategically within changing policy contexts, chapters interrogate key leadership issues such as managing people, valuesTrade Review′This book is refreshing and distinctive. It takes the individual as the starting-point and builds outwards from there, to the vital but often neglected interpersonal dimension and the turbulent contexts of modern education. Vignettes help to make the theory concrete and activities bring the reader right into the frame′ -- Ron Glatter′Dr Crawford’s book fills a valuable gap in the leadership and management narrative. Focusing on the individual leader, and how past experiences and contexts shape and form current practices, it offers invaluable insights and personal reflection on our own learning journeys.′ -- Peter BarnesTable of ContentsSection One- Evolving as an educational leader and manager Becoming and staying an educational leader Values Ways of thinking about leadership Evolving as a leader- working with what you have Organisations and leadership Section Two - Leaders and the context Power in context Crafting the context Leadership development in teams Personal leadership challenges Section Three- Leading across boundaries Boundaries and change Strategic leadership, change and communities Managing stakeholders and partnership boundaries Knowing your own boundaries - the capable leader Section Four – The educational leader as researcher Becoming a leadership researcher Further study – choices and challenges Researching in your own organisation Section Five - Moving forward The personal side of leadership Leadership challenges and opportunities

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Book SynopsisFULLY REVISED AND UPDATED! This book is just one element of a suite of resources designed to help improve the educational outcomes for all children by empowering educational leaders in national, regional and local contexts to examine, refine and develop their leadership skills.In this revised and updated edition, the author takes an in-depth and diagnostic approach, encouraging leaders at all levels in schools to think about their own personal qualities; their specific situation; their own leadership actions; and their own overall leadership approach.Developed alongside the book, the Leadership Matters website gives school leaders affordable access to high quality online diagnostic tools, videos and other leadership resources. Everything on the website, including the 40 exclusive videos, is designed around the same 40 topics from the book (known as the LM40), making it really easy for busy school leaders to find what they need.Trade Review“Leadership Matters is one of the books I return to most frequently. It’s a text for our time – a epoch when leaders need, more than ever, to know what they stand for, what their non-negotiable principles are, how to communicate in a range of forms to a range of audiences, and how to sustain ourselves emotionally, morally, when times turn grim.” -- Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders

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Book SynopsisIt's not what you do, it's how you think about what you do. Mindframesyour internal set of beliefs about your role as school leaderdetermine the high-impact leadership practices you choose to implement. In other words, how you think about the impact of the actions you take has more effect on student achievement than your leadership practices themselves. Building on over twenty-five years of Visible Learning research and girded by a theory of action that ensures school leaders have the expertise to select, implement, and evaluate high impact interventions, 10 Mindframes for Leaders: The VISIBLE LEARNING Approach to School Success brings the mindframes of ten world-renowned educators to life. Ten chapters, each written by a different thought leader, detail a mindframe at the heart of successful school leadership, along with the high probability influences that make each mindframe visible. A must-have resource for any educator working toward student achievement at ever-higher levels, each chapter includes: The most current, up-to-date findings from the Visible Learning research, including the factors from Visible Learning that support each mindframe Practical ideas for leaders to implement high-impact strategies in classrooms and schools Vignettes, questions, insights, and exercises to help educators clarify and refine their own mindframes Lead your school to reform from the inside out. Cultivate these ways of thinking, and you're more likely to have major impacts on the learning lives of those students entrusted to your care. Includes Contributions FromJohn Hattie, Peter DeWitt, Raymond L. Smith, Doug Fisher, Janet Clinton, Nancy Frey, Dylan Wiliam, Dominique Smith, Jenni Donohoo, Laura Link, Michael Fullan, Sugata Mitra, Zaretta Hammond, Jim Knight Table of ContentsAbout the Editors About the Contributors Introduction—John Hattie and Raymond Smith Chapter 1. “I am an evaluator of my impact on teacher/student learning”—Janet Clinton Chapter 2. “I see assessment as informing my impact and next steps”—Dylan Wiliam Chapter 3. “I collaborate with my peers and my teachers about my conceptions of progress and my impact”—Jenni Donohoo Chapter 4. “I am a change agent and believe all teachers/students can improve”—Michael Fullan Chapter 5. “I strive for challenge rather than merely ‘doing my best’”—Zaretta Hammond Chapter 6. “I give and help students/teachers understand feedback and I interpret and act on feedback given to me”—Peter M. DeWitt Chapter 7. “I engage as much in dialogue as in monologue”—Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Dominique Smith Chapter 8. “I explicitly inform teachers/students what successful impact looks like from the outset”—Laura Link Chapter 9. “I build relationships and trust so that learning can occur in a place where it is safe to make mistakes and learn from others”—Sugata Mitra Chapter 10. “I focus on learning and the language of learning”—Jim Knight Conclusion—John Hattie and Raymond Smith References Index

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Book SynopsisAs teachers grapple with the challenge of a new, bigger and more challenging school curriculum, at every key stage and phase, success can feel beyond our reach. But what if there were 50,000 small solutions to help us bridge that gap? In Closing the Vocabulary Gap, the author explores the increased demands of an academic curriculum and how closing the vocabulary gap between our word poor' and word rich' students could prove the vital difference between school failure and success. This must-read book presents the case for teacher-led efforts to develop students'' vocabulary and provides practical solutions for teachers across the curriculum, incorporating easy-to-use tools, resources and classroom activities. Trade Review"In the years I’ve devoted to literacy, I have learnt what I should have always have known - that nothing matters more than words. Our vocabulary allows us to interpret the world, to express ourselves with greater clarity, to show confidence, insight and perceptiveness. Words lie at the heart of our quest to narrow gaps between the advantaged and disadvantaged, to address social mobility. That’s why I am so pleased to welcome Alex Quigley’s powerfully illuminating book. It is a vital reminder that knowing about vocabulary is the responsibility of every teacher. It is also the entitlement of every child." – Geoff Barton, General Secretary of Association of School and College Leaders"Expertly weaving academic research with observations from the classroom, Alex Quigley explains why word poverty matters – and sets out what can be done about it. Word knowledge, he argues, is critical for success in every subject and as such it is the responsibility of all teachers to become word conscious. Don’t grab a dictionary. Read this excellent book instead and discover an approach to vocabulary instruction that is rich, organised and cumulative — and relevant for developing disciplinary knowledge across the entire curriculum." – Kate Nation, Professor of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK"This book offers a great overview of the research on learning vocabulary, and practical advice on how to apply this research in the classroom." – Daisy Christodoulou, Research and Development Manager, ARK Schools, UK"A key strength of this book is that it summarises research evidence for teachers, providing a primer on vocabulary, morphology, etymology, phonics, reading comprehension strategies and much more. In addition to being instructive, it provides flexible frameworks so teachers can develop materials, activities and assessments that will meet their needs, and those of their students. The book is essential reading for any teacher hoping to raise levels of vocabulary, reading and writing."– Dr Jessie Ricketts, TESTable of Contents1. Closing the vocabulary gap – problems and solutions 2. What every teacher needs to know about reading 3. What is in a word? Know your roots 4. ‘Wot d’ya mean by academic vocabulary’ 5. Developing vocabulary and ‘disciplinary literacy’ 6. We need to talk about spelling 7. Practical strategies for closing the vocabulary gap 8. Next steps

