Educational material

Book SynopsisFor the vast majority of students, the skills and work habits that are crucial for successful learning are not in place when they arrive at the school door. These skills must be explicitly taught by teachers who recognize the unique learning styles, preferences, and interests of their students. Ready, Set, Learn focuses on the importance of encouraging students to set their own personal learning goals and persevere to achieve them. Along with organizers, prompts, and specific activities, this timely book includes lessons that explicitly teach organization, collaboration, communication, independence, memory, and initiative. Trade ReviewThis practical book transcends the often vague descriptors for assessing learning skills and delves into explicit instruction about how to actually teach those skills so that students can learn how to expand their knowledge. Learning skills transfer between all sub­ject areas and are essential components and indicators of student success. Organization, collaboration and initiative are among some of the basic skill sets explored in this treas­ury of high-interest lessons and activities for elementary-level students. As the book progresses, communication and mem­ory skills are also considered. The book includes rubrics, organizers and models designed to meet the needs of both individual students and whole classes. Students’ learning styles, preferences and interests are acknowledged through­out the book, and closure for each activity includes a self-reflection piece and suggestions for descriptive, ongoing feedback to both students and their parents about learning skills. Teachers recognize the valuable role next steps play in assessment. This book shows them how to create opportunities for discussion and for modelling strategies so that students can learn how to set specific goals and success criteria for measur­ing their own development. Open the pages of this book to identify what learning skills your students need. Then learn how to collect the evidence and take the next steps to support their continued growth as part of your daily instruction.Anne Marie Landon, OCT, is acting prin­cipal at George Vanier Catholic School in Combermere, Ont., with the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board.Professionally Speaking (the official magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers)June 2017

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Book SynopsisToday’s young learners know more about their world than ever before. This remarkable book shows that even our youngest writers can consider audience and purpose as they use nonfiction writing to document their ideas and share those ideas with others. But if students are going to be able to use writing to learn, they must have opportunities for learning to write. That’s what this book is for. Forty minilessons offer strategies for writing informational, persuasive and procedural text. Each lesson starts with a learning goal and follows an “I do, We do, You do” format. Teachers will find a wealth of ideas for guiding young students to write about what they know and care about.

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Book SynopsisLearning is inherently social, built on the daily interactions in the classroom. What if feedback -- from teacher to student, between students, from student to teacher -- could be seen as essential, not merely as part of student assessment, but as an ongoing process that defines the learning environment? This groundbreaking book explores using feedback to help students become better learners, examines the crucial use of verbal and nonverbal language to engage and guide students, and shows strategies and activities to establish and promote effective feedback within the classroom and beyond.

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Book SynopsisThis practical book is designed to assist teachers in structuring their learning practice. The framework of four basic and proven steps -- Preparation, Learning Sequence, Authentic Application, and New Thinking -- can be used at any level, for any subject, and for learning applications from lessons to unit plans. Combining the best research on how we learn with practical lesson exemplars, the PLAN process encourages and supports goal setting, student engagement, and transformational learning.

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Book SynopsisThis practical book offers unique and powerful ways to use play to investigate stories, big ideas, and events. It focuses on dramatic play as a natural response to learning.Dramatic Play in the Early Years argues that dramatic play is not theatre but a dynamic process that involves planning, playing, and practice. It shows teachers how to involve young students in play where they become the story and live the life of the characters or animals, bump up against issues, and better appreciate the complexities of the human journey. This comprehensive resource covers many aspects of learning through play and explores • The Creative Process — from setting up the “Aha” moment to describing the teacher’s role • Getting Started — from the willing suspension of disbelief to strategic use of pauses to listening for next steps • The Importance of Practice — from working towards focus and control and side-coaching to becoming believable characters • Building Belief — from narrating to cast a spell to using blank paper to set a story scene • Finding the Story — from choosing a story to strategies for prompting improvisation • Playing Inside the Curriculum — from establishing a framework to finding the story in subject areas Rooted in classroom experience, this valuable resource offers a variety of effective ways in which children can be encouraged to incorporate voice, characterization, movement, stillness, concentration, and listening for more expressive play.

