Teaching skills and techniques Books

Book SynopsisProfessional Learning Communities charts a streamlined process for creating a PLC.The highest mission of a professional learning community is academic achievement. During Dr. Culp's forty-plus years in education, she gained firsthand experience about the best way to build and sustain educational communities. Inclusiveness, strong relationships, and accountability should be woven into the fabric of the group right from the beginning. This book lays out a blueprint for thoughtful actions that transform schools and their communities. Using ideas and techniques focused on six key areas, educators discover what needs to be taught, what needs to be retaught, and who needs to be taught. Their PLCs build solutions that place academic excellence within reach of every learner. Real experiences from schools across the nation, as well as Dr. Culp's decades of experience, have been mined to generate actionable steps. Each chapter ends with a collection of charts, worksheets, checklists, and tips thTrade ReviewProfessional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success was written to take all the guess work out of how to restructure former Professional Learning Communities and develop new Professional Learning Communities. The book consists of strategies, tools and resources that can assist teachers, principals-- new and experienced-- in ensuring that learning takes place in the classroom. School staffs are given step by step procedures to develop guidelines for establishing Professional Learning Communities, assessing the process and reflecting on the practices that were developed. This needed and insightful book will ensure successful learning in our nation's schools. Kudos to Dr. Culp for covering the topic in such very clear and simplistic manner! -- Laura Acree, retired principalDr. Culp’s latest publication, Professional Learning Communities: “The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success,” is an excellent media source for educators and other stakeholders who are looking for creative ways to implement their PLC plans. Her user-friendly blueprint is uniquely designed for both novice and seasoned educators who are preparing learners for academic excellence. This book will serve them well in the “creation, maintenance, and sustentation” of their learning communities. -- B. Annette Daughtry, Ph.D., E-Learning; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Mathematics… compelling, comprehensive, targeted blueprint that enables schools and their faculties to strategically meet the academic needs of all students through professional learning communities. Dr. Culp was very thorough in her approach to the topic! -- Gloria Peebles Patterson, Retired Executive Director, K-8 SchoolsIn Professional Learning Communities: The Ultimate Blueprint for Academic Success, Dr. Culp offers sound and workable strategies that will empower and enhance the effectiveness of high performing Professional Learning Communities. This book is a valuable resource for teams beginning the journey to establish a PLC. It is a must-read for every school administrator, aspiring school leader and members of PLC’s in academia, this well-written body of work shows us how to in an easy step-by-step process. -- Thea Johnson, STEM Program Specialist, Atlanta GAThis book is an educators' must have for implementing Professional Learning Communities. It provides the guidance and direction needed to create PLCs that work, and it addresses the diverse needs of students by utilizing the expertise of professionals in schools as well as in the community. The author makes the process easy to follow, implement, and maintain. This treasure chest is the ultimate blueprint for academic success in the 21st century and beyond! -- Ethel P. Craig, School Psychologist, Math TeacherTable of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Lay the Foundation Building Blocks Reflective Practices Focus on Learning Dialog Shared Responsibility Shared Values and Norms Common Practices Feedback Creating a PLC Collaboration and Trust Inclusiveness and Shared Responsibility Focus on Solutions Step by Step Set a Schedule Select a Facilitator Define the Environment Build Your Home Revitalize an Existing PLC People Come First Inform New Members Reach Out Celebrate Building Blocks for a Professional Learning Community An Accord to Open Every PLC Meeting Questionnaire for Every PLC Member Questionnaire for the Start of New Initiatives Stretches to Enhance Group Response Stretch 1: Build It Up Stretch 2: Break It Down Stretch 3: Bring It Together Stretch 4: Identify Benefits Stretch 5: Identify Challenges Stretch 6: Eliminate Obstacles Endnotes Chapter 2: Gather the Goals The Educational Forest Find the Microclimates Specify the Species How Does Your Forest Grow? Embrace Exotics Cultivate Individual Plots Forest Management Slings and Arrows (Goal Sheets) Sample Goal Sheets Blank Goal Sheets Goal Prompts Broad Goals Specific Goals Unique and Short-Term Goals Professional Learning Goals for Members Endnotes Chapter 3: Going Live Begin at the Beginning Planning for Success Develop the Program Teacher Portfolios Call on the Community Personalize Implementation Collegial Implementation Return to the Beginning Link the Connection Points Team Goals Essential Outcomes Milestone Achievements Comparison Points Resource List Lesson Plan Template Student Feedback Portfolio Tips Personalize the Plan Endnotes Chapter 4: Assess and Adapt How Many and How Often Assessing the Data A Supportive Approach Assessment Foundation Types of Assessments Building the Formative Assessment Avoid Assessment Bias Analyze and Assess Prompts for Data Collection Common Formative Assessments Summative Assessment Tips Assess the Assessment PLC Assessment for Schools PLC Assessment for Members Key Markers for Success Endnotes Chapter 5: Digital Expansion The Value of an Online Presence Initial Online Presence Expanding Your Online Presence Documents and Files Collective Efforts Adapt Digital Tools Digital Tools for the Classroom Instant Updates and Motivation Tips for Sharing Tips for Collaboration Tips for Collective Work Assessing Digital Tools Common Classroom Digital Tools Top Digital Tools for PLCs Endnotes Chapter 6: Sail on Course Information Indigestion Wilting Enthusiasm Dysfunctional Roles Why PLCs Fail Avoid a Major Crisis Climate Control Best Research Practices Recharge the PLC Team Trust Survey Exercises for Building Trust Storytelling hour Display case Disaster day box Share praise Photo board Course Adjustments District-wide Impact Endnotes Appendix A: Stepping Onto the PLC Highway Refresher 1: Lay the Foundation Refresher 2: Gather the Goals Refresher 3: Going Live Refresher 4: Assess and Adapt Refresher 5: Digital Expansion Refresher 6: Sail on Course About the Author

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Book SynopsisThe principles of democracy, freedom, and the rights of individuals are taught from textbooks, but the principles of autocracy and dictatorship are still practiced in most schools and homes. It is no wonder our children feel unsettled, defiant, and even outright rebellious. Many of our young people are growing up ignorant of, and uncommitted to, the great principles upon which our nation was founded. The way to make children committed to our democratic way of life is to make them full participants in it. This new guide is provided to assist educators and parents in making our schools and homes models of democracy, giving our kids the freedom of choice, and bestowing on them the basic rights of citizenship. Parents and educators must unite as democratic leaders to guide, coach, and stimulate our young people to assume responsibility for themselves. The future of our nation may depend on it!Trade ReviewNot only is Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids an easy to use toolbox of practical and easily applicable strategies, but it is also a much-needed updated approach for dealing with today’s kids. Surely this will be a recommended resource for all educators, counselors, and others in contact with today’s youth. -- Jose D. Vasquez, LCDCI, LVN, Managing Director of Lakeview Education, Rockwall, TX; Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor; former educator and nurse for high risk youth offendersCreating a Democratic Climate for Kids is an excellent book for reinvigorating American civics. At a time where public cynicism—especially among our young people— threatens to engulf and jeopardize our nation, McCormick provides practical rubrics for restoration and useful 21st century knowledge. This is a great educational tool for repairing one of the most serious breaches in our public culture today. The book provides a wealth of practical tools for resolving conflicts and creating a positive communication culture. -- Ben Voth, associate professor, communication; director of speech and debate, Southern Methodist University; former advisor for the George W Bush institute, the Coolidge Presidential foundation and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in DCHaving reviewed McCormick’s newest educational work Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids, I can state that this work has arrived at the perfect time for our educational setting. McCormick blends past knowledge and experience with well thought out techniques for today’s ever-changing climate found in our educational system. This work begins with the meaning behind behaviors and the social impact it has on the climate, then McCormick takes the reader through the development of strategies to enhance the skill set found in students and their peers. This should be a part of your educational tool set. -- Robert D. Wood, Med, leadership, youth group leader; former high school principalAs a teacher of English language learners, empowering my students with knowledge and tools spelled out in Creating a Democratic Climate for Kids is a game changer! This treasure trove of concrete tools reveals classroom-worthy principles of democracy for all students. It galvanizes the reader with straightforward, easy to implement strategies to instill these values in all our students. -- Michelle Heh, ELL Teacher, Cumberland Valley School District, Mechanicsburg, PATable of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1: Why Methods of “The Good ‘Ole Days” Are No Longer Effective in Today’s Schools and Homes Chapter 2: Key Concepts In The Philosophical Premises: The Power Of Encouragement Chapter 3: Some Basic Counseling ToolsChapter 4: Behavior Management Tips to Minimize MisbehaviorChapter 5: Building a Personal Democratic System Of Discipline: Some Strategies, Theories And Principles to ConsiderAppendix: A Quick Reference To Useful Tools To Promote Positive Behaviors Bibliography

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Book Synopsis Evidence-based best practices that improve classroom environments and assessment techniques! If your goal is a smoother-running, participatory classroom and improved student achievement, you'll find essential best practices in this new resource, edited by a renowned education scholar, Robert Slavin . Dr. Robert Slavin, Professor and Chairman of the Success for All Foundation, has gathered insights and findings from 26 leading education researchers, presented in succinct chapters focused on key aspects of teaching and classroom management practice. Readers will find: Strategies for assessment that address formative approaches, differentiated classrooms, the role of feedback in the assessment process, adaptation for the Common Core, and more Proven techniques for classroom management, including immediate, positive steps that teachers can take UseTable of ContentsForeword - Marcia L. Tate Introduction Preface - Robert Slavin About the Editor Chapter 1. Assessment in a Differentiated Classroom - Carol Ann Tomlinson and Tonya Moon Chapter 2. Formative Assessments in High Schools - Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey Chapter 3. Formative Assessment and Feedback to Learners - Steve Higgins Chapter 4. Multiple Measures in Classroom Assessment - Susan Brookhart Chapter 5. Promoting Learning and Achievement Through Self-Assessment - Heidi Andrade Chapter 6. Exposing the Imbalance in "Balanced Assessment" - W. James Popham Chapter 7. Do We Need an Assessment Overhaul? - Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins Chapter 8. Formative Assessment: An Enabler of Learning - Margaret Heritage Chapter 9. Upgrading High-Stakes Assessments - Albert Oosterhof Chapter 10. England Versus Wales: Education Performance and Accountability - Sandra McNally Chapter 11. In Search of Feasible Fidelity - David Andrews Chapter 12. Before Choosing, Ask Three Questions - Steve Fleischman Chapter 13. What Works in Classroom Management - Thomas Kratochwill, Rachel DeRoos, and Samantha Blair Chapter 14. Good Instruction Is Good Classroom Management - Robert Slavin Chapter 15. Am I the Only One Struggling With Classroom Management? - Inge Poole and Carolyn Evertson Chapter 16. Classroom Management: What Teachers Should Know - Regina Oliver Chapter 17. From Tourists to Citizens - H. Jerome Freiberg Chapter 18. Promoting Engagement With Check & Connect - Angie Pohl and Karen Storm Chapter 19. Dealing With Classroom Management Problems - Saul Axelrod Chapter 20. Support for Teachers Around the World - Judy Hutchings Chapter 21. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports - Catherine Bradshaw Chapter 22. First Step to Success for Preschool Children - Edward Feil, Andy Frey, and Annemieke Golly Chapter 23. Improving Teaching in Science and Mathematics - Claudia Fischer and Karen Rieck Chapter 24. Improving Reading and Math Achievement Across a Whole District - Allen Thurston, Peter Tymms, Christine Merrell, and Nora Conlin Chapter 25. Co-Teaching: Inclusion and Increased Student Achievement - Marilyn Friend and Tammy Barron Chapter 26. Implementing Response to Instruction and Intervention With Older Students - Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher Chapter 27. Teaching English Language Learners in Inclusion Settings - Kristi Santi and David Francis Index