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Book Synopsis A Volcano in My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger presents a clear and effective approach to helping children and adults alike understand and deal constructively with children''s anger. Using easy to understand yet rarely taught skills for anger management, including how to teach communication of emotions, A Volcano in My Tummy offers engaging, well-organized activities which help to overcome the fear of children''s anger which many adult care-givers experience. By carefully distinguishing between anger the feeling, and violence the behavior, this accessible little book, primarily created for ages 6 to thirteen, helps to create an awareness of anger, enabling children to relate creatively and harmoniously at critical stages in their development. Through activities, stories, articles, and games designed to allow a multi-subject, developmental approach to the topic at home and in school, A Volcano in My Tummy gives us the tools we need to put aTable of Contents Introduction Key Concepts The Anger Rules Especially for Parents and Caregivers Building Children's Self Esteem What Can Adults Do When A Child is Angry? A One-to-One Anger Management Program Troubleshooting Especially for Teachers Curriculum Integration Running a Staff Meeting About Anger Bibliography Lessons Lesson 1: A VOLCANO IN MY TUMMY Worksheet: Do You Have A Volcano In Your Tummy or Explosions In Your Head? Lesson 2: BOTTLING ANGER Worksheet: Bottling Anger Lesson 3: ARE YOU A VOLCANO? Worksheet: Are You a Volcano? Lesson 4: THE ANGER RULES Lesson 5: DIRTY ANGER / CLEAN ANGER Worksheet: Clean Anger is Healthy Lesson 6: CRAIG`S ANGRY DAY Lesson 7: THE INSIDE STORY Lesson 8: TECHNOPARENT Worksheet: Technoparent Lesson 9: TIME OUT Worksheet: Time Out Lesson 10: SAFE WAYS OF GETTING ANGRY Worksheet: Safe Ways of Getting Angry CREATIVE ANGER TENSION SCALE Worksheet: What Lit the Fuse? MAGIC Worksheet: Want Some Magic to Help You? ROLE PLAYING Role Playing Scenarios THE FOUR LEVELS OF MUSCLE Worksheet: Using Your Muscles SHIELDS Worksheet: Shields KALMIC AND THE ANGRY ALIEN Worksheet: Debrief COLD WATER WORDS Worksheets: Cold Water Words GRUDGE JAR ANGER VOCABULARY Worksheet: Word Search One Worksheet: Word Search Two Worksheet: Crossword Solutions SWEARING Worksheet: What Do You Do When You Want To Swear? PROBLEM SOLVING Worksheet: Play Your Own Problem Solving Video AGGROSCENARIO! Worksheet: Aggroscenario ANGER IN THE WORLD WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Worksheet: We Can Make a Difference

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Book SynopsisAmerica has long compared its students to top-performing kids of other nations. But how do the world''s education superpowers look through the eyes of an American high school student? Author Amanda Ripley follows three teenagers who chose to spend one school year living and learning in Finland, South Korea, and Poland. Through their adventures, Ripley discovers startling truths about how attitudes, parenting, and rigorous teaching have revolutionized these countries'' education results. In The Smartest Kids in the World, Ripley''s astonishing new insights reveal that top-performing countries have achieved greatness only in the past several decades; that the kids who live there are learning to think for themselves, partly through failing early and often; and that persistence, hard work, and resilience matter more to our children''s life chances than self-esteem or sports. Ripley''s investigative work seamlessly weaves narrative and research, providing in-depth analysis aTrade Review“[Ripley] gets well beneath the glossy surfaces of these foreign cultures and manages to make our own culture look newly strange…The question is whether the startling perspective provided by this masterly book can also generate the will to make changes.” * New York Times Book Review *“Compelling . . . What is Poland doing right? And what is America doing wrong? Amanda Ripley, an American journalist, seeks to answer such questions in The Smartest Kids in the World, her fine new book about the schools that are working around the globe ….Ms. Ripley packs a startling amount of insight in this slim book.” * The Economist *“[T]he most illuminating reporting I have ever seen on the differences between schools in America and abroad.” * Jay Mathews, education columnist, The Washington Post *“[The Smartest Kids in the World is] a riveting new book….Ripley’s policy recommendations are sensible and strong….The American school reform debate has been desperately in need of such no-nonsense advice, which firmly puts matters of intellect back at the center of education where they belong.” * The Daily Beast *“The Smartest Kids in the World should be on the back-to-school reading list of every parent, educator and policymaker interested in understanding why students in other countries outperform U.S. students on international tests.” -- US News & World Report“Gripping….Ripley's characters are fascinating, her writing style is accessible, and her observations are fresh….If you're interested in how to improve public schools, read Ripley's book today.” -- The Huffington Post“In riveting prose...this timely and inspiring book offers many insights into how to improve America’s mediocre school system.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review"If you care about education, you must read this book. By recounting what three intrepid kids learned from the rest of the world, it shows what we can learn about how to fix our schools. Ripley's delightful storytelling has produced insights that are both useful and inspiring." -- Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin“This book gives me hope that we can create education systems of equity and rigor—if we heed the lessons from top performing countries and focus more on preparing teachers than on punishing them." -- Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers“This is a no-nonsense, no-excuses book about how we can improve outcomes for all kids, from the poorest to the wealthiest. It avoids platitudes and ideology and relies instead on the experiences of students.” -- Joel Klein, CEO, Amplify, and former chancellor, New York Department of Education“Amanda Ripley observes with rare objectivity and depth. She finds a real and complex world ‘over there’—schools with flaws of their own but also real and tangible lessons about how to do better by our kids. The Smartest Kids in the World gave me more insights, as a parent and as an educator, than just about anything else I’ve read in a while.” -- Doug Lemov, author of Teach Like a Champion“Such an important book! Amanda Ripley lights the path to engaging our next generation to meet a different bar. She makes an enormous contribution to the national and global discussion about what must be done to give all our children the education they need to invent the future.” -- Wendy Kopp, founder and chair, Teach For America, and CEO, Teach For All"The Smartest Kids in the World is a must read for anyone concerned about the state of American public education. By drawing on experiences, successes, and failures in education systems in the highest-performing countries across the globe, Amanda Ripley lays out a course for what we must do to dramatically improve our nation's schools.” -- Michelle Rhee, Founder and CEO of StudentsFirst“Ripley’s stirring investigation debunks many tenets of current education reform.” -- BookPage“In lively, accessible prose….Ripley’s book looks at the data from a new perspective. Those stunned parents and teachers in New York State and elsewhere would do well to read this book first if they are inclined to blame their children’s/students’ poor results on a new test.” -- OECD “Education Today” Blog“[Ripley] is a compelling storyteller who deftly plaits humorous anecdotes and hard data to whip you in the face with her findings.” -- Kristen Levithan * Brain, Child Magazine *“Ripley’s evaluation of education in a changing world is revealing and thought-provoking.” * Rocky Mountain Telegram *“A good read . . . . If you want to understand what goes on in other countries’ education systems, read [The Smartest Kids in the World].” * Coshocton Tribune *

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Book SynopsisThis delightful activity book, based on Molly Potter''s bestselling title How Are You Feeling Today?, is filled with lively illustrations and engaging activities about dealing with a whole range of emotions, from excitement and happiness to shyness and jealousy.We all have feelings; sometimes they feel comfortable and sometimes they feel uncomfortable. Can you sort them out and work out which emotion is which? And can you fill in a dot-to-dot boredom buster and draw a fluffy, smiling, happy monster? Use this book to explore how you are feeling and complete the activities with the colourful stickers!With useful tips for parents and carers about delivering emotional literacy at the front of the book, this activity and sticker book will help children get to grips with their emotions on a daily basis.