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Book Synopsis“This Is a Great Book!” is rooted in the belief that having a wide range of “great” books to read is essential to student success as readers inside the classroom ... and beyond. Based on extensive research, this highly readable book explores a wide range of recommended titles that cover a spectrum of developmental stages for readers of chapter books to young adult novels. It presents novels around popular themes and features guest voices that include innovative teachers, librarians, booksellers, and students. Numerous activities and literacy events form the core of this valuable resource. Reproducible pages include response activities, reflection tools, assessment profiles, and inventories for easy classroom use. Committed to nurturing the love of reading, the book invites readers to dig deeper in their understanding and appreciation of books by responding through writing, discussion, the arts, media, and more. Special attention is given to the world of independent leisure reading, where students make choices based on their preferences and tastes. Experienced and new teachers will find fresh ideas and the tools they need to guide students to “great” books that will make a difference in their lives. Trade ReviewThis is a Great Book! is rooted in the belief that offer­ing your students great books to read and showing them how to dig deeper into their own responses to them is the foundation of turning them into real readers. This all-in-one guide, which starts with the underpinning educational research and ends at assessment profiles, blackline masters and appendices, represents a continuum of reading in many genres from chapter books to young adult novels. Novels are a great way to stimulate students’ critical abilities and to engage with a wide range of responses that can transcend words and open possibilities and concepts in the wider world. The 101 literacy events outlined in the book invite students to delve into a text not only with written responses but with discussion, through the arts and using online media. Attention is given to exploring reading that is based on the preferences and tastes of students as they develop a lifelong love of reading.Mary Veronica Moloney, OCT, teaches Grade 4 at D’Arcy McGee Catholic School with the Toronto Catholic District School Board.Professionally Speaking (the official magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers)June 2017

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Book SynopsisThe best-selling first edition of this popular book showed teachers how to use a single sheet of paper to add value, authenticity, and accountability to independent reading programs. It emphasized students reading books they love rather than filling reading time with busy work. In this second edition of Independent Reading Inside the Box, Lisa Donohue shares what she has learned from the many teachers who have used her simple approach to reading response. Lisa describes how teachers can do even more to strengthen student comprehension, language, and thinking skills. Full of new ways to monitor, assess, and support students as they are actively engaged in their reading, the book remains committed to the premise that independent reading time is purposeful and directly connected to classroom instruction. This highly awaited second edition explores critical literacy to promote higher-order thinking skills, individualized goal-setting, feedback and monitoring, and personalizing learning. This remarkable book introduces proven strategies for • providing effective feedback and assessment • relating independent reading response to the instructional core • fitting independent reading into the literacy block • using reading-response as prompts and for blended learning tasks • making thinking visible during independent reading • encouraging student choice among reading-response tasksIndependent Reading Inside the Box argues for classrooms that offer students choice among the very best material, as well as innovative ways to nurture the value of becoming lifelong readers.

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Book SynopsisEffective mathematics instruction and numeracy development are a major focus in classrooms today. The Four Roles of the Numerate Learner introduces a framework (sense maker, skill user, thought communicator, and critical interpreter) that supports an integrated approach to effective mathematics instruction.The book builds on educators’ understanding of how to effectively teach mathematics and borrows from successful frameworks used to teach literacy. It considers the mathematical practices that students need to learn to construct mathematical knowledge, become mathematicians, and simply do mathematics. The goal is to provide multiple entry points into a new world of mathematics instruction—a new way of thinking and learning where students engage in critical thinking about numeracy and act on this knowledge. The framework emphasizes student voice, with many opportunities for them to ask questions, pose problems, explore ideas, and change their thinking about mathematics and the way they see themselves as mathematicians.The Four Roles of the Numerate Learner shows new and experienced teachers how to foster and support daily practice that permits students to use their diverse identities to build their mathematical knowledge and incorporate their cultural experiences.Trade ReviewThe book is a solid guide for principals and other school leaders who wish to learn more about best practices in mathematics teaching and learning." - Professionally Speaking