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisUsing feedback to enhance learning Feedback has the potential to dramatically improve student learning – if done correctly. In fact, providing high quality feedback is one of the most critical roles of a teacher. But if feedback is not done correctly it can have a minimal – or even negative effect – on learning. Challenging Learning Through Feedback provides educators with the tools they need to establish clear learning intentions and success criteria in order to craft high quality feedback and avoid common feedback mistakes. Readers will learn When feedback is (and isn’t) working How to design feedback so that it answers three essential questions Strategies for crafting clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria How to teach students to give high quality feedback to themselves and others Written by educational innovators James Nottingham and Jill Nottingham, this book is full of specific examples for educators who want to understand the qualities of excellent feedback and how to craft it. "Feedback – a noun or a verb? A separate practice or an integral part of the learning process? Something we do ‘to students’ or ‘with students’? The Nottinghams sort it all out for us – the ‘what,’ ‘why,’ and ‘how’ of the process and the practice of feedback." Barb Pitchford, Co-author Leading Impact Teams: Building a Culture of Efficacy (2016) "Finally a practical book on feedback for teachers! It is written with the teacher in mind, lesson plan in hand, and relevant to all in education. The perfect school-wide study book!" Lisa Cebelak, Education Consultant Grand Rapids, MITrade Review"This is a timely well researched, practical view into the teachers’ view of Visible Learning and all this research can do to advance learning for all students. Written in an engaging, example filled, light humorous style it gives the reader some real practical examples of formative assessment strategies, clarity about learning intentions and success criteria, the essence of good lesson design. It’s what we have been waiting for to make Visible Learning come alive for our teachers in the classroom." -- Ainsley B Rose, Corwin Consultant"This was a thought provoking read and one I will reference over and over again. The authors have created a thorough reference for all teachers working to make their feedback impact learning, not only student learning, but their own. This will be a valuable reference for educators for years to come. I think that this reaches beyond classroom walls and will also help administrators model feedback for teachers and make an impact on the growth of student achievement." -- Katina Keener, Elementary Principal"This book is a must-have for teachers. It’s easy-to-read and easy-to-implement. Feedback provided at the right time and in the right manner increases student motivation and learning outcome. It is relevant for all grade levels." -- Joyce Sager, Reading Teacher for Dyslexic High School Students"A great tool for professional development and personal growth for any educator. This book is the add-on I need during feedback sessions. Teachers need the examples and explanations this book offers." -- Harry Dickens, Education Consultant"With the rapid emergence of formative assessment used in support of learning, refinements also are emerging in our understanding of how to use of descriptive feedback during learning to promote student success. This new book provides the most up-to-date and complete treatment synthesis of those understandings. Rare is the book that offers guidance both to scholars and practitioners, but this book does both." -- Rick Stiggins, Assessment Consultant"This book is for anyone who wants to help others get better. I found myself taking notes in chapter after chapter because of the practical advice based on succinct summaries of research and evidence. I could incorporate the ideas in my classes the next day. Nottingham and Nottingham remind us that "to assess" means "to sit beside." They come alongside us as readers to help us better understand how to move beyond advice and evaluation to feedback that leads to improvement." -- Jon Eckert, Associate Professor, Author, The Novice Advantage"Feedback – a noun or a verb? A separate practice or an integral part of the learning process? Something we do ‘to students’ or ‘with students’? The Nottinghams sort it all out for us – the ‘what,’ ‘why,’ and ‘how’ of the process and the practice of feedback. A simply and elegantly organized book with tons of resources that guide educators to practice quality feedback. A ‘must read’ for all teacher teams!" -- Barb Pitchford, Co-author"This book is an accessible and comprehensive guide - one that provides the whole picture when it comes to offering quality feedback to deepen student learning. Each chapter ends with questions that inspired me to reflect and take a hard look at where I am in my feedback journey. Busy instructional leaders will appreciate the organizational structure of the book as well as the clear definitions and practical examples that can used to help teachers envision the ideas into practice." -- Abbey S. Duggins, Author and Assistant Principal for Instruction"Finally a practical book on feedback for teachers! The Nottinghams cut through the hype and misinformation and brings teachers a valuable tool they will want to revisit often throughout their career. It is written with the teacher in mind, lesson plan in hand, and relevant to all in education. The perfect school-wide book study book!" -- Lisa Cebelak, Education Consultant"James and Jill Nottingham have once again equipped educators with practical applications and examples of how to not only increase learning, but ensure it will happen at the greatest possible levels. They provide teachers with strategies for creating the culture their classrooms need to help students reach the "Eureka moments" where learning becomes accelerated by the students…and their desire to grow and learn even more is augmented. Finally, they deliver rich guiding examples for teachers to increase teacher clarity through the development of high quality learning intentions and success criteria to help students know when they have met these intentions. This is an essential foundational element for feedback to have a place to originate from and be effective for learning. I highly recommend this book as a bucket-list read for any educator!" -- Dave Nagel, Education Consultant and Author"Not only does this book support teachers in developing a deep understanding of quality descriptive feedback, the authors give practical examples of how to design learning intentions and success criteria to lift the quality of feedback during lessons. The authors offer innovative feedback tools based on The Learning Challenge (The Learning Pit); these innovative tools will support teachers in ensuring that feedback is reliable and valid when partnering with students to create a true learning culture!" -- Paul Bloomberg, Education Consultant and Author"James Nottingham’s work on Challenging Learning is a critical element of creating Visible Learners. This new series will help teachers hone the necessary pedagogical skills of dialogue, feedback, questioning, and mindset. There’s no better resource to encourage all learners to know and maximize their impact!" -- John Hattie, Professor & Director, Melbourne Education Research InstituteTable of ContentsList of Figures The Challenging Learning Story Foreword by Shirley Clarke Acknowledgements About the Authors Contributors Introduction The Language of Learning Chapter 1: Setting the Scene 1.0 Why Read Yet Another Book About Feedback? 1.1 What Is Feedback? 1.2 Assessment: To Sit Beside 1.3 Four Levels of Feedback 1.4 Matching Feedback to Levels of Understanding (Using the SOLO Taxonomy) 1.5 Praise vs. Feedback 1.6 Does Grading Count as Feedback? 1.7 Other Types of Feedback 1.8 Review 1.9 Next Steps Chapter 2: Current Reality 2.0 What Is Your Feedback Like Now? 2.1 Characteristics of Excellent Feedback 2.2 Corrective, Component and Comprehensive Feedback 2.3 Extending Feedback 2.4 Review 2.5 Next Steps Chapter 3: Creating a Culture for Feedback 3.0 Feedback Utopia 3.1 Ten Ways to Build Towards Feedback Utopia 3.2 Review 3.3 Next Steps Chapter 4: Goals Before Feedback 4.0 Feedback Should Refer to Learning Goals 4.1 Long-Term and Short-Term Goals 4.2 Learning Intentions (LI) and Success Criteria (SC) 4.3 How to Design Effective LI and SC 4.4 Example LI and SC to Use With Five- to Eleven-Year-Olds 4.5 Example LI and SC to Use With Eleven- to Eighteen-Year-Olds 4.6 Learning Goals for Working Together 4.7 Review 4.8 Next Steps Chapter 5: Taxonomies to Support Goal Setting 5.0 Learning How to Learn 5.1 Using Taxonomies Wisely 5.2 Bloom’s Taxonomy (and Beyond) 5.3 The EDUCERE Taxonomy of Thinking Skills 5.4 The ASK Model 5.5 Footnote to Taxonomies: Beware! 5.6 Review 5.7 Next Steps Chapter 6: Feedback and the SOLO Taxonomy 6.0 The SOLO Taxonomy 6.1 How the SOLO Taxonomy Relates to the Learning Challenge 6.2 How the SOLO Taxonomy Relates to Feedback 6.3 How the SOLO Taxonomy Relates to Learning 6.4 The SOLO Treehouse 6.5 Review 6.6 Next Steps Chapter 7: Seven Steps to Feedback 7.0 Background 7.1 Using the Seven Steps to Feedback 7.2 The Seven Steps to Feedback: Some Final Thoughts 7.3 But There’s No Time! 7.4 Review 7.5 Next Steps Chapter 8: Tools for Feedback 8.0 Using the Learning Challenge to Generate Feedback Questions 8.1 Learning Challenge Feedback Questions: Stage 1 8.2 Learning Challenge Feedback Questions: Stage 2 8.3 Learning Challenge Feedback Questions: Stage 3 8.4 Learning Challenge Feedback Questions: Stage 4 8.5 Learning Detectives 8.6 Examples of Clues for Learning Detectives to Search For 8.7 Review 8.8 Next Steps and Further Reading Repertoire and Judgement Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisThe creation of a successful learning environment involves the examination and improvement upon current teaching practices. As new strategies emerge, it becomes imperative to incorporate them into the classroom.Student-Driven Learning Strategies for the 21st Century Classroom provides a thorough examination of the benefits and challenges experienced in learner-driven educational settings and how to effectively engage students in these environments. Focusing on technological perspectives, emerging pedagogies, and curriculum development, this book is ideally designed for educators, learning designers, upper-level students, professionals, and researchers interested in innovative approaches to student-driven education.