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Book SynopsisThis bestselling book introduces you step-by-step to the key skills needed to become a successful coach. Focusing on the main coaching skills of listening, asking powerful questions, playing back and noticing, this practical book supports you to become more self-aware and confident as you support others to learn, grow and develop. Supported by a suite of video examples and practical activities, this book is an invaluable companion for novices and trainee coaches.Now in its fourth edition, this book is more aligned to the competencies of the leading professional associations of coaching and has been revised and updated to take into account developments in the field.New to Fourth Edition: New learning features, including "What the professional associations say", "Reflect on your practice", and "A question for you" New suite of 30 online video examples displaying a range of key coaching skills in action New chapter on "coaching in context" on the implications of coaching in different contexts, such as education and health settings Increased focus on online coaching

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Book SynopsisThe 36 activities in this book make learning about leadership a hands-on, active experience. Kids are called on to recognize each other s strengths, become better listeners, communicate clearly, identify their values, build trust, set goals, and more. Each activity takes 20 45 minutes. Digital content includes all of the book's reproducible forms."Trade ReviewThis is an outstanding resource for all those who want to encourage young people in their leadership and teamwork skills. While there are many similar books available, this one will become one of the essential resources in the youth worker's library. YouthWorker Journal"

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated edition of the best-selling guide for schools implementing PBIS Tier 1 PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports) is the most important tool educators have to deal with disruptive student behaviors. This revised and updated handbook provides detailed guidelines for implementing and sustaining PBIS for schools and teams. New in this edition is a chapter addressing inequity and bias in behavior referrals and discipline; a tiered fidelity inventory (TFI) to evaluate adherence to PBIS practices; different methods of data collection; and new research on sustainability. Positive school climates are not achieved through expulsions, suspensions, or detentions, but instead through collective analysis and data-driven decision-making. Downloadable digital content offers a PDF presentation to aid staff buy-in and customizable forms to help manage data and assess progress with ease.

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Book SynopsisThe Early Childhood Quality Rating Scale â Emergent Curriculum (ECQRS-EC) is designed to measure the quality of support for literacy, mathematics, and science in pre-school settings.Although different curricular frameworks are used around the world, there is increasing agreement that emerging academic skills should be supported by a playful pedagogy. The ECQRS-EC substantially updates the ECERS-E which was the first observational scale to focus directly on the development of emergent academic skills. This evidence-based tool also includes a subscale dedicated to diversity and inclusion to help educators support gender and cultural differences in children 3-6 years old who are developing at different rates.This revised quality rating scale recognises the important role of the adult in providing children with high-quality interactions and can be used for research, teacher self-evaluation, and programme improvement, audit and regulation.

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Book SynopsisThis book sets out a three-stage programme for lesson observation showing how a collaborative whole-school approach can transform the culture of the staffroom and improve outcomes for pupils. Focusing on the emotional environment of the classroom, the relationships between teachers and pupils, and teaching and learning outcomes, it will enable schools to provide a consistent approach to lesson observation where good practice can be celebrated and shared.Revealing the positive impact of the programme on pupils' engagement and exam results, co-operation between departments and teacher wellbeing, the book: Provides clear guidance on implementing the programme and adapting it for different contexts. Shows how data can be used for both Ofsted and Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection documentation. Adresses key issues such as culture, staff psychological contracts, the emotional environment of the school and leadership developmTable of ContentsPart 1 1. What lesson observation is and current attitudes to it 2. What is school culture? 3. The psychological contract 4. The Emotional Environment Part 2 5. The three-stage model: an overview 6. Stage 1: The observation itself 7. Stage 2: Factors outside the classroom 8. Stage 3: Wider contribution to school ife Part 3 9. Leadership: knowing me, knowing you 10. Being prepared 11. Presenting the vision Part 4 12. Using the three-stage lesson observation data to build the self-evaluation form (SEF) 13. What's next? Afterword

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Book SynopsisDemands on institutions of higher education are constantly growing, and recent years, including the Coronavirus pandemic, have complicated academic life in unprecedented ways. The impact of complex and dynamic outside forces, from the pandemic to the interacting socio-cultural, political, economic, and technological factors, calls for strengthened leadership. Yet the 21st century has seen reduced participation by faculty in leadership roles, even though the numbers of faculty globally are rising. Better support is needed to encourage and inspire early and mid-career scholars in pursuing leadership. Thriving in Academic Leadership provides just that, presenting informative and inspiring stories from academic leaders at colleges and universities across the world, including Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Personal and engaging, the stories speak to a broad population of academics, serving as an inspiration and guide for academics who aspire to leadership, or are currently in leadership positions, looking to climb the leadership ladder.Trade ReviewOne of the clues to successful leadership is the ability to sustain a narrative about an institution’s or an organization’s heritage and direction. Colleges and universities are, or should be, mission-based, student-centered, and market-sensitive, three features that lend themselves to storytelling. By relating the vision of founders and the successes of following generations, leaders can use story telling to make complex ideas comprehendible and inspire new generations. To be believable, the storyteller must demonstrate commitment to the institution and sincere reflection on its foundational principles, as well as the context for decisions and choices, while also sharing their lived experiences. The stories of and by these ten varied reflective leaders help define leadership in practice in multiple university settings and culture around the world. It is an excellent guide for those who occupy, or seek to occupy, the helm of an academic institution. -- Dr. Robert A. Scott * President Emeritus, Adelphi University and Ramapo College of New Jersey *Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Educational System in Australia Chapter 3. Systemic and Empowering Leadership; Andrew Deeks Chapter 4. The Educational System in Canada Chapter 5. Leadership Through Lifelong Learning; Ross Paul Chapter 6. The Educational System in England, U.K. Chapter 7. Giving a Voice to ‘All Manner of People’; Helen Mountfield Chapter 8. The Educational System in India Chapter 9. Practicing Leadership Ethically and Mindfully; Swapna Banerjee Chapter 10. The Educational System in Ireland Chapter 11. Of Things Being Various; Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh Chapter 12. The Educational System in New Zealand Chapter 13. Leading by Developing; Robin Gauld Chapter 14. The Educational System in Singapore Chapter 15. Steward Leadership; Arnoud De Meyer Chapter 16. The Educational System in South Africa Chapter 17. Finding the balance between the picket line and the boardroom: Reflections of a transformative university leader; R. Mamokgethi Phakeng Chapter 18. The Educational System in the United States of America Chapter 19. On the Way to a University Presidency; John Lombardi Chapter 20. International leadership Chapter 21. Leading Internationally; Marcia Grant