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-read, humorous survival guide for substitute teachers presents strategies to get students on your side and make classroom management easier for the whole day. Experienced and new teachers will discover quick, relationship-building activities that make the difference between a day of dodging spitballs and a day where students give you homemade bracelets.This time-saving resource includes specific lessons for all grades and subject areas. Ideal for a teacher getting started, an experienced teacher filling in, or a full-time classroom teacher looking for new ways to connect with students, this timely book offers what you need to survive and succeed.Trade ReviewCalled in at very short notice to primary/junior classrooms, substi­tute teachers are often at a loss for how and where to begin teaching a classroom of sometimes unruly and certainly unknown students. In this enthusiastic combination tool kit/ instruction manual, Yuill explores how substitute teachers can re-engage their original passion for making a difference in students’ lives and actually teach. To help set the stage, this highly readable guide for new or experienced teachers begins with relationship-building activ­ities. It moves on to ready-to-use ideas for lessons (with companion reproducibles), along with a collection of strategies for managing your attitude and expectations, and dealing with typical problems. Solid classroom management techniques are examined as are practical curriculum plans. A unique component of the book is a brief description of typical student development, which takes a quick look at physical, social, emotional and academic characteristics at every primary grade level. Organized by grade, it is a helpful snapshot for teachers who are parachuted into teaching students with whom they have little or no experience and few reference points. Yuill outlines proactive job-finding techniques for the substitute teacher seeking a full-time position, the ca­reer-substitute teacher looking for the next assignment, or the retired teacher who may be seeking a different perspec­tive on the classroom experience.Nadira Baksh, OCT, has recently complet­ed a combined honours specialist in English and history and is a classroom volunteer with the Peel District School Board.Professionally Speaking (the official magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers)June 2017

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Book SynopsisAs educators, it is important to take the time to get to know our students. Discovering what students are capable of and how they feel about things is the first step toward nurturing learning. Helping them develop their social-emotional skills sets the scene for academic growth and achievement. This book provides the scaffolding that teachers need to establish strong relationships with their students and create caring classroom communities that include relationships with parents, school administration and staff, and support specialists.Trade ReviewThroughout this resource, there are numerous useful ideas for classroom teachers. Trottier stresses a focus on active learning and academicsuccess, as well as the social and emotional growth of students in a supportive school community." - Myra Junyk, Resource Links

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Book SynopsisIn this new book, David Booth answers questions from real teachers about building skills in literacy, from phonics to comprehension, from simple exercises to rich reading materials. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in education, David shares hard-learned lessons about what has – and hasn’t – worked for him. This is both a practical guide and a personal chronicle of growth in the classroom.Trade ReviewDavid Booth writes clearly and succinctly about what has and has not worked for him during his many decades of teaching. [...] He points out that while its foundation of reading and writing is always pivotal, it extends to many other arenas like drama, role-playing, art and other expressions of the written word." - Professionally Speaking

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Book SynopsisHow can teachers make their literacy classrooms a place of joy? Fun, caring, and passion are the key to a shame-free, healthy classroom that nurtures students in mind, body, and spirit. Full of simple strategies and activities for building community, this practical book is committed to promoting strong literacy skills. It is full of simple strategies and activities for building mindful classrooms where students are free to speak with compassion, write with conviction, and read with joy.

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Book SynopsisClassrooms are richer, more vibrant learning spaces when all students are included. Although a diverse group of students may pose challenges, teachers can overcome these challenges and invite all students to become engaged learners, both academically and socially.Student Diversity presents many examples of teachers working together to improve their teaching practice—from the primary and early years to middle school and the secondary years. It offers insights into all aspects of literacy instruction along with frameworks for successfully integrating mathematics and other subject areas into powerful learning opportunities.