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Book SynopsisEducation is increasingly being involved with technological resources in order to meet the needs of emerging generations, consequently changing the way people teach and learn. Game-based learning is a growing aspect of pedagogical practice, and it is important to disseminate research trends and innovations in this field.The Handbook of Research on Immersive Digital Games in Educational Environments provides emerging research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of digital games and technological resources and applications within contemporary education. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as digital integration, educational simulation, and learning theories, this book is ideally designed for teachers, pre-service teachers, students, educational researchers, and education software developers seeking current research on diverse immersive platforms and three-dimensional environments that support the creation of digital games and other applications to improve teaching and learning processes.

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Book SynopsisIn addition to the content prescribed by the official curriculum of any given educational establishment, students learn other information and skills outside of the intended and taught information (such as sharing, communication, and conflict-resolution). These learned skills, otherwise unaccounted for in the education process, can be considered as a part of a hidden or unwritten curriculum.Implicit Pedagogy for Optimized Learning in Contemporary Education is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of assessment methods for the evaluation of indirect and direct educational methods. While highlighting topics such as language development, teacher agency, and learning process, this publication explores hidden curricula as well as the methods of learning outside of the prescribed school curriculum. It is ideally designed for educators, administrators, students, and researchers seeking current research on the effect of hidden curricula on the education process.

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Book SynopsisThis practical guide for teaching numeracy to children with a developmental disability is based on core concepts from the landmark Mathematics Recovery® text Teaching Number (aka ‘the green book’) that have been adapted for children with developmental disabilities. It sets out key principles of teaching and learning underpinning an evidence-based teaching approach and provides clear guidance on how educators can plan and implement a structured teaching program so that every child can be given a positive experience in learning numeracy and achieve significant outcomes, maximizing their potential. The book is supported by a comprehensive set of online resources for use in the classroom, including 90+ lesson plans carefully tailored to provide sequenced learning experiences for children and school students who may need them most...Trade ReviewThis very useful book adapts the Maths Recovery Programme to suit the learning needs of students with a developmental disability. It provides an extensive and detailed approach to assessment, learning and teaching that embodies evidence-based best practice. -- Charlotte MadineThis much needed book is an essential read not only for educators but for educational leaders everywhere. The plea to maintain high aspirations when teaching numeracy to children with developmental disabilities resonates throughout each chapter as the authors skilfully challenge misconceptions and offer practical solutions. This book is a vital tool in maximising the numeracy potential of all children and I wish somebody had given this to me when I became a maths teacher more than 15 years ago. -- Professor Adam BoddisonTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Mathematics Recovery Chapter 3: Adapting Mathematics Recovery Chapter 4: Motivating students with developmental disabilities to learn Chapter 5: Discrete-trial teaching Chapter 6: Using prompts in teaching Chapter 7: Ensuring learning lasts Chapter 8: Preparing to teach

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Book Synopsis***** Online Resources are open access. No code is required ***** It is vital to understand the challenges and provide the right support for learners with dyscalculia and specific learning difficulties in mathematics. The book provides: • an overview of current research explaining the nature and causation of dyscalculia • guidance on the identification of dyscalculia • examples of how to carry out informal and formal assessments • an explanation of the principles of multisensory mathematics teaching • an outline of a structured programme (for learners aged 5-14), together with examples of lesson planning and activities. Designed for teachers specialising in the assessment and teaching of learners with dyscalculia, and those undertaking courses leading to Approved Teacher Dyscalculia (ATD) and Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA), the book is useful to any professional looking for an understanding of this area of specific difficulty.Trade ReviewKelly provides up-to-date and accessible information for practitioners supporting children with dyscalculia. A strength of this book is the integration of theory and practice; providing those working with children the knowledge base they need to support children effectively. -- Dr Helen CurranA comprehensive, engaging and accessible book offering pertinent insights into the nature, identification and assessment of dyscalculia along with practical guidance on effective intervention. Essential reading for any professional who wishes to enhance their knowledge and practice in supporting learners who struggle with mathematics. -- Dr Pamela MoffettThis long awaited text books clearly explains the complexity of dyscalculia while providing practical guidance and helpful examples of how to support learners in the classroom. Well written, accessible and full of practical ideas, it is an essential text book for anyone interested in supporting learners with SpLD. -- Rhiannon PackerTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Dyscalculia and Mathematics Related Difficulties: Setting the Context Chapter 1: The Nature of Dyscalculia Chapter 2: Differences and Similarities between Dyscalculia and other Mathematics Related Difficulties Chapter 3: The Role of Memory in Learning Mathematics Chapter 4: Cognitive Processing Difficulties (and Abilities) Chapter 5: Mathematics Anxiety Part II: Identification and Assessment of Dyscalculia Chapter 6: Screening Procedures Chapter 7: Assessment of Memory Chapter 8: Assessment of Basic Number Skills Chapter 9: Assessment of Cognitive Thinking Style in Mathematics Chapter 10: Assessment for Visual Stress Chapter 11: Writing an Assessment Report on Mathematics Related Difficulties Part III: Planning an Intervention for Learners with Mathematics Difficulties Chapter 12: Models of Mathematical Development Chapter 13: Planning a Programme of Support Chapter 14: Multisensory Mathematics Teaching and Lesson Planning Chapter 15: Mathematical Vocabulary Chapter 16: Developing Number Concept and Mathematical Relationships Chapter 17: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Reasoning Part IV: Practical Teaching Examples Chapter 18: Using Mathematical Models to Develop Relational Understanding Chapter 19: Visualisation Chapter 20: Problem-solving Approaches Chapter 21: Linking Concepts to Everyday Events Appendices Appendix 1 (a) Digit Span Tasks Appendix 1 (b) Visual Sequential Memory: Symbols Appendix 1 (c) Visual-spatial Memory: Grids Appendix 2: Outline of Programme (and Record Sheet) Appendix 3 Solution to Algebra Problem (Grid Method)

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Book SynopsisLet′s Get Real About PBL The book′s companion website features an updated guide to help teachers integrate technology into PBL experiences for online and blended learning instruction. Does project-based learning (PBL) feel just out of reach in in your secondary classroom? Is project-planning an overwhelming project in and of itself? Dr. Jennifer Pieratt, a consultant and former teacher, knows firsthand how challenging designing projects can be, especially for secondary teachers with large caseloads and short class periods to engage in meaningful teaching and learning. In this hands-on, interactive guide, Pieratt supports secondary teachers through the iterative process of planning authentic project-based learning experiences. Using backward design, she gives teachers ready to use strategies for identifying the best concepts to tackle in PBL experiences, brainstorming realistic projects, facilitating meaningful learning, and creating formative and summative assessments. The book is visually accessible in style and features #realtalk soundbites that tackle the challenges to implementing PBL Tips and resources to support the project-planning process Planning forms to guide you through planning your projects Key terminology and acronyms in PBL Exercises to help you reflect and process throughout your project plans Master PBL planning with this clear, efficient, and easy-to-use guide to creating enriching experiences for your students! Trade ReviewThis is the book PBL educators have been waiting for! Whether you are starting out on your PBL journey or have been at it for years, this book is full of helpful ideas, tactics, and exemplars—the kind of book that never even makes it to the shelf because you are constantly using it. Jennifer Pieratt knows how to help educators realize their own potential to facilitate powerful PBL experiences for all students. This book is a window into her years of expertise and experiences. -- Emily LiebtagFor someone new to teaching or to project-based learning, this workbook simplifies the process without letting go of essential elements that make the project a valuable educational experience. -- Marcia LeCompte * Dufrocq Elementary School, Baton Rouge, LA *This book is an excellent tool for any educator wanting to implement project-based learning in their classroom. It provides a step-by-step guide that takes you through the thought process—from posing the question for the project, to the planning that is involved before implementing the project, the process for implementing the project, assessment of the project, and the background resources needed to begin the process. -- Ellen Asregadoo * Public School 190, Brooklyn, NY *It is inspiring to see how our students can make a positive impact on our world when we as educators empower them through project-based learning. This book provides the necessary structures, supports, and encouragement to shift to these dynamic practices so that we can better serve all learners. I have witnessed firsthand the incredible transformation when educators shift practice to embrace the complexities of real-world challenges, and I am excited that this resource will help to spread these powerful learning opportunities to better serve all learners. -- Devin Vodicka * AltSchool, Oceanside, CA *In her introduction to Keep It Real With PBL, Jenny Pieratt describes her commitment to be direct with teachers about developing engaging and strong PBL experiences for their students. She has done just that, combining her deep experience from varied perspectives—PBL teacher and colleague, coach, consultant—to provide a straightforward but detailed path to developing high quality PBL opportunities for learners. Jenny is at once optimistic and realistic, encouraging and pragmatic. While this book is designed for teachers just starting out in PBL work, experienced PBL teachers will benefit from the thoroughness of Jenny’s descriptions of planning and implementing strong PBL experiences—and will almost surely be introduced to useful new resources as well. -- Rick LearTable of ContentsList of Resources on the Companion Website Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Letter to Secondary Teachers How to Use This Book Chapter 1: The Why and What of Project-Based Learning An Overview of Project-Based Learning (PBL) Why PBL ? Intro to HQPBL Chapter 2: The Role of the Teacher in PBL The Paradigm Shift Instructional Best Practices Adult Agency PBL Teacher Profile Chapter 3: Project Brainstorming Where to Look for Ideas Collaborative Brainstorming Chapter 4: Planning PBL for Your Year Big Picture and Big Ideas Make Content Connections: Planning Interdisciplinary Projects Pacing Your Project Chapter 5: Planning With the End in Mind Drafting Enduring Understandings Crafting Driving Questions Final Products Culminating Experience Chapter 6: Benchmarking Your Project What Is Benchmarking? Identifying Deliverables Chapter 7: Assessment in PBL Best Practices in Assessment Apply to PBL How to Build Your Project Rubric Planning for Formative Assessment Student Engagement in PBL Assessment Chapter 8: Planning Daily Learning in PBL Create Your Big-Picture Project Calendar Daily Learning Differentiating Project Plans Chapter 9: Classroom Management in PBL Establish a Central Location for Project Resources Make the Project Process Visible Use Group Contracts, Protocols, and Roles Consider the Workshop Method Chapter 10: Launching Your Project The Hook Project Guidelines The Knows/Need to Knows Project Groups Home Communication Chapter 11: Next Steps Prototype Your Project Keep Building Those Reflection Skills Seek Out Collegial Feedback Plan for Exhibiting Student Work Collect Community Connections Scaling and Sustaining HQPBL Appendix Overview Appendix A: Complete Project Plans A1—Sixth-Grade Humanities A2—Ninth-Grade Humanities A3—12th-Grade Entrepreneurship A4—Assessment Tips and Tricks From the Trenches A5—Sample Detailed Integrated Scope and Sequence Appendix B: Blank Project Planning Templates Glossary References Index