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Book SynopsisOur role as educators is to develop a curriculum which facilitates outstanding learning and which builds social, cultural and educational capital. The curriculum is much more than a content driven document, it is the vehicle for educational change. This book compliments the Make it Outstanding Series and is central to subject development. It has a strong focus on combining curriculum theory and translating this to a practical approach schools can adapt and implement with ease. Packed full of practical strategies and examples to facilitate curriculum conversations within subject and senior leadership teams the chapters provide a considered balance between theory and application. Supporting teachers, curriculum leaders, senior leaders and headteachers in leading and implementing the curriculum within their schools, the book covers: An overview of different curriculum models How to develop the curriculum intent from the whole school Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Understanding the curriculum Chapter 2: Developing curriculum intent Chapter 3: Developing the composite and pinpointing the knowledge Chapter 4: The learning cycle Chapter 5: Assessing the curriculum Chapter 6: Social, cultural and educational capital Chapter 7: Quality Assurance of the curriculum Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisThere are few subjects these days that cause parents more stress than their children''s education. In his new book, Peter Hitchens describes the misjudgements made by politicians over the years that have led to the increase of class distinction and privilege in our education system. This is of course the opposite of what was intended, especially by former Minister of Education Shirley Williams and Margaret Thatcher, her successor in that role, who closed down many more Grammar Schools than Williams. Given that the cost of private secondary education is now in the region of 50,000 a year and the best comprehensive schools are now oversubscribed, parents are spending thousands on private tutoring and fee-paying prep schools in order to get their children into these academically excellent schools. Meanwhile hypocritical Labour politicians like Diane Abbott send their children to expensive private day schools. Hitchens argues that in trying to bring about Trade ReviewFascinating. * The New Statesman *...Hitchens provides an accessible and helpful overview of educational history in the UK. * The Tablet *At its heart, though, A Revolution Betrayed is a history book with attitude… and has much to offer about an undeniably fascinating and significant episode. * The Spectator *Table of Contents1 The Nature and History of the Dispute 2 A Chronology of Grammar School Education 3 The Case against Grammar Schools 4 The Case for Grammar Schools 5 The Secondary Moderns 6 From O Level to No Level 7 The Left Dissents from Itself, But Only a Little 8 No Going Back Appendix I: A Grammar School ‘Who’s Who’ Appendix II: Schools Mentioned That Are Still Grammar Schools Appendix III: Former Grammar Schools and Their Later Fates Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTo make the best decisions possible, middle leaders need to have a nuanced understanding of the consequences of their actions. In this pragmatic book, Adam Robbins aims to boost their role-specific expertise to help them achieve that goal - and offers them a preferable alternative to learning from their mistakes. Instead of relying on generic leadership theories, Middle Leadership Mastery collates perspectives from psychology and cognitive science to share evidence-informed guidance on a wide range of topics - from supporting staff and students in crisis and managing wellbeing, to quality-assuring teaching and curriculum design. Adam Robbins draws on his sixteen years' experience of teaching in a deprived area to illustrate his points with stories and anecdotes from the front line, demonstrating how middle leaders can better understand their context and deliver the best outcomes from a variety of starting points.

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Book SynopsisSpanning the comprehensive perspective of self, school and system, this tour-de-force is both well-informed and uplifting whilst at the same time being full of practical advice and guidance, rooted in the author’s front-line role leading a school. Tom Rees’s depth of thinking and knowledge of leadership, and his ability to translate that into both a structure and tone that will be relevant to leaders in schools today, will resonate with leaders at levels. The book is brilliantly supplemented with the thoughts and views of colleagues spanning the whole educational spectrum, including: Sir David Carter, Clare Sealy, Daisy Christodoulou, MAT CEOs, Julia Kedwards, Stephen Tierney and Andrew Morrish, plus his very own actual dad!Table of Contents1. Another Teacher 2. Built to last 3. Finding your Leadership Voice 4. Ethos & Culture 5. Vision & Change 6. Strategic School Improvement 7. Healthy Accountability 8. Manageable & Meaningful Assessment 9. A Lean Operation 10. Training & Development 11. Managing People 12. Self-Preservation 13. Staff Wellbeing 14. Interdependence

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Book SynopsisBuilding Culture navigates the complex educational landscape and provides a look at school culture, highlighting key aspects of cultivating culture that leads to great pupil outcomes.Rooted in her own experience as a senior leader, Lekha Sharma knows that leaders need not only the what of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy but also the how. How can school leaders bring together the theoretical knowledge they possess and mobilise it on the ground so that they can have a positive and tangible impact on pupil outcomes? Teachers are increasingly equipped with the awareness and knowledge of cognitive psychology but what other areas of psychology could support those that lead those very teachers? And what elements of human nature can we harness to build the kind of school cultures that are conducive to improving outcomes for pupils? Building Culture provides a great start to answering all those questions.

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Book SynopsisAn increasing number of children are struggling to attend school. The conventional approach prioritises a rapid return to their setting. For some children, this simply doesnât work. They are stuck, not attending school but not learning out of school either. What happens then - and what can we do about it? This illustrated guide lifts the lid on the experiences of children and families who are struggling within the school system and explores how we can work with these young people to maximise their chances of a positive and fulfilled life.The book encourages professionals to take a new perspective and to consider what can be done differently. It explores the ways in which difficulties with school are understood by children, parents, and professionals, and shows how things can go wrong (and right), using real-life examples from a range of settings. Chapters delve into common interventions and the impact these can have in practice, before introducing alternative ap

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Book SynopsisBox Clever is a practical resource that will help you work out where you are now, where you want to be and crucially, how to get there. Rachel Johnson uses thought-provoking quadrants to bring clarity to some of the things that can hold you back, whatever your role or experience level. Whether it''s communication, your sense of urgency, your self-image or the way you prioritise, there is a quadrant that can help you see the issue and, crucially, do something about it.This powerful book is for anyone who wants change in their life and leadership and is willing to do the important work to get there.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to be written on the Judge Rotenberg Center and their use of painful interventions to control the behavior of children and adults with disabilities. For more than forty years, professionals in the field of disability studies have engaged in debates over the use of aversive interventions (such as electric shock) like the ones used at the Judge Rotenberg Center. Advocates and lawyers have filed complaints and lawsuits to both use them and ban them, scientists have written hundreds of articles for and against them, and people with disabilities have lost their lives and, some would say, lived their lives because of them. There are families who believe deeply in the need to use aversives to control their children’s behavior. There are others who believe the techniques used are torture. All of these families have children who have been excluded from numerous educational and treatment programs because of their behaviors. For most of the families, placement at the Judge Rotenberg Center is the last resort. This book is a historical case study of the Judge Rotenberg Center, named after the judge who ruled in favor of keeping its doors open to use aversive interventions. It chronicles and analyzes the events and people involved for over forty years that contributed to the inability of the state of Massachusetts to stop the use of electric shock, and other severe forms of punishment on children and adults with disabilities. It is a long story, sad and tragic, complex, filled with intrigue and questions about society and its ability to protect and support its most vulnerable citizens. Trade Review"A history of the notorious Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts, and the fight to ban the use of electric shock treatment and other severe punishments on disabled children and adults. This is a historical case study that remains sadly relevant, as aversion therapies are still encouraged in many places." * The Bookseller *“. . . . An in-depth, riveting, and devastating account of violent treatments known as aversives, used at the Judge Rotenberg Center. Nisbet’s painstakingly detailed history insists that we must not look away—as too many have done—from these horrific stories.” * Isis *“A history of the notorious Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts, and the fight to ban the use of electric shock treatment and other severe punishments on disabled children and adults… An incredibly well-documented book.” * Masslive *"This important book brings to light the shameful history of torturous methods used on individuals with developmental disabilities. If animals or prisoners of war had been subjected to this torture, the perpetrators would have been charged with felony cruelty to animals or war crimes. I am hopeful that by exposing what has occurred at the Judge Rotenberg Center, this work will finally bring this sad chapter of our history to an end." -- Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures"Nisbet provides important insights into the present-day use of aversive interventions and the ongoing struggle for disability justice. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals.” * Choice *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsChapter I. A Long StoryChapter II. How We Got to This PlaceChapter III. Encouraged to Expand to CaliforniaChapter IV. Pushing BackChapter V. The Death of VincentChapter VI. The Food and Drug Administration Permits the Use of Electric Shock on People with DisabilitiesChapter VII. Here Comes National Institutes of Health: A National Outcry After the Office for Children’s and Mary Kay Leonard’s Loss to BRIChapter VIII. Staging the Next BattlegroundChapter IX. Bad Faith or Responsible Government: Another Attempt to Limit the Use of AversivesChapter X. ContemptChapter XI. More Legal Issues and Advocates Take Action: Weiss and NisbetChapter XII. The FDA Bans the Electric Shock Device: A Final Ruling? Weiss and NisbetEpilogueChronologyEndnotesBiographical Note

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Book SynopsisA practical and simple tool that helps parents find questions to ask and a way to connect with their children day after day.We''ve all been there: The kids come home from school tired and distracted, and we try to connect with them by asking the same questions day after day. Well, this book will help you find the right questions to connect with your child today and every day.How was school? What did you learn today? Did you have fun? If we are lucky, we might get a little more than Fine or It was good in return. Maybe we''re asking the wrong questions. The good news is that this book will help you find the right questions to connect with your child every day. Stop Asking How Was Your Day? is an invaluable tool that can be used again and again. Easy to flip through while waiting in the pickup lane outside school or before sitting down to dinner, this book provides diverse and open-ended questions for parents of schoolchildren of all ages and walks of life.