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Book SynopsisGrowth mindset, grit, and self-regulation are terms that teachers and parents have been hearing a lot lately. These terms recognize that children can develop traits that will make them better able to face challenges and recover from setbacks. How do we bring these principles directly into the classroom to assist students, day in and day out? Keep Growing shows how teachers can provide opportunities for children to change their mindsets and foster their ownership of their behavior, their desire to tackle difficult tasks, their ability to push through challenging work, and their application of what they have learned.Trade ReviewKeep Growing examines the factors that encourage children to try new things and learn new skills. It explores how a “growth mindset” can enhance student success. Joey Mandel, teacher and educational consultant specializing in peer-to-peer relationships, focuses on promoting growth in the classroom, “How do we, as teachers, provide opportunities for children to change their mindsets? How do we foster and nurture their ability and desire to start hard tasks and push through them when they are stuck, to try something new when they do not know the answer, to build a sense of value for the effort and the completion of an activity over the success of it, and finally, to work on or add to something that they have finished in order to make it better?” (p. 7) The nine chapters in this resource rely heavily on research about growth mindsets. The first chapter, “Mindset for Growth,” explains that individuals with a growth mindset believe that they can learn new things with hard work, effort and positive self-talk. This belief affects attitudes, actions, and responses to challenges. In order to promote this kind of mindset, teachers need to explicitly teach learning skills and character traits such as empathy, organization and self-regulation. The second chapter outlines classroom organization to promote a growth mindset. Chapters 3-8 address specific characteristics of a growth mindset: responsibility, independence, self-regulation, perspective, initiative, and resilience. Each chapter explains the characteristic, applies it to the classroom environment and gives teachers strategies and activities in various subject areas such as language arts, media studies, mathematics, art and drama. The final chapter addresses the importance of family support to enhance student success through the home-school connection. Throughout this resource, there are numerous useful ideas for classroom teachers. Joey Mandel explains the connections between home, school, extra-curricular activities and future accomplishments. Helping students to build a growth mindset will help them succeed in all aspects of their future lives. There are descriptions of specific activities in various\ subject areas as well as blackline masters. This book provides a useful resource for both new and experienced teachers who want to improve the learning environment and learning outcomes for their students. Joey Mandel urges co-operation to promote a growth mindset, “Parents and teachers need to use tools and a common approach to support these children. We need to let them know that they can do more than they think they can, that it is okay just to try, and that the attempt is where the learning happens.” (p. 12)Thematic Links: Growth Mindsets; Classroom Environment; Responsibility; Independence; Initiative; Resilience; Home-School ConnectionMyra Junyk