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Book SynopsisEducate the whole child—improve the whole school. Implementing evidence-based and innovative teaching practices can feel like juggling: If you have standards-based learning in one hand and social-emotional learning in the other, what do you do with cognitive development? This book shows you how to balance all 3, combining these concepts into manageable, realistic plans for success. In clear, easy-to-follow language, master teacher and educational expert Greg Mullen introduces a flexible, three-tiered, visual framework designed for schoolwide collaboration. He also offers: • An integrated philosophy focused on self-directed learning and the whole child • Research sourced from CASEL and state programs and initiatives • Attention to academic inclusion, behavior intervention, and classroom management • Numerous illustrations, tables, and graphics • Tools and supplemental resources for implementation Make innovation work for your school. With this guide, you and your colleagues will build on your strengths, discover the potential of your existing programs, and implement smart changes that make a real difference for students.Trade Review"Creating a Self-Directed Learning Environment is filled with strategies on how to begin shifting toward a standards-based approach. These strategies will be extremely useful to all teachers, both those that are beginning their careers and those who are experienced and looking to implement standards-based and social-emotional learning." -- Meghan Schofield, Third Grade Teacher"Greg Mullen infuses this book with a refreshing passion for teaching. Not only does this book clearly define Common Core Standards, but it also individualizes core standards for every learner, including meeting the all important social and emotional factors required so students can learn." -- Charla Buford Bunker, FOCUS Instructor"Creating a Self-Directed Learning Environment is a skillfully balanced presentation for how to thoughtfully design and implement content standards, progress monitoring, and social emotional learning in the modern classroom." -- Ashley LaCroix, Technology Integrator"This book promotes self-reflection for the teacher as well as for the students, and it describes vertical planning to identify critical elements of key standards throughout the grade levels, all while being written in user-friendly tone that makes it accessible to all readers." -- Lisa Graham, Director, Early Childhood Education"Greg Mullen provides useful guidance and valuable information for all teachers in this timely book on an important topic!" -- Deb Bible, Educational Consultant"In his book, Greg Mullen explores the intricate connections between academic, social-emotional, and human development and how these ideas should be considered when teaching the whole child." -- Christine Clement, Instructional CoachTable of ContentsAcknowledgments About the Author Introduction Exploring the Core When Everything Was Perfect Perfect Circles Have No Beginning PART 1: PRIMARY CONCEPTS Chapter 1: Standards-Based Grading Teacher Mastery of Standards Standards and Grading Defining Proficiency Adapting Assessments Reporting Proficiency Curricula and Resources Chapter 2: Social-Emotional Learning Self-Awareness and Management Social-Awareness and Relationships Societal Responsibility Chapter 3: Cognitive and Psychosocial Human Development Cognitive Human Development Psychosocial Human Development Developmental Mindset Special Education PART 2: SECONDARY CONCEPTS Chapter 4: Self-Directed Learning Identifying Growth Versus Proficiency Make a Plan (SMART Goals) Resources Strategies Product Chapter 5 (Part 1): Behavioral Coaching Changing Role of the Classroom Teacher General Behavior Expectations Behavioral Coaching [In-Class Approach] Chapter 5 (Part 2): Behavioral Inclusion and Intervention Behavioral Inclusion Behavioral Intervention [School-Wide Approach] Chapter 6: Academic Inclusion and Intervention Academic Inclusion Differentiation for an Inclusive Model Standards-Based Differentiation Tiers of Academic Inclusion Tiers of Developmental Inclusion Academic Intervention Conclusion Adopt and Adapt Quotes to Consider Sources of Motivation (Resources and Citations) Index

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Book SynopsisIn these challenging times, teaching children to think critically and reflectively AND be compassionate, responsible and caring citizens at the same time is a tall order. Powerful Understanding explores effective ways to build social emotional skills and help students make connections, question what they read, and reflect on their learning as they develop into stronger readers and learners. Strategic and critical thinking strategies revolve around core anchor books that help integrate thinking into everything you teach—from social responsibility, to immigration, to life cycles. This highly readable book includes a wealth of classroom examples and extensive hands-on activities designed to help students to think more deeply, learn more widely, and develop a more powerful understanding of what it means to be a responsible and compassionate person.

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Book SynopsisIn freewriting, we write continuously: we begin with a prompt and keep our pen or pencil moving throughout the entire duration. We do not stop to question or censor ourselves; we do not concern ourselves with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or grammar; we do not let critical thoughts creep into our freewriting time. The book shows teachers how to use freewriting to help kids write well and more, regardless of grade level, subject, time of day, or time of year.

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Book SynopsisBased on what we now know about reading, this practical book offers strategies in a consistent format that is easy for teachers to incorporate in their daily instruction. This grab-bag of classroom-tested activities allows teachers to choose what they need to meet the diverse needs of students in grades 1 through 8. These strategies guide students through the reading process and build important comprehension skills through reading, talk, art, drama, and more. These innovative ways to use the best children’s books inspire students to become enthusiastic and avid readers, and take the first giant step into becoming lifelong readers.

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Book SynopsisKids are naturally curious about the world around them. They seek ways to understand and interact with their environment, often using digital tools to do so. Imagine a world where children’s curiosities are amplified -- helping them see the power of their thinking, perspective and voice. Spark Change examines the multitude of possibilities available when students are given the opportunity to amplify their learning online, centering on three ideas of citizenship: be a good person, be critical and be an advocate for something you care about in life. The book introduces readers to Liv, a young changemaker empowered to use digital tools to create and share content online. Liv’s story offers readers an opportunity to explore how students can use technology as a tool for empathy, equity and activism. Kids can’t become changemakers if they aren’t empowered to think beyond their own community. Liv’s online sense of agency serves as an example of maximizing opportunities, developing a powerful voice and making global connections that deepen her compassion for people and the world.Connected-learning opportunities help students develop key understandings about the world around them. This book shows how these understandings lead to social action, and how students develop a deeper sense of empathy and kindness from interacting with the world.

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Book SynopsisToday’s students are ready to design, dream and MAKE the future. Teach Boldly: Using Edtech for Social Good is a guide for educators ready to activate positive change in teaching and learning through innovative practices, meaningful use of technology and global collaboration. The book offers a human-centered approach with design- and empathy-driven practices that address many aspects of teaching and learning. Topics covered include constructing agile classrooms, digital storytelling and communicating across lines of difference, and prioritizing feedback and active listening. This book invites readers to create a customized plan to leverage innovative practice, education technology and global networks to activate positive change in the classroom and the world; discusses learning space design through the lens of empathy and amplification of student voice; provides easy-to-implement ideas for transforming learning and classroom culture through space; showcases the power of narrative and bringing focus to the need for storytelling in education and the world; and offers direction for seeking out authentic feedback and steps for iterating on ideas with emphasis on preservation of voice and prioritization of creativity in expression of ideas. With inspiration from real-world peaceMAKERS in education, Teach Boldly invites readers to create ready-to-go action plans for themselves as educators, for classroom communities and for the global community.

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Book SynopsisWhat do great teachers do differently? What separates the top teachers from all the rest? As educators continue to struggle with how to improve schools, these questions become more pressing than ever before. At the heart of any education system is the teacher. His or her role is so essential that The Gallup Organization has, for decades, directed some of the leading thinkers in education and psychology to uncover what makes a teacher great. Written by two educators with a combined 70 years of experience in both classroom teaching and consulting with leaders of America’s schools, Teach With Your Strengths reveals the essential truths Gallup’s research has uncovered. But it zeroes on these monumental findings: While their styles and approaches may differ, all great teachers make the most of their natural talents. And, great teachers don’t strive to be well-rounded. They know that “fixing their weaknesses” doesn’t work — it only produces mediocrity. Worse, it squanders time and attention from what they naturally do well. In Teach With Your Strengths, readers will hear from great teachers: What they do differently; how they handle problem students; how they battle intractable school bureaucracies; how they break through and inspire even the most troubled young people.

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Book SynopsisProviding ways to engage students through their popular culture interests, this collection brings together several essays, across disciplines, to show how fan practices such as writing fan fiction, creating vids, communicating via Tumblr, and participating in film tourism can invite students to invest more of themselves into their education. Both scholarship and fandom encourage passionate engagement with texts—rather than passive consumption in isolation— and editor Katherine Anderson Howell and her contributors find that when students are encouraged to partake in a remix classroom that encourages their fan interests, they participate more in their education, are more critical of experts and authorities, and actively shape the discourse themselves. Creating this remix classroom requires thoughtfulness on the instructor’s part, and so the chapters in this volume come from teachers who have carefully constructed such courses, including several invaluable appendices that provide examples of methodologies, course assignments, teaching practices, and classroom setup. Each chapter also includes student responses that offer a sense of what students gained from each course. The result is an exciting and entertaining new way to motivate students and teachers alike, and it is sure to be a popular reference guide for instructors teaching classes from high school to graduate levels.