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Book SynopsisThink Beyond the Facts! Knowing the facts is not enough. If we want students to develop intellectually, creatively problem-solve, and grapple with complexity, the key is in conceptual understanding. A Concept-Based curriculum recaptures students’ innate curiosity about the world and provides the thrilling feeling of engaging one’s mind. This updated edition introduces the newest thought leadership in Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction. Educators will learn how to Meet the demands of rigorous academic standards Use the Structure of Knowledge and Process when designing disciplinary units Engage students in inquiry through inductive teaching Identify conceptual lenses and craft quality generalizations Explore deeper levels of learning and become a Master Concept-Based Teacher. "This book is smart, wise, and energizing. It honors the disciplines we teach by reminding us of their inherent meaning. It honors teachers with the belief that they grow as human beings through understanding the power of what they teach. It honors students by expecting them to become thinkers capable of reasoned stewardship of the world they live in and will inherit." Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor University of Virginia, Curry School of Education "As factual and procedural knowledge are a click away, education needs to foster contextualization and higher order thinking through a focus on transferable conceptual understandings. This essential book translates the needed sophistication of concept-based learning into actionable classroom practices." Charles Fadel, Author of "Four-Dimensional Education" and "21st Century Skills" Founder, Center for Curriculum Redesign Visiting Scholar, Harvard Graduate School of EducationTrade Review"This book is smart, and wise, and energizing. It honors the disciplines we teach by reminding us of their inherent meaning, rather than allowing us to accept them as collections of data. It honors teachers with the belief that they grow as human beings through understanding the power of what they teach and crafting approaches for sharing that power with young learners. It honors students by expecting them to become thinkers capable of reasoned stewardship of the world they live in and will inherit. It maps out a path for achieving the twin goals of content understanding and developing thinking—both too long absent in too many schools." -- Carol Ann Tomlinson, Ed.D., William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor"This revised edition is essential for all educators! If you want to help students deal with the overwhelming rate of complexity and information overload they face, look no further. This practical guide will help you design units for deep learning that lasts." -- Julie Stern, Independent Trainer and Curriculum Designer"This new, updated edition of Erickson’s Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom provides deep insights on how to create a thinking classroom by developing intellect and preparing our students for the 21st Century. This is a research-based, practical guide to designing curriculum and instruction that focuses on conceptual understandings through utilizing an inquiry-based approach. This book is bursting with examples and systematic strategies to engage and motivate our students. A must read for all 21st century educators!" -- Jennifer T. H. Wathall, Consultant and Author of Concept-Based Mathematics"The authors are justly intent on advancing the intellect of our students and ensuring schools are places that shape lifelong learners. The Concept-Based approach challenges teachers to think deeply about what and how they are teaching so that students deepen their understanding and retain and apply what they’ve learned. One of the greatest challenges any teacher faces is the transfer of agency from the teacher to the student. Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction does just that. If we are serious about promoting engaged, motivated, productive, creative citizens, our teacher preparation institutions must provide in-depth guidance in this powerful design process. It is imperative that pre-service teachers understand "how knowledge and processes are structured and the relationship of these structures to teaching, learning, and intellectual development." I know of no better resource to guide pre-service teachers in the development of thinking students than this text and others by these authors." -- Karen L. List, Project Director, PK – 3rd Grade Leadership Program, Executive Coach, LEAD CT"Teachers must be able to engage and motivate learners before they can teach them. However, engagement and motivation only come when learning is relevant and intrinsically interesting. For learning to be relevant and intrinsically interesting, teachers must start by crafting deeper conceptual understandings of personal or transferable significance. Given the pressures of a coverage curriculum, developing students’ critical, creative and conceptual minds is one of the biggest challenges our teachers face today. This brilliant piece of work by Lynn, Lois, and Rachel is what teachers need to address the challenge. The authors have beautifully presented a broad range of theoretically grounded and highly practical strategies to improve student engagement, thinking, and motivation through the principles of Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction. " -- Ashish Trivedi, MYP School Services Manager, Asia Pacific"What should students know in an age of search engines? As factual and procedural knowledge are a click away, education needs to foster contextualization and higher order thinking through a focus on transferable conceptual understandings. This should be the Holy Grail of a modern education, which needs to crisply redefine what type of content matter is most needed so as to reserve time and space for deeper learning to occur. This essential book translates the needed sophistication of concept-based learning into actionable classroom practices, which every teacher will be enchanted to have." -- Charles Fadel, Author of “Four-Dimensional Education” and “21st Century Skills""A must read for all teacher credentialing programs. A valuable teacher’s guide on creating deep, passionate concept-based units of inquiry. This book artfully engages the reader’s thinking and takes them through a journey merging best practices in teaching and learning with brain based pedagogy. Once again, the authors explicitly demonstrate why Concept-Based teaching and learning is essential for all 21st century learners." -- Guadalupe Arellano, Student Advocate and Instructional Coordinator"The 2nd edition of Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction effectively brings together Erickson′s Structure of Knowledge and Lanning′s Structure of Process to present a coherent vision for Concept-Based teaching and learning across the disciplines. The enhanced focus on inquiry reiterates the importance of giving children the opportunity to form their own conceptual understandings inductively. I recommend this book to anyone interested in getting to the heart of Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction!" -- Carla Marschall, Vice Principal and Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Consultant"This book provides support for educators implementing a concept-based curriculum. The practical planning steps and concrete examples for a range of grade levels provide an invaluable guide for those who aspire to make learning powerful. The book does not shy away from the reality of what a challenging journey the transition to a concept-based curriculum will be; rather it embraces the challenge as part of the joy of learning." -- Caroline Joslin-Callahan, Primary School Principal"Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom starts with a brief introduction on how our brains work and why it is important to look at each unit of study with a conceptual focus. The authors discuss the difference between inductive and deductive instruction and also show us how structured versus guided inquiry differ. There are lesson templates, examples of lessons, checklists, and even most frequently asked questions to guide us in continuing our challenging but rewarding journey into concept-based teaching." -- MiddleWebTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Thinking Classroom 2. The Structures of Knowledge and Process 3. Designing Concept-Based Instructional Units 4. Inquiry in Designing Concept-based Lessons 5. The Developing Concept-based Teacher and Self Assessments Resources A. Concept-Based Curriculum Glossary of Terms B. Sample Verbs for Level 2 and 3 Generalizations C. Concept-Based Graphic Organizers D. Unit Design Steps E. Checklist for Evaluating Concept-based Units F. Mathematics Generalizations for Secondary Grade Levels G. 3D American History Unit Web References

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Book SynopsisExperienced teacher, Gurdeep Singh, provides practical tips and strategies for secondary school teachers to help them manage classroom behaviour, reduce their workload and improve their own wellbeing.