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Book SynopsisThis practical handbook shows teachers how to nurture a kindergarten learning environment in which children feel safe, comfortable, and able to take risks. It offers innovative ways to encourage children to explore, experiment, discover, solve problems, and freely interact with one another. Based on extensive classroom practice,Reading, Writing, Playing, Learning provides concrete suggestions for creating play-based learning in a culture of inquiry. The book discusses all aspects of oral language development, reading to and by children, shared and guided reading, reading to write and writing to learn, putting “play” into word play, celebrating diversity, and meeting the needs of all learners.Trade ReviewLori Jamison Rog and Donna-Lynn Galloway, two experienced educators and consultants, provide Kindergarten teachers with various tools to enhance play while building student reading, writing and learning skills through a supportive classroom environment. They begin their resource with Sheree Fitch’s beautiful poem, “First Day of School” which urges teachers to see each child’s individual strengths, “He wants to colour a picture./Help him to see that the colours he chooses,/The pictures he makes, are beautiful…/Before you ask him to pain the Sistine Chapel.” The Introduction outlines the history of Kindergarten, and the changing emphasis on play and explicit literacy instruction. The writers agree that the main emphasis in Kindergarten should be on, “What’s in the best interests of the children?” (p. 13) This resource is divided into eight chapters which explore various aspects of Kindergarten instruction: play-based learning, classroom organization, oral language, read-aloud, shared reading, guided reading, writing, word play and diversity. The first chapter, “Play-Based Learning in a Culture of Inquiry,” explains the connection between literacy learning and play. “Through play, children learn to co-operate and compromise, to lead and to follow.” (p. 15) The second chapter describes how the classroom environment can provide a strong support for collaborative learning. Subsequent chapters focus in on specific aspects of literacy and provide specific strategies and activities to engage students. In chapter 3, “Floating on A Sea of Talk: Oral Language Development,” the resource examines teacher talk, language games, phonological awareness, and vocabulary development. Book selection, home-school connections and classroom libraries are examined in other chapters. The authors provide a compilation of research on play-based learning and explicit literacy instruction in Kindergarten. There is definitely a need for instructional resources on Kindergarten because of the implementation of fullday Kindergarten in several Canadian provinces. While experienced teachers may have used many of the techniques described in this book, it could provide a useful tool to new teachers who need research-based instructional techniques. More detailed information on assessment would have been a good addition to this book. Reading, Writing, Playing, Learning compiles information and strategies which are available in various other resources, but having them in one place is useful. After all, Kindergarten is a very special year for young learners, “The routines we establish, the skills, strategies, and concepts we teach, and the expectations we hold will influence our students for the rest of their lives.” (p. 92) Thematic Links: Play-Based Learning; Explicit Literacy Instruction; Kindergarten Classrooms; Read Aloud; Shared/Guided Resource Links June 2017 Volume 22, Number 5

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Book SynopsisWhat’s the difference between teaching our students and our autistic students? Not much. This practical book argues that all students are unique. It focuses on integrating teaching autistic students into the teaching practice of the whole class. Based on extensive classroom experience, this highly readable book is full of anecdotes about engaged students growing in their learning. Lesson plans and checklists throughout the book help teachers get to know autistic students and help them with school work, emotional regulation, communication, socializing, and staying safe. This timely book champions getting rid of labels so teachers can know every student as an individual.

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Book SynopsisManaging Student Behavior provides an in-depth understanding of student behavior, including identifying factors that trigger and maintain negative, disruptive actions and attitudes. It provides an overview of appropriate reinforcement, which is fundamental in making positive behavior changes, and highlights many effective, evidence-based strategies that support permanent change. Real-life examples and anecdotes throughout the book illustrate a variety of classroom challenges, as well as strategies used to support positive change in each scenario. The author uses a conversational approach to connect with readers and provide a non-threatening environment in which to learn the basics of behavior and behavioral change.

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Book SynopsisHow can you broaden student thinking and help them develop their independence and confidence as problem solvers? Real-life problems are a remarkable tool to stretch student thinking and help them develop a deeper understanding of mathematics and its role in everyday life. Rather than using textbook exercises, the book argues that solving real-world problems promotes flexibility and encourages students to adjust and grow their thinking. It inspires them to consider alternatives and apply math in authentic contexts. You will find practical ways to engage students in critical thinking, develop their independence, and make connections with the world.

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Book SynopsisStop the Hate for Goodness Sake shows teachers how to confront racism and disrupt discrimination in order to deepen students’ understanding of social justice, diversity, and equity. Background information, statistics, and reports on incidents of hate will help students consider ethical and moral behavior. Forty step-by-step lessons involve discussion, oral and written narratives, case studies, assumption charts, and more. This thoughtful examination of today’s world will help teachers encourage reflection, foster inclusion, and inspire students to take action. This in-depth guide will show teachers of 8- to 14-year-olds how to start and manage important conversations that will lead to change.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Defining HateChapter 2: Recognizing HateChapter 3:Dismantling Hate in SchoolsChapter 4: Ways to Erase HateChapter 5: Confronting the Issue of BullyingChapter 6: Creating a Safer School Culture for AllChapter 7: Ten Tips for Disrupting Hate

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Book Synopsis

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