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Book SynopsisHowever personally committed faculty may be to helping students learn, their students are not always as eager to participate in this endeavor, and may react with both active and passive resistant behaviors, including poor faculty evaluations. The purpose of this book is to help faculty develop a coherent and integrated understanding of the various causes of student resistance to learning, providing them with a rationale for responding constructively, and enabling them to create conditions conducive to implementing effective learning strategies. In this book readers will discover an innovative integrated model that accounts for student behaviors and creates a foundation for intentional and informed discussion, evaluation, and the development of effective counter strategies. The model takes into account institutional context, environmental forces, students’ prior negative classroom experiences, their cognitive development, readiness to change, and metacognition. The various chapters take the reader through the model’s elements, exploring their practical implications for teaching, whether relating to course design, assessments, assignments, or interactions with students.The book includes a chapter written entirely by students, offering their insights into the causes of resistance, and their reflections on how participating on this project has affected them. While of great value for faculty, this book is also useful to faculty developers advising future and current faculty, as well as to administrators, offering insight into how institutional values impact teaching practice and student attitudes.Trade Review"This text can serve as an invaluable tool to identify and overcome student resistance in the following ways. First, it encourages institutions to review their strategies to reduce student resistance in totality – for example, going beyond 'single-field explanations'. Everyone matters – leadership, faculty, staff, and students – and must collaborate such that the decisions on institutional learning systems and practices meet students’ needs and address their challenges. Second, it is replete with engaging examples (drawn from research and student voices), approaches, and instruments that give institutions fresh perspectives and practical resources to move forward in strengthening motivation and reducing resistance. Furthermore, by welcoming institutions to field-test IMSR, Tolman and Kremling provide an impetus for institutions to improve their current practices in addressing student resistance."Reflective Teaching (Wabash Center)“Truly a book for our time. Meticulously describing a theoretical framework of resistance, crafting an operational definition, and offering polyvocal narrative examples of resistance in action, this volume offers a model of resistance that is highly useful to researchers and university/college teachers alike.This volume is written for university and college teachers and is meant to tie theory to practice. It is written clearly and persuasively with the purpose of encouraging the adoption of these practices for instructors across disciplines. Overall, Why Students Resist Learning: A Practical Model for Understanding and Helping Students introduces a much-needed systems perspective for understanding student resistance in higher education. The editors and their authors understand and make visible the relational, contextual, and systemic contributors to resistance and offer invaluable tools to help educators examine and address resistance in their own settings.”Teachers College Record"This book takes the challenge head on. It directly addresses the great and central problem: student resistance to active learning. And it addresses that problem in the right way [which] is to recognize that student resistance is a systemic problem: students do what they do for…reasons [that] are many and varied. But student resistance is not magic. If we can understand the reasons for their behavior, we can change it. That is the central project of this book: to understand why and how students resist taking a deep approach to learning, so that we can take a deeper approach to designing a curriculum and a pedagogy that can help them to grow, rather than let them shrink into their protective cocoon of resistance.This is not the first book to address student resistance. However, as far as I can tell, it is the first book to address the phenomenon systematically and in a way that brings together a variety of perspectives and disciplines that can help to explain it…[and] that integrates what we know about psychology, pedagogy, and learning science to construct a framework for recognizing, diagnosing, and addressing such resistance. Of course, every student is an individual. But they are individuals whose behavior can tell us much if we will seek for the patterns and pull in from disparate disciplines the wisdom that bears on their choices and motivations. Tolman and Kremling tell the stories to find the patterns, and give us an apparatus for solving the problems rather than just blaming the students.In this book, the teachers become learners, the learners become teachers, and thus they make visible to all of us what goes wrong, and how it can go right, in teaching and learning. If you are a teacher, or care about what teachers do, you have much to learn.”John Tagg, Associate Professor of English, Palomar Collegeand co-author with Robert B. Barr of the seminal article "From Teaching to Learning”Table of ContentsForeword—John Tagg Acknowledgments Preface. What Makes This Book Unique—Anton O. Tolman 1. Defining and Understanding Student Resistance—Anton O. Tolman, Andy Sechler, and Shea Smart 2. Student Voices. Discovering Resistance—Averie Hamilton, Andy Sechler, Colt Rothlisberger, Shea Smart, Anton O. Tolman, Matthew Anderson, Rob Blair, and Amy Lindstrom 3. Obstacles, Biases, and the Urgent Need to Understand the Social Cost of Resistance—Anton O. Tolman, Andy Sechler, and Shea Smart 4. The Impact of Institutional Culture on Student Disengagement and Resistance to Learning—Janine Kremling and Erikca DeAnn Brown 5. Societal and Environmental Influences That Shape Student Motivation—Christopher Lee and Amy Lindstrom 6. Through the Students’ Eyes. Internalized Forces That Shape Student Motivation—Christopher Lee, Andy Sechler, and Shea Smart 7. Negative Classroom Experiences—Janine Kremling, Colt Rothlisberger, and Shea Smart 8. Seeing the Invisible. How Cognitive and Developmental Influences Shape Student Resistance—Trevor Morris, Rob Blair, and Colt Rothlisberger 9. How Promoting Student Metacognition Can Reduce Resistance—Rob Blair, Anton O. Tolman, Janine Kremling, and Trevor Morris 10. Creating a Campus Climate to Reduce Resistance—Anton O. Tolman, Janine Kremling, and Ryan Radmall Epilogue. Final Thoughts—Anton O. Tolman, Janine Kremling, and Trevor MOrris Appendix • TTM Learning Survey • Learning Strategies and Self-Awareness Assessment #1 (LSSA. • Learning Strategies and Self-Awareness Assessment #3 • Becoming Aware of Your Learning Approach • Interpreting the TTM Survey About the Editors and Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisAsk great writers what the key to writing well is and they will tell you revision. Author Ruth Culham, both a successful writer and writing teacher, understands the challenges elementary teachers face when teaching writing and revision and now shares her knowledge in Teach Writing Well: How to Assess Writing, Invigorate Instruction, and Rethink Revision. Divided into two parts, Culham’s book provides ways to teach that are both accessible to the teacher and student. You will find techniques to assess writing that are practical, and results driven.Inside you’ll discover: Culham’s traits of writing and how to use them to read and assess student work Ways to guide revision decisions using these traits as common language How to address challenges students may face within the different modes of writing (narrative, expository, and persuasive) Strategic lessons to teach the writer that scaffold students towards making their own craft decisions A chapter on mentor texts which can be used to model traits and key qualities for your students Teach Writing Well pulls best practices together and shows writing with fresh eyes.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I: Read the Writing; 1: Thinking Back and Thinking Forward; 2: Formative Assessment: The Heart of the Matter; 3: Modes of Writing:; 4: Tools and Talk to Guide Revision; Part II: Teach the Writer; 5: Rethinking Revision: The Real Work of Writing; 6: Invigorate Writing Instruction; 7: Reading Like a Writer

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Book SynopsisMost teachers enter the field of education to make a difference in children's lives. But many end up, as author Dr. Lisa Lucas puts it, tired, wired, and running in circles. This leads to many new teachers abandoning the profession or to burnout among veteran teachers. In Practicing Presence: Simple Self-Care Strategies for Teachers, Dr. Lucas invites the reader to learn how to fully inhabit the present moment. Written in an informal and conversational tone, Practicing Presence is filled with ideas, exercises, checklists, personal anecdotes, and practices you can use to reframe and establish a mindset that will enhance your focus and engagement in the classroom. With approximately 50% of new teachers leaving the education field before the 5-year mark, it is more important than ever for educators to prioritize self-care. Each chapter of Practicing Presence includes self-care strategies that explore how to self-regulate, nurture self-acceptance, and promote compassion. Inside you'll find: Quotes and affirmations throughout the texts Scientific research and reflections on how these theories and practices can apply to your own life Paths to Mindful Teaching and how to integrate into your daily life Additional resources and online content to further support your practice When teachers care for themselves deeply and deliberately, they are better able to care for the people that matter most in their lives'stheir students, friends, and families. Practicing Presence focuses not on doing, but rather on being present in the life of the classroom.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Practice of Presence: Paths to Mindful Teaching; Chapter 1: Practicing Presence; Chapter 2: Responding Rather Than Reacting; Chapter 3: Epigenetics: Ever Heard of It?; Chapter 4: Simple Self-Care; Chapter 5: Ever-Lasting Focus; Chapter 6: Noticing the Negativity Bias; Chapter 7: Can't We Just Get Along?; Chapter 8: Envisioning Endless Possibilities for Education

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Book SynopsisEvidence-based bullying-prevention principles, policies, and practices to reduce peer cruelty and create safe, caring learning climates. Based on a practical, six-part framework for reducing peer cruelty and increasing positive behavior support, End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy utilizes the strongest pieces of best practices and current research for ways to stop bullying. The book includes guidelines for implementing strategies, collecting data, training staff, mobilizing students and parents, building social-emotional skills, and sustaining progress, and presents the 6Rs of bullying prevention: Rules, Recognize, Report, Respond, Refuse, and Replace. This is not a program, but a comprehensive process for reducing bullying from the inside out, involving the entire school community. Bullying-prevention and character education expert Michele Borba, who s worked with over 1 million parents and educators worldwide, offers realistic, research-based strategies and advice. Use the book on its own or to supplement an existing program. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation for use in professional development.

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Book SynopsisDefinitive resource for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping, fully revised and expanded. In today s standards-driven era, how can teachers motivate and challenge gifted students and ensure that all students reach their potential? This book provides a compelling answer: the Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model. The authors explain how the model differs from grouping practices of the past, and they present a roadmap for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping. Readers will find a wealth of teacher-tested classroom strategies along with detailed information on identifying gifted students for clusters, gaining support from parents, and providing ongoing professional development to teachers and other staff. The new edition: offers identification and placement guidance for a wide variety of student ages and populations directs special attention toward empowering gifted English language learners shows teachers how to use the Depth of Knowledge framework to differentiate learning tasks offers new ideas for integrating technology into both professional development and student learningThe Cluster Grouping Handbook offers a guide for schools to create a workable, defensible gifted program; to simplify teachers jobs; and to maximize learning for all students. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation; a free PLC/Book Study Guide is also available.

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Book SynopsisInspiring and practical guide to create a safe and positive learning environment and help students master critical social and emotional skills.The SEL Solution provides everything teachers need to create a safe and positive learning environment. With dozens of fun and easy-to-do lessons and activities, educators have a clear path to integrate SEL lessons into social studies and language arts curriculum as well as throughout the school day. Additional sections for SEL directors and school leaders offer a blueprint for building a school-wide community that: helps students and staff master critical social and emotional skills, like self-awareness, the ability to focus, self-control, self-regulation, the ability to empathize, active listening, and cooperation engages everyone kids and adults in effective, compassionate behavior management strategies increases student success For use by teachers, counselors, coaches, principals, and other educators, the strategies in The SEL Solution provide a plan for engaging the whole school community in identifying, celebrating, and sustaining its positive values.Digital content includescustomizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation for professional development.