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the huge success of Boys Donât Try? this essential new book answers nine key questions about how teachers and schools can best tackle boysâ academic underperformance. For decades schools have grappled with the most significant barriers to male academic success: a lack of motivation to succeed, poor attitudes to learning, lower literacy levels and a reluctance to read for pleasure or write at length. In this compelling book, Mark Roberts provides clear answers about how teachers can tackle âThe Boy Questionâ. Each chapter answers a frequently asked question about how best to teach boys, outlining the issue and demonstrating what can be done about it. Informed by a wealth of research and the authorâs personal experience of successfully teaching boys, this book offers an abundance of practical advice for the busy classroom teacher. It will shine a light on what makes boys tick and how we can design effective curriculums to ensure they can best acquire powerful knowledge. With practical advice and examples to help address anti-social attitudes and stem the cycle of boysâ underachievement, this is essential reading for all teachers and school leaders.Trade Review'It’s one thing to identify a problem, quite another to suggest some workable solutions. In The Boy Question Mark Roberts achieves the second with remarkable acuity. He provides compelling insights into why many boys are not achieving what they might, unpicks the research and provides really helpful suggestions for cracking some of the issues. This book is beautifully constructed; colleagues will find the research invaluable, particularly as it is translated into workable suggestions for the classroom. There are some hard hitting messages here, but Mark delivers them with such sensitivity and nuance that the proposals he suggests become utterly compelling.'Mary Myatt, Education Thinker and Writer'Boys Don't Try? proved a smash-hit with teachers because the authors tackled one of the biggest issues for teachers – the 'Boy Question' – with skill and a rich array of evidence. Mark Roberts returns to tackle the topic of boys in education with another terrific account of the struggles and successes of boys. With chapters from motivation to misbehaviour, to role models and writing, Roberts marshals’ key evidence, slims down complex debates, and shares eminently practical approaches for the classroom. If you are seeking ways to ensure boys do better in your school, this is definitely the book for you.'Alex Quigley, Author and National Content Manager at the Education Endowment Foundation'I loved this book. It is a grounded and balanced exploration of how we can work to support and challenge boys to aim high and fulfil their potential. It outlines some of the unhelpful assumptions and preconceptions which may hold us back from having ambitious aspirations for the boys in our classrooms, before going on to answer the question: "What can we do about it?"The book is very well-researched and thoroughly referenced. It is up to date, offering insights into navigating the current pandemic. Its broad scope is reflected in the examples it includes from a range of different subject areas. Mark is eminently reasonable in his expectations with respect to teacher workload, showing how focussing on what is most effective can often correlate to adopting practices which are less labour- and time-intensive than our previous practice.The Boy Question is strongly recommended for all those responsible for teaching, or raising, boys. It makes clear that considering the evidence, avoiding the pitfalls and following some of the suggested strategies will help the girls in our schools to succeed, too.'Jill Berry, Former Head, now Leadership Development Consultant and Education Commentator"Pick up this book, along with your favourite highlighters and a few hours of your time. It will be time well spent, and you will become teacher-rich as a result if you implement just some of what Roberts has shared."- Stephen Lockyer, Schools Week'It’s one thing to identify a problem, quite another to suggest some workable solutions. In The Boy Question Mark Roberts achieves the second with remarkable acuity. He provides compelling insights into why many boys are not achieving what they might, unpicks the research and provides really helpful suggestions for cracking some of the issues. This book is beautifully constructed; colleagues will find the research invaluable, particularly as it is translated into workable suggestions for the classroom. There are some hard hitting messages here, but Mark delivers them with such sensitivity and nuance that the proposals he suggests become utterly compelling.'Mary Myatt, Education Thinker and Writer'Boys Don't Try? proved a smash-hit with teachers because the authors tackled one of the biggest issues for teachers – the 'Boy Question' – with skill and a rich array of evidence. Mark Roberts returns to tackle the topic of boys in education with another terrific account of the struggles and successes of boys. With chapters from motivation to misbehaviour, to role models and writing, Roberts marshals’ key evidence, slims down complex debates, and shares eminently practical approaches for the classroom. If you are seeking ways to ensure boys do better in your school, this is definitely the book for you.'Alex Quigley, Author and National Content Manager at the Education Endowment Foundation'I loved this book. It is a grounded and balanced exploration of how we can work to support and challenge boys to aim high and fulfil their potential. It outlines some of the unhelpful assumptions and preconceptions which may hold us back from having ambitious aspirations for the boys in our classrooms, before going on to answer the question: "What can we do about it?"The book is very well-researched and thoroughly referenced. It is up to date, offering insights into navigating the current pandemic. Its broad scope is reflected in the examples it includes from a range of different subject areas. Mark is eminently reasonable in his expectations with respect to teacher workload, showing how focussing on what is most effective can often correlate to adopting practices which are less labour- and time-intensive than our previous practice.The Boy Question is strongly recommended for all those responsible for teaching, or raising, boys. It makes clear that considering the evidence, avoiding the pitfalls and following some of the suggested strategies will help the girls in our schools to succeed, too.'Jill Berry, Former Head, now Leadership Development Consultant and Education Commentator'This is a fascinating read. It’s very insightful into how teacher behaviour and pedagogy impact the motivation of students, especially boys. Roberts discusses role models, study skills, tips on effective feedback, and developing literacy in boys. At the end of each chapter, he has five steps to success: these are like mini summaries of the chapter and would be great to have on the wall of a classroom... A great book to have on the CPD shelf, you can dip in and out of or just read from cover to cover.'Tanya Henning, The School LibrarianTable of ContentsIntroduction Part A: Motivating boys to work hard 1. How can I motivate boys to succeed in my classroom? 2. How should I react to boys who misbehave in my classroom? 3.Do boys need male teachers as role models? Part B: Instilling high expectations in boys 4. How can I improve the study skills of the boys I teach? 5. How can I give boys effective feedback? 6. What do high levels of challenge for boys look like? Part C: Developing boys’ literacy 7. How can I improve boys’ academic writing? 8. What can I do to get boys reading? 9. How can I improve boys’ creative writing?