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Book SynopsisInternational Education Inquiries is a book series dedicated to realizing the global vision of Education 2030. This vision involves “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.” The founding editors seek to provide a forum for the diverse voices of scholars and practitioners from across the globe asking questions about transforming the vision of Education 2030 into a reality. Published chapters will reflect a variety of formats, free of methodological restrictions, involving disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary inquiries. We expect the series will be a leading forum for pioneers redefining the global discussion about the people, places and perspectives shaping Education 2030 outcomes.Education 2030 topics of interest include, but are not limited to, Improving access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education; Ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality education; Increasing the number of youth and adults who have skills relevant for sustainable living and livelihoods; Ensuring equal access for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations; Achieving levels of literacy and numeracy required to engage in communities and employment; Acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including: Human right Gender equality, Promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, Global citizenship education, The appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contributions to sustainable development, Providing safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all; Recruiting, preparing, supporting, and retaining quality teachers.

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Book SynopsisTeacher educators have opportunities to include issues of multicultural education, equity, and social justice in the work done with preservice teachers. Including the educational and societal experiences of historically marginalized populations in curriculum creates spaces for teacher educators to model multicultural and social justice based pedagogies, while preparing teachers to work with and work for these students.The most effective way for teacher educators to address the unique perspectives of historically and currently marginalized populations is to integrate various perspectives throughout the curriculum (Grant & Zwier, 2012). Most teacher education programs address diverse populations via an integrated approach. In fact, Sherwin and Jennings (2006) found that potential student experiences regarding social class, race, and special needs populations were typically integrated into the curriculum, however, lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues were not. There is research that demonstrates how carefully planned and implemented educational interventions can have a positive effect on preservice teachers’ knowledge of and attitudes toward gays and lesbians (Butler, 1999).Despite the positive impact of addressing LGBTQ issues as a part of the teacher preparation program, Gorski et al. (2013) found that LGBTQ issues receive significantly less class time than other issues, especially race, and are, in fact, eight times more likely to actually be omitted from multicultural teacher educator courses. The inclusion of LGBT topics is important for a myriad of reasons. Most importantly, studies (GLSEN & Harris Interactive, 2012; Kosciw, Greytak, Diaz, Bartkiewicz, 2010, 2012; Kosciw, Greytak, Palmer, Boesen, 2014; Kosciw, Greytak, Giga, & Danischewski, 2016) have revealed a negative school climate for students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; this hostile environment can have dire consequences for these students. The impact of bullying and harassment due to LGBTQ students’ gender and/or sexual identities can produce a number of negative effects, including isolation from friends and family, depression, drug and/or alcohol use and addiction, low selfesteem, lack of engagement in school, academic failure, and fighting (Beam, 2007; Holmes & Cahill, 2004; Kosciw et al., 2010, 2012; Kosciw et al, 2014; Kosciw et al, 2016, Meyer, 2010; Wilkinson & Pearson, 2009).The negative climate does not just come from peer-to-peer negative interactions. In the most recent GLSEN study (Kosciw et al, 2016) it was found that 57.6% of LGBTQ students who were harassed or assaulted in school did not report the incident to school staff, most commonly because they doubted that effective intervention would occur or the situation could become worse if reported. 63.5% of the students who did report an incident said that school staff did nothing in response or told the student to ignore it. 56.2% of students reported hearing homophobic remarks from their teachers or other school staff, and 63.5% of students reported hearing negative remarks about gender expression from teachers or other school staff The aim of this book is to support teacher educators as they engage in the work of preparing pre-service teacher to work with and work for LGBTQ youth through explicit discussions of gender and sexuality. Chapters for this book include personal anecdotes regarding shifts in author’s thinking about including LGBTQ as a part of teacher preparation; specific pedagogical practices employed by authors to present LGBTQ focused material as a part of their coursework; the resistance authors have faced from students, parents and administration and their responses.

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Book SynopsisThis volume demonstrates how principals influence success in 14 elementary schools across Mexico. The cases show the importance of learning in an international school leadership context to address cultural, social, and academic needs of students in their families. Characteristics of successful principals are included, in order to exemplify contemporary practices, generate positive school climate, and the best possible development of children in diverse contexts.The cases presented in this book relate to challenging and vulnerable contexts or high-needs schools. Knowledge about successful school leadership in vulnerable contexts has been highly pursued in the U.S. and abroad, especially in countries where educational disparities relate to equity and social justice. The value of school principals merit visibility with a focus on the Americas.Especially in challenging contexts, school leadership is considered a determining factor in promoting the development of children. Nonetheless, there is much to learn about contemporary school leaders, who succeed in improving schools despite societal challenges. Challenges may include increasing socioeconomic restraints, high accountability demands, and reduced resources for public education. Of note, is that a formal preparation and assignment of principals is not equitably established in Mexico, generating a high need for leaders to be prepared for this important role. By highlighting best leadership practices, practitioners and scholars can reflect about United States and Mexico educational comparisons, and observe school improvement geared towards benefitting Latinx communities in both countries.

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Book SynopsisCapstones have been a part of higher education curriculum for over two centuries, with the goal of integrating student learning to cap off their undergraduate experience. In practice, capstones are most often delivered as a course or include a significant project that addresses a problem or contributes new knowledge. This edited collection draws on multi-year, multi-institutional, and mixed-methods studies to inform the development of best practices for cultivating capstones at a variety of higher education institutions. The book is divided into three parts: Part One offers typographies of capstones, illustrating the diversity of experiences included in this high-impact practice while also identifying essential characteristics that contribute to high-quality culminating experiences for students. Part Two shares specific culminating experiences with examples from multiple institutions and strategies for adapting them for readers’ own campus contexts. Part Three offers research-informed strategies for professional development to support implementation of high-quality student learning experiences across a variety of campus contexts. Cultivating Capstones is an essential resource for faculty who teach or direct disciplinary or interdisciplinary capstone experiences, as well as for faculty developers and administrators seeking ways to offer high-quality, high-impact learning experiences for diverse student populations.A Series on Engaged Learning and Teaching Book. Visit the books’ companion website, hosted by the Center for Engaged Learning, for book resources.Trade Review“Cultivating Capstones helps us rethink the culmination of the degree, not as the pinnacle of a cloistered baccalaureate experience, but instead invigorated by external connections on all sides. Increasingly our students situate us amid multiple, competing responsibilities. In turn, educators need the tools presented here to cultivate feedback and agency, partnerships across institutions and communities, civic engagement and scaffolded independent research. In case studies and interviews, the authors make a powerful case for synthesizing learning from the whole degree in ways that respect and leverage the broader ecosystem of our students’ complicated lives.”Ken O’Donnell, Vice Provost, California State University Dominguez Hills, and Editor-in-Chief of Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education"We know from powerful research like the Gallup Purdue Index that completing a project that lasts a semester or more is transformational to not only students’ immediate college experience but also to their future selves. That said, simply calling something a “capstone” does not make it so. This volume fills an important gap at the nexus of research and practice on this high-impact educational practice, and should be required reading for all those interested in designing and delivering a truly vibrant and impactful capstone experience."Kate Drezek McConnell, Vice President, Curricular & Pedagogical Innovation and Executive Director, VALUE, American Association of Colleges & Universities“Whether you’re new to capstone experiences, a seasoned capstone course instructor, or somewhere in between, you’ll find in this book vivid and varied examples of capstone models and practical guidance for supporting faculty and staff, so that students can reap the benefits of this high-impact practice. Given that capstone experiences embody the integration and application of learning, and can serve as much-needed bridges from college to career, I recommend it to all higher education leaders committed to truly serving students and ensuring their long-term success.”Isis Artze-Vega, College Provost & Vice President, Academic Affairs, Valencia CollegeTable of ContentsSeries Foreword --Jessie L. Moore and Peter Felten Introduction. Capstone Experiences in Undergraduate Education --Jillian Kinzie, Caroline J. Ketcham, Anthony G. Weaver, and Jessie L. Moore Part 1. Understanding the Landscape of Capstone Experiences -- Anthony G. Weaver, Caroline J. Ketcham, and Jessie L. Moore 1. Frames, Definitions, and Drivers. A Multinational Study of Institutionally Required Undergraduate Capstones -- Janet Bean, Christina Beaudoin, Tania von der Heidt, David I. Lewis, and Carol Van Zile-Tamsen 2. Capstone Influences and Purposes --Russell Kirkscey, David I. Lewis, and Julie Vale 3. Institutional Considerations for Capstones on Campus. Perspectives Based on National Data on Senior Culminating Experiences --Dallin George Young, Tracy L. Skipper, and Rico R. Reed Part 2. Exploring Capstone Experience Models --Caroline J. Ketcham, Anthony G. Weaver, and Jessie L. Moore 4. Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way. Implementing a Capstone Experience for General Education --Carol Van Zile-Tamsen, Janet Bean, Christina Beaudoin, David I. Lewis, and Tania von der Heidt 5. Preparing Students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution --David I. Lewis, Janet Bean, Christina Beaudoin, Carol Van Zile-Tamsen, and Tania von der Heidt 6. How Two Australian Universities Achieved “Capstones for All”. A Change Management Perspective --Tania von der Heidt, Carol Van Zile-Tamsen, David I. Lewis, Janet Bean, and Christina Beaudoin 7. Adapting a Capstone. Projects and Portfolios across Four Courses and Three Institutions --Sandra Bell, Frederick T. Evers, Shannon Murray, and Margaret Anne Smith 8. Just a Few Minutes of Your Time. Using Qualitative Survey Data to Evaluate and Revise a Capstone Project at an Early College Network --Matthew Park, Paul Hansen, Guy Risko, and Joshua Walker 9. Students-as-Partners and Engaged Scholarship. Complementary Frameworks --Andrew J. Pearl, Joanna C. Rankin, Moriah McSharry McGrath, Sarah Dyer, and Trina Jorre de St Jorre 10. Designing Democratic Spaces. Public-Facing Civic Capstone Courses --Cindy Koenig Richards, Nicholas V. Longo, and Caryn McTighe Musil Part 3. Supporting Capstone Faculty and Staff --Jessie L. Moore, Caroline J. Ketcham, and Anthony G. Weaver 11. Understanding Faculty Needs in Capstone Experiences --Morgan Gresham, Caroline Boswell, Olivia S. Anderson, Matthew J. Laye, and Dawn Smith-Sherwood 12. The Development of Capstone Assignments Using a Faculty Community of Practice Model --Silvia Reyes, Nelson Nunez Rodriguez, and Sarah Brennan 13. Peer Reviewing to Support Quality Assurance of Capstone Experiences. A View from Australia --Michelle J. Eady and Simon B. Bedford 14. Positionality and Identity in Capstones. Renegotiating the Self Through Teaching and Learning --Moriah McSharry McGrath, Sarah Dyer, Joanna Rankin, and Trina Jorre de St. Jorre Conclusion. Committing to Equitable, High-Quality Capstone Experiences -- Caroline J. Ketcham, Jessie L. Moore, and Anthony G. Weaver Editors and Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisWhile preserving the elements that have made the previous two editions so successful—such as chapters on sleep, exercise, memory and mindset—this third edition introduces students to wholly new aspects of brain function and how they impact learning; and furthermore, addresses the challenges of learning online.By introducing new concepts, strategies, and applications related to learning and memory that are based on current findings in cognitive, social, and motivational psychology, this text offers a richer and more complete picture of how brain science illuminates how we learn. Students assigned this book will be equipped to design effective learning plans, employ new strategies, recognize learning traps, discover ways to work effectively in groups, improve recall, and realize better academic performance through test-taking and paper-writing strategies.This new edition also addresses the concerns of all students—particularly those unfamiliar with the college setting and its expectations and assumptions—and offers strategies for success. In keeping with the preceding editions, this book introduces students to concepts, techniques, strategies, tips, and ideas to help them be academically stronger students, advance faster in their studies, and demonstrate what they have learned more effectively—in short, how anyone can learn to be a better learner by learning how to learn in harmony with their brain.The book remains compact and student-friendly, offers examples of practice, and includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter.Trade Review"I have used prior editions of The New Science of Learning in my courses for several years with much success! The third edition offers funny and engaging stories from Todd’s college experiences that will draw students into the content. Every chapter is loaded with practical and detailed advice to students on applying the science of learning for college success. The mysteries of learning and memory are unlocked for students in a highly accessible and fun book!"Kathy Nabours, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Riverside City College"A must-read for our entering students…a distillation of the longstanding science on learning and the brain into easy-to-follow explanations and compelling real-life examples. This book encapsulates proven components of successful and enduring learning, offering numerous practical strategies that students can begin to use immediately. Kudos to the author for situating this latest edition in our current social landscape. I am constantly searching for tools to strengthen our students’ learning retention. This is a grand slam!"Angela P. Hegamin, Assistant Dean of Academic Support, College of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences"An instant classic when first published in 2013, this updated third edition of The New Science of Learning should be required reading for every college student. It is an invaluable resource for educators searching for concrete, evidence-based ways to help students build academic skills, agency, and self-efficacy. It is a truly empowering book for students and instructors alike."Jessamyn Neuhaus, Director, SUNY Plattsburgh Center for Teaching Excellence, author of Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to be Effective Teachers"This book masterfully weaves together leading brain research and practical examples to show students ‘how to learn’. It addresses common pitfalls that students encounter in their learning journey, and provides a clear roadmap of research-based strategies that can enhance comprehension, long-term retention, and the overall learning experience (such as spaced practice, metacognitive strategies, and yes, sleep). This book is a must-read for students who want the tools to succeed in college and beyond!"Tolulope (Tolu) Noah, Instructional Learning Spaces Coordinator, California State University, Long Beach"Dr. Zakrajsek’s systematic, approachable, and humorous discussion of ‘the Research’ makes this book both accessible and meaningful for any learner in higher education – and faculty too! He provides condensed, clear theory as well as pathways of practice for improving our learning through thought and deed. Any reader will come away with specific applications which will in turn provide profound improvements to their learning. This is a must-read for every student, regardless of previous academic success!"Ian Wolf, Instructor of English, Vance-Granville Community CollegeTable of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Your Host 2. Where This Book Came From 3. The Structure of this Third Edition A Note to Students A Note To Faculty PART ONE: SET UP FOR SUCCESS Chapter 1 - Learning from Multiple Perspectives A. Perspective Taking B. Ubiquitous Struggles 1. First-Generation College Students 2. Recognizing Individuality 3. Disarming Microaggressions 4. Stereotype Threat 5. Implicit Bias 6. Summary of Biases C. From Uneasy to Understanding D. Equity, Equality, and Accommodations E. Engaged Learning Chapter 2 - Discovering Yourself as a Learner A. Self-Regulation 1. Establish a Habit of Success 2. Managing Emotions B. Self-Efficacy 1. Performance Outcomes 2. Vicarious Experiences 3. Verbal Persuasion 4. Physiological Feedback C. Imposter Syndrome D. Learned Optimism Chapter 3 - Developing Your Learning Strategy A. Set Goals 1. SMART Goals a. Specific b. Measurable c. Achievable d. Relevant e. Timely 2. Break Large Goals into Smaller Goals 3. Stretch Goals B. Manage Multiple Tasks 1. Build Your Schedule 2. Manage Your Schedule 3. To-Do Lists 4. Organization C. Effective Communication Patterns 1. Be an Active Listener 2. How to Address Faculty 3. Make Use of Office Hours 4. Emails to Faculty 5. Following Up 6. Making Requests D. Keep the Big Picture in Mind PART TWO: BUILD THE FOUNDATION Chapter 4 – Facilitating Your Learning A. Theories and Models of Learning 1. Classical Conditioning 2. Operant Conditioning 3. Social Learning Theory B. Cognitive Load 1. Intrinsic Load 2. Extraneous Load 3. Germane Load a. Automaticity b. Schema Activation C. Deep Learning 1. Attention 2. Value 3. Understanding 4. Anticipate Success D. Foster a Better Memory 1. Memory Processes a. Encoding b. Consolidation c. Retrieval E. Memory Enhancements 1. Elaboration 2. Repetition 3. Interleaving 4. Spaced Recall Chapter 5 - Exploring Social Influences A. Mindset 1. The Origins of Fixed Mindedness 2. Spotting a Fixed Mindset 3. Mindsets are Context Specific 4. Views the World Based on Mindset 5. Shift to Growth Mindset B. Metacognition 1. Understanding Metacognition 2. Metacognitive Regulation C. Attribution 1. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic 2. A Bit of Order 3. Fundamental Attribution Error D. Egocentric bias Chapter 6 - Finding and Using Patterns A. Patterns Enhance Learning 1. Chunking 2. Schemas and Cognitive Load B. Pervasive Patterns 1. Similarity 2. Proximity 3. Continuity 4. Closure 5. Figure-Ground C. Patterns in Academic Life 1. Content 2. Reading a. Pattern for Reading a Textbook b. Patterns for Reading a Journal Article c. Pattern for Reading a Novel PART THREE: SUPPORT YOUR LEARNING Chapter 7 - Thriving in Higher Ed A. Individual and Group Study B. Effective Study Time C. Prepare for Class D. Memorize Bloom’s Taxonomy E. Staying Productive in a Less than Ideal Lecture F. Learn Every Day/Avoid Procrastination G. Solicit and Incorporate Feedback H. Cheating and Plagiarism 1. Cheating 2. Plagiarism I. Office of Student Success/Student Disability Services J. Know your Campus Resources Chapter 8 - Demonstrating Your Learning A. Participation B. Homework C. Extra Credit 1. Learning Value 2. Additional Considerations D. Writing Papers 1. Your Instructor and the Syllabus 2. The Writing Center 3. Reference Librarians 4. Writing Tips in this Book E. Giving Presentations F. Test Taking Strategies 1. Text Anxiety Versus Test Nervousness 2. Study Strategies Chapter 9 - Avoiding Learning Pitfalls A. Rereading and Hi-lighting B. Cramming for Exams C. Following Your Learning Styles D. Task Shifting E. Listening to Negativity F. Hanging in There Too Long PART FOUR: KEEP IT GOING Chapter 10 - Sleeping to Enhance Learning A. What Researchers Say About Sleep 1. Circadian Rhythms 2. Stages of Sleep 3. Sleep Patterns: Larks and Night Owls B. Sleep, Learning, and Memory 1. Importance of Sleep 2. Remembering What is Important 3. Power of Naps and Restful Breaks 4. Cramming Versus Resting C. Managing Your Sleep 1. Factors that Disrupt Sleep a. Alcohol Consumption b. Caffeine c. Diet d. Technology 2. Factors that Promote Sleep a. Bedroom Environment b. Bedtime Routine c. Physical Activity and Being Outside d. Insomnia 3. Long-Term Brain Health and Sleep Chapter 11 - Exercising to Enhance Learning A. Health Benefits of Physical Activity B. Basic Brain Structures and Processes 1. Prefrontal Cortex 2. Hippocampus 3. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor 4. Neurons, Synapses, and Neurotransmitters C. Effects of Long-Term Exercise on Learning D. Effects of Short-Term Exercise on Learning E. Timing of Exercise and Learning F. Therapeutic Exercises 1. Walking 2. Low-Impact, Anaerobic Therapeutic Exercise Chapter 12 - Being an Effective Group Leader/Member A. Benefit of Group Work 1. Develop Soft Skills 2. Incorporate Diverse Perspectives 3. Complete Large or Complex Projects B. Inventory Your Strengths and Challenges C. Get to Know Group Members 1. Introductions and Icebreakers 2. Commitment to the Project 3. Competing Demands D. Clarify Intended Goals E. Facilitate Group Processes 1. How the Group Will Be Led 2. How Decisions Will Be Made 3. Brainstorm Ideas 4. Proceed with Work 5. Find Times to Meet 6. Group Updates and Check-Ins F. Set Ground Rules 1. What If Someone Doesn’t Do Their Work? 2. What If Someone Misses a Meeting? 3. Ensuring All Voices Are Heard 4. Address Group Conflicts G. Effective Meetings 1. Agenda 2. Start and End on Time 3. Assign Group Roles a. Note-Taker b. Monitor c. Moderator d. Counter-Pointer e. Supporter 4. Brief Group Member Well-Check 5. End Meeting with Next Steps 6. Cancel the Meeting if Possible H. Common Challenges 1. Hogs and Logs 2. Losing the Way 3. Rushing to Wrap 4. Drama Appendix A – Online Learning A. Synchronous Online Courses B. Asynchronous Online Courses C. Tips for Setting and Sticking to Your Schedule A message from Dr. Z

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Book SynopsisThis edited book is the first full-length volume exclusively devoted to new research on the challenges and practices of teaching global issues. It addresses the ways that schools can and do address young people’s interest and activism in contemporary global issues facing the world. Many young people today are passionate about issues such as climate change, world poverty, and human rights but have few opportunities in schools to study such issues in depth. This book draws on new research to provide a deeper understanding and examples of how global issues are taught in schools.The book is organized in two sections: (1) contexts and policies in which global issues are taught and learned; and (2) case studies of teaching and learning global issues in schools. The central thesis is that global issues are an essential feature of democracy and social action in a world caught in the thrall of globalization. Schools can no longer afford to ignore teaching about issues impacting across the world if they intend to keep young people engaged in learning and want them to make their own communities—and the greater world—better places for all.

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Book SynopsisThe Matter of Practice presents work by teacher-scholars from around the world who are rethinking the relationship between matter and meaning. By emphasizing spatial, bodily, and sensual dimensions of language and literacy practices, this volume offers a portrait of language pedagogy and research that challenges traditional barriers between subjects and objects, speech and noise, and languages and things. We envision the term ‘new materialisms’ as an invitation to locate theorizing, researching, and teaching practices within the rhythms and textures of our material, sensory, and perceptual lives. These chapters enact a hope that increased engagement with our physical surroundings and sensory experiences can extend the sphere of our social, creative, and intellectual labor and expand our understanding of what ‘counts’ as meaningful action.

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Book SynopsisWriting is a critical skill for academic and professional success, yet it is often neglected in schools. This problem is compounded by the fact that access to opportunities is limited without the ability to write well. According to achievement data, only a quarter of students in the United States are proficient writers, indicating a significant need for improvement in writing instruction. One contributing factor to this problem is the lack of school and district leadership in writing instruction. School improvement efforts are often concentrated on reading and math, leaving writing instruction overlooked. Additionally, issues related to writer identities, self-efficacy in writing, and educator training can also impact the effectiveness of instructional leadership in this critical subject. Instructional Leadership Efforts and Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Writing Instruction, edited by Jennifer VanSlander of Columbus State University, provides within this peer-reviewed research book an exploration of evidence-based practices aimed at developing instructional leaders and enhancing student achievement in writing. It covers a broad range of topics related to writing instruction, including learning theories, conceptual models, and the latest empirical research associated with the supervision, organization, implementation, and monitoring of writing programs and instructional approaches. With its emphasis on writer identities, self-efficacy, equitable and inclusive practices, curriculum planning and implementation, assessment, instructional frameworks, and managing instructional change, this book provides educators with a comprehensive guide to improving writing instruction. It is an essential resource for educators who seek to increase the effectiveness of instructional leadership and writing instruction at the classroom, school, or district level.

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Book SynopsisWriting is a critical skill for academic and professional success, yet it is often neglected in schools. This problem is compounded by the fact that access to opportunities is limited without the ability to write well. According to achievement data, only a quarter of students in the United States are proficient writers, indicating a significant need for improvement in writing instruction. One contributing factor to this problem is the lack of school and district leadership in writing instruction. School improvement efforts are often concentrated on reading and math, leaving writing instruction overlooked. Additionally, issues related to writer identities, self-efficacy in writing, and educator training can also impact the effectiveness of instructional leadership in this critical subject. Instructional Leadership Efforts and Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Writing Instruction, edited by Jennifer VanSlander of Columbus State University, provides within this peer-reviewed research book an exploration of evidence-based practices aimed at developing instructional leaders and enhancing student achievement in writing. It covers a broad range of topics related to writing instruction, including learning theories, conceptual models, and the latest empirical research associated with the supervision, organization, implementation, and monitoring of writing programs and instructional approaches. With its emphasis on writer identities, self-efficacy, equitable and inclusive practices, curriculum planning and implementation, assessment, instructional frameworks, and managing instructional change, this book provides educators with a comprehensive guide to improving writing instruction. It is an essential resource for educators who seek to increase the effectiveness of instructional leadership and writing instruction at the classroom, school, or district level.

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Book SynopsisTeaching Creative Thinking: Developing Learners Who Generate Ideas and Can Think Critically defines and demystifies the essence of creative thinking, and offers action-oriented and research-informed suggestions as to how it can best be developed in learners. Where once it was enough to know and do things, young people now need more than subject knowledge in order to thrive: they need capabilities. Teaching Creative Thinking is the first title in the three-part Pedagogy for a Changing World series, founded upon Lucas and Spencer's philosophy of dispositional teaching - a pedagogical approach which aims to cultivate in learners certain dispositions that evidence suggests are going to be valuable to them both at school and in later life. A key capability is creative thinking, and, in 2021, one of the guardians of global comparative standards, PISA, is recognising its importance by making creative thinking the `innovative assessment domain' to supplement their testing of 15-year-olds' core capabilities in English, maths and science. Creative thinkers are inquisitive, collaborative, imaginative, persistent and disciplined - and schools which foster these habits of mind in learners need to be creative in engaging children and young people by embedding creativity into their everyday educational experiences. In this extensive enquiry into the nature and nurture of creative thinking, the authors explore the effectiveness of various pedagogical approaches - including problem-based learning, growth mindset, playful experimentation and the classroom as a learning community - and provide a wealth of tried-and-tested classroom strategies that will boost learners' critical and creative thinking skills. The book is structured in an easy-to-access format, combining a comprehensive listing of practical ideas to stimulate lesson planning with expert guidance on integrating them into your practice, followed by plenty of inventive suggestions as to how learners' progress can be assessed and tracked along the way - by both the pupil and the teacher. The authors then go further to offer exemplars of success by presenting case studies of schools' innovations in adopting these approaches, and dedicate a chapter to dispelling any pressing doubts that teachers may have by exposing the potential pitfalls and offering advice on how to avoid them. Venturing beyond the classroom setting, Teaching Creative Thinking also delves into the ways in which a school can work towards the provision of co-curricular experiences - such as partnering with a range of external community groups - and better engage its leadership team and pupils' parents with the idea of creative thinking in order to support learners with opportunities to grow. The authors offer many examples which will inspire schools to do just this, and collate these ideas into building a framework for learning that equips young people in schools today with the twenty-first century skills and capabilities that will enable them to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow. Replete with research-led insight and ready-to-use strategies, Teaching Creative Thinking is a powerful call to action and a practical handbook for all teachers and leaders, in both primary and secondary settings, who want to embed a capabilities approach in their schools.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Creative ThinkingChapter 2: Cultivating Creative ThinkersChapter 3: Getting GoingChapter 4: Going DeeperChapter 5: Promising PracticesChapter 6: Signs of SuccessChapter 7: Creative Challenges

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Book SynopsisIn recent years the emphasis has shifted away from a focus on pedagogy (the how of teaching) and towards curriculum (the what of teaching). Ofsted's revised inspection framework reflects this shift, and their plans to -deep dive- into subject areas - meaning that teachers and department heads now need a much greater understanding of curricular structures - leave many educators having to think about their subject in new ways. Luckily for geography teachers, however, bestselling author Mark Enser provides plenty of insightful, subject-specific guidance in this all-encompassing book. Mark explores both the purpose of the geography curriculum and its various applications in practice. He details how teachers can take their students' learning beyond the acquisition of knowledge to transform how they see the world. He also tackles the changing nature of school geography, shares a variety of case studies, and offers his take on how best to facilitate geographical enquiry and fieldwork. The first part of the book considers the issue of purpose by looking at the role of the school in society and then shows the place that geography occupies within it. It also considers the history of the subject so as to help geography teachers better understand where they stand today, and concludes by discussing how the concepts of powerful knowledge and GeoCapabilities can help them find their way again. The second part is a practical guide which illustrates how to put this theory of curriculum purpose into practice. It explores the steps which must be taken to create a powerful geography curriculum by deciding on content and places to be studied, putting the components into a sequence and then using all this to do geography. It will also discuss the extent to which teachers need to consider the future and respond to the concerns of the wider world when planning the curriculum. Suitable for department heads and classroom teachers of geography in secondary schools and subject leads in primary schools.

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Book SynopsisCo-authored by Zoe Enser and Mark Enser, The CPD Curriculum: Creating conditions for growth shares expert and practical guidance for schools on designing and delivering continuing professional development (CPD) that truly lives up to its name. There is a wealth of research available on professional learning, from both within and outside the education sphere, and in this book Zoe and Mark pull it all together to help school leaders optimise teachers' ongoing learning and growth. Zoe and Mark explain how schools can overcome issues with CPD that can leave teachers plateauing in their development after just a few years, and share a variety of case studies that illustrate the key components of an effective CPD programme that builds on teachers' prior knowledge. The authors spell out the importance of CPD and explain how, when done well, it gives teachers the agency to make professional decisions informed by the best evidence and experience they have to hand. Furthermore, they explore how high-quality professional development contributes not only to a collaborative culture within the school staff team and enhanced job satisfaction for teachers, but also to improved student outcomes. Split into three parts - intent, implementation and impact - the book covers a range of key areas, including: coaching and mentoring, subject-specific CPD, empowerment and self-efficacy, delivery methods and quality of materials. They also examine the current issues and common pitfalls surrounding CPD and offer guidance on how it can be improved, with clear end goals in mind. Suitable for school leaders, heads of department and CPD leads in all settings.Trade ReviewIf we are serious about creating the conditions for growth, as the subtitle of this book proposes, then we need to get our heads around some knotty problems. One example: why does so much CPD treat all teachers as novices and so concentrates on training them in certain techniques? What about the paradox of talking about encouraging a culture of celebration and learning from errors in classrooms and yet discouraging this approach for staff? The CPD Curriculum provides insights into these tensions and, owing to their trawl through the literature and some impressive case studies, Zoe and Mark provide a template for more intentional, thoughtful practice. Highly recommended.Mary MyattThe CPD Curriculum provides a really good overview of current issues and related research around teachers' professional learning and will certainly spur leaders on, encouraging them to focus on this all-important aspect of school life. The wide range of case studies is the book's great strength, in which experienced practitioners such as Chris Moyse, Kat Howard, Jack Tavassoly-Marsh and