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Book SynopsisEffective school leadership is effective leadership, regardless of where it occurs In March 2020, there was no manual for leading schools and school systems during a pandemic. School leaders had to figure things out as the crisis unfolded. But starting now, leaders have the opportunity to prepare for leading schools through distance learning with purpose and intentusing what works best to accelerate students' learning all the while maintaining an indelible focus on equity. Harnessing the insights and experience of renowned educators Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie, The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders applies the wisdom and evidence of the VISIBLE LEARNING research to understand what works best. Spanning topics from school climate at a distance, leader credibility, care for self and colleagues, instructional leadership teams, stakeholder advisory groups, and virtual visibility,Trade ReviewResearch has highlighted the role of instructional leadership on teacher efficacy and effectiveness. Strong, positive instructional leadership has a significant impact on both teaching and learning in our brick and mortar classrooms. Furthermore, teaching and learning at a distance is no exception. Fisher, Frey, Smith, and Hattie have provided a practical, user-friendly playbook that supports school leaders as they strive to leverage their leadership skills in what is called the "new normal." But my main take-away from this playbook is that the ideas within these pages will enhance instructional leadership well beyond distance learning and allow school leaders to extend the reach of their impact to any setting at any time. This playbook will enhance leading for engagement and impact for years to come. -- John Almarode, Associate Professor and Executive Director of Teaching and Learning * College of Education, James Madison University, Waynesboro, VA *Learning can happen from a distance -- especially when leaders support teachers, students, and parents, also from a distance. This essential guide offers practical steps for leaders to foster a sense of community and lead professional learning with teachers. With resources like this, we just might all emerge from this crisis as better educators than we were before. -- Julie Stern, International Consultant and Educator * Washington, D.C. *As schools transition into a new way of operating, The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders helps us to dot our Is and cross our Ts as we move into learning, leading, and continuously growing in a virtual setting. Not only does the playbook ensure a well-rounded view of our current situation, it provides leaders an opportunity to pause and carefully develop plans of action based on guided reflection. Fisher, Frey, Smith, and Hattie have created a playbook that will enable leaders to persevere through today′s challenges and keep the focus on student learning. -- Connie Hamilton, Speaker and Education ConsultantThe Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders is an essential companion for any leader (whether school or district) who is looking for measured, actionable, and practical insights. Fisher, Frey, Smith, and Hattie have created a resource that supports leaders as they navigate through the uncharted territory of leading from a distance. By including stories from the field balanced with research based strategies and insights, this book should be used by all leaders regardless of whether they are leading face to face or virtually. -- Vince Bustamante, Consultant and Instructional Coach * Edmonton, AB Canada *With The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders, Fisher, Frey, Smith and Hattie have created an accessible and thorough guide for educators addressing the complex needs of all members of their school communities in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an extensive evidence base and the authors’ real-world experience, this thoughtful and practical guide addresses the most common concerns and questions of school leaders in the new era of distance learning, and reframes these challenges as opportunities to deepen educational practice and connected leadership, while compassionately supporting staff and students. This book arrives just in time to be an invaluable resource for educators and school communities across the country looking to uphold high standards for teaching and provide students with quality educational experiences, even when it is at a distance. -- Martha Staeheli, Instructor * Yale School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT *This is the book school leaders need to be reading right now. The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders provides just-in-time support while also being timeless in nature. The authors tackle the very things we are wrestling with in a highly relatable and action-oriented way. -- Dr. Brad Gustafson * St. Michael, MN *As an administrator who has been working since the pandemic began, I find that most leadership books tell you how to work harder or more efficiently, without acknowledging the mental health burden school leadership often takes. What’s refreshing in this book is that it starts with individual self-care and self-care for your colleagues. I intend to use the planning frameworks the authors suggested in order to ensure self-care is prioritized for myself & my colleagues at my school site. -- Courtney Miller, Assistant Principal * Covina, CA *In these tumultuous times, balanced and effective leadership is critical. This book provides a compelling view into the complex art of leading schools today. This is an invaluable book for any school leader who seeks to be balanced, wise, engaged and effective with all stakeholders. -- Fatma Trabelsi, Independent Educational Consultant * Tunis, Tunisia *With school systems now consigned to an online learning model as a response to the ongoing pandemic, school leaders need to deeply consider how to lead learning from a distance. With no established guidelines, no specific training, and no prior experience in this scenario, many leaders still struggle to assess their own effectiveness and impact with their staff. How do you know the quality of learning in your school? The Distance Learning Playbook for School leaders not only details myriad challenges; it also usefully provide practical strategies, rubrics, surveys, and activities to address the problems faced in the new "normal". Utilizing a motif of essential questions paired with a strategic goal, the authors enter the lifeworld of school leadership and provide actionable insights. For any administrator seeking a hands-on guide to maximize their impact and increase engagement in uncertain and complex settings, this book is your must-have, go-to resource. -- Megel Barker, MYP Coordinator * Muscat, Oman *Adjusting to the present norm effectively is a major concern for most educators. The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders is a timely and relevant guide for leaders on how to carry out their roles virtually without compromising standards and expectations. Leaders will learn how every stakeholder’s--including parents, families, communities, and teachers--interests can be fully protected in an online learning environment. -- Ngozi Umoru, Educator * Lagos, Nigeria *In our lifetime we have not had to consider how to lead schools during a worldwide crisis. The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders reminds us that what teachers and leaders do is really what matters, not the medium which they do it through. With the right skills and attitude, this timely playbook offers excellent tips and reminders that can easily guide school leaders on every level through crisis and into a strong climate of excellence. -- Zetha Nobles, International School Leader * Cypress, TX *Timely advice for leadership teams to make instructional leadership a priority by providing opportunities, guidance and explicit action steps to increase administrator and teacher agency. No longer is teacher self-care, accountability partnerships, and applying safe practices before implementation taking a back seat as The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders shares how to set the foundation for supporting teachers, families, and students in this rapid transition to online teaching and learning through easy to apply research-based strategies. A must read for school district and K12 administrators. -- Dr. Sonja Lopez Arnak, Faculty in Teacher Education * Washington, D.C. *The Distance Learning Playbook for School Leaders: Leading for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting is a great practical guide for managing both the stress and priorities associated with distance learning. As a new school leader navigating my way through principalship, this book references many obstacles that I have already faced in the first month of school and challenges that have presented itself along the way. The section on virtual learning walks really hit home because my district heavily focuses on this practice, so I was able to make meaningful connections. Also, the reflective guides embedded in the book give me useful tools to implement in either my leadership team meetings or school wide faculty meetings. -- Amanda Austin, Director * Addis, LA *This book is insightful, progressive, and just what school leaders need to move their organizations forward. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the field of education was forced to shift its ethos on a dime. This guide to distance learning will support the nimbleness and flexibility needed to create and implement and sustain a high-quality distance learning program with fidelity. -- Mona Fairley-Nelson, Deputy Head of School - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment * Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. School Climate at a Distance Take Care of Yourself Take Care of Your Colleagues Leader Credibility Instructional Leadership Teams Stakeholder Advisory Groups Virtual Visibility The Feel of School Chapter 2. Professional Learning at a Distance Learning Beliefs at a Distance Collaborative Inquiry Cycles Input Training Safe Practice Virtual Learning Walks Microteaching in Distance Learning Personalized Professional Learning Social Presence Parent Education and Support Chapter 3. Instructional Leadership at a Distance Revisit School Goals in Light of Distance Learning Align Goals to Expectations Clarify Teacher Expectations Ensure Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies Use a Distance Learning Instructional Framework Demonstrating in Distance Learning Collaborating in Distance Learning Coaching and Facilitating in Distance Learning Practicing in Distance Learning Chapter 4. Mindframes for Leaders From a Distance I am an evaluator of my impact on teacher and student learning. I see assessment as informing my impact and next steps. I collaborate with my peers and my teachers about my conceptions of progress and my impact. I am a change agent and I believe all teachers and students can improve. I strive for challenge rather than merely doing my best. I give and help students and teachers understand feedback and I interpret and act on feedback given to me. I engage as much in dialogue as in monologue. I explicitly inform teachers and students what successful impact looks like from the outset. I build relationships and trust so that learning can occur in a place where it is safe to make mistakes and learn from others. I focus on learning and the language of learning. References Index About the Authors

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Book SynopsisDrawing on a wide range of experiences, Lizana Oberholzer and Derek Boyle clearly define the terms coaching' and mentoring' before looking at how coaching and mentoring are used in schools to develop teachers. They offer theoretical frameworks, key strategies and principles at each stage to support phase specific development, and explore how these strategies can be used to help teachers to continue to develop to become confident classroom practitioners, as well as future leaders. Lizana and Derek also consider the key challenges and issues mentors and coaches might face. Each chapter explores how coaches and mentors can offer support and provide a safe supportive environment to allow teachers to continue to grow and develop, whatever phase they are in on their learning journey.Trade ReviewA refreshing and engaging guide for teacher educators and school-based mentors that draws on key literature framed within common teacher career progression and pathways as being a key direction in their professional learning journey. * Julie Jordan, Associate Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University and Independent Educational Consultant, UK *As mentoring is a training priority for many schools, this is a timely guide with practical strategies for quality sessions at every level. This should be in every staff CPD library so teachers at all stages can see how their career could develop further through engaging with the mentoring process. * Bethany K. Kelly, Director of Programmes, Faculty of Education, University of Buckingham, UK *Table of ContentsForeword About the Authors Introduction: Lizana Oberholzer How To Use This Book 1. What is Coaching and Mentoring? 2. Mentoring an Initial Teacher Trainee 3. Mentoring a Newly Qualified Teacher 4. Mentoring a Recently Qualified Teacher (RQT) 5. Mentoring a Middle Leader (ML) 6. Mentoring a Senior Leaders 7. Coaching and Mentoring Headteachers 8. Coaching and Mentoring Women into Leadership 9. Coaching and Mentoring BAME Colleagues into Leadership Conclusion References Index

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Book SynopsisWith nearly two decades of school governance experience across Infant, Primary, Secondary, All Through and Alternative Provision schools and academies, distilled into an easy-to-read format, Al Kingsley''s My School & Multi Academy Trust Growth Guide aims to support the discussions and key considerations for any Trust or school looking at their next steps for growth.This consolidated guide will take you step by step through the key considerations as part of your growth journey, the opportunities and pathways available, balancing risk vs. reward, capacity considerations, due diligence and more. It is aimed as a catalyst to support discussions with board members and senior leadership and provide key checklists to support your decision-making process. With an ever-changing educational landscape and a clear trajectory for growth and scale within our MATs, this guide is an ideal companion and litmus test for Leaders, Trustees and Governors involved in their school or TruTrade ReviewI've heard Al speak, and I'm delighted he has written this book. The sector is still relatively young, and the more people like Al share wisdom, the quicker we learn. If only this has been written eight years ago, my time at Chiltern Learning Trust would have been much smoother! -- Adrian Rogers, CEO & NLE at Chiltern Learning Trust

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Book SynopsisThis book was chosen by The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International as one of its Top 5 Must Reads for 2013. DKG is organized in 18 countries around the world and works to promote professional and personal growth for women educators and excellence in education. Teachers step to the front of the classroom every day and do their darnedest to capture their student's attention and keep it. But so many things get in the way: unruly kids, disagreeable parents, homes so broken it is beyond imagining, bureaucracy and red tape, the influence of technology and the media, a culture that celebrates misguided values, and most intrusively, government regulations that purport to improve teaching and learning, but in fact, are destroying it. The Teachers' Lounge (Uncensored) gives you a peek inside that classroom. Kelly Flynn takes readers by the hand and says, Come inside my school, walk a mile in my halls, and then we'll talk about education reform.With breathtaking clarity and a healthy dose Trade ReviewIt’s funny, edgy and poignant, all right — but The Teachers’ Lounge is much more than that: it’s real. And hands-on reality is a rare commodity in much of what the media tells Americans about their schools, teachers and learning in 2012. This delightful — but profound — book will ring teachers’ chimes. The vignettes and Flynn’s on-target observations are gritty and full of the kind of wisdom that can only be earned by years in the classroom and an eye for truth. She has the ability to take an unremarkable incident in the hallway or classroom and deftly turn it into a nugget of perception about kids, parents or our entire education system. Which is why the book deserves a much wider audience than the education community. Flynn draws insights from the kinds of ordinary events that feed conversations at the grocery store and in the bleachers at Little League games: parent-teacher conferences, high school seniors’ last day, the girl who gets grabbed in the hallway and the sugar high that plagues teachers on the day after Halloween. But Flynn goes much deeper, putting major policy initiatives into terms that the general public –and the legislators who make the policies — can understand. The Teachers’ Lounge (Uncensored): A Funny, Edgy, Poignant Look at Life in the Classroom is a genuine gift for anyone paying attention to public education: a readable and down-to-earth analysis of the intersection of teaching practice with policy. Recommended. -- Nancy Flanagan, Education Consultant, “Teacher in a Strange Land” blog at Education WeekFlynn has a gift for presenting the annoyances and failures of modern education in a light-hearted and understanding way. She shows you what is wrong and how it might be fixed, without sermonizing. -- Jay Mathews, education columnist, Washington Post and author of Work Hard. Be Nice.Thank you, Kelly Flynn. Told from the inside out she captures what makes being a teacher so compelling as well as what drives us mad, the humorous as well as the tragic. She reminds me of why I miss it. -- Deborah Meier, author of In Schools We Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing and Standardization and Bridging Differences blog at Education WeekAn inconvenient reality check for policy makers, an insightful tale for outsiders, and a hopeful message for all, Kelly Flynn reports from the school, where learning happens (and sometimes doesn’t). Flynn’s stories show what matters, who cares, and why reform policies from government offices don’t work and test scores are not the right goal of education. This is a must read for all interested in improving education and concerned about America’s future. -- Yong Zhao Ph.D., Foundations Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas, author of "Counting What Counts: Reframing Education Outcomes"," Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China has the Best (and worst) Education in the World", and more.This delightful — but profound — book will ring teachers’ chimes. The vignettes and Flynn’s on-target observations are gritty and full of the kind of wisdom that can only be earned by years in the classroom and an eye for truth.She has the ability to take an unremarkable incident in the hallway or classroom and deftly turn it into a nugget of perception about kids, parents or our entire education system. -- Nancy Flanagan, Education Consultant, “Teacher in a Strange Land” blog at Education WeekKelly Flynn's book takes us inside our most challenging schools, and shows us the sometimes exasperating, sometimes exhilarating world students and teachers inhabit every day. Her detailed stories help reveal the flaws in the quick fixes, and help us understand what teaching is all about. -- Anthony Cody, author, “Living in Dialogue” blog at Education WeekEvery teacher should give a copy of this book to the mayor, to the school board, and to political representatives. It will astonish them and maybe increase their humility quotient. Written from inside classrooms, it is real. It is also fast-moving, funny, poignant, occasionally shocking. Most important, the book is also hopeful, showing that whatever her successes and failures, every year, every class, every lesson, every student, the teacher comes back, certain she can do it better. -- Susan Ohanian, educator, activist, and author of "What Happened to Recess and Why Are Our Children Struggling in Kindergarten?"Kelly Flynn is a powerhouse and must have been a great classroom teacher. I would have loved to work with her when I taught high school. Kelly always keeps her ‘eyes on the prize,’ the ability of teachers to influence the lives of their students. What is best about this book is that she is able to remain positive and hopeful about teaching despite all the difficulties of the job and the political and corporate assault on public schools, students, and especially teachers. I want to thank Kelly for reminding me why we chose to teach. -- Alan Singer, director, secondary education social studies department of teaching, literacy and leadership, Hofstra University, New YorkThe media needs to spend time in the classroom and see what a teacher is up against today and tell that story without equivocation.This is what Kelly Flynn is writing about. -- Frosty Troy, founder and editor of The Oklahoma ObserverWith candor and humor, Kelly Flynn courageously tells the absurd-but-true stories from the public school classroom. Readers will come away understanding that teachers do what they do not for the merit pay or ‘summers off,’ but out of a profound sense of purpose, a commitment to education, and love. -- Eileen Button, author of The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life's Little DelaysTable of ContentsChapter One – Teachers From first impressions and second chances to nuked fish and being punked. Chapter Two – Students From facing resistance and trashed bathrooms to cologne in the eye and getting skunked. Chapter Three – Parents From absenteeism and grade inflation to prom paparazzi and the X-rated boogie. Chapter Four – Community From school safety and shuffled children to life in the fishbowl and dancing on cars. Chapter Five – Policy From failing schools and merit pay to quirky brilliance and cleavage.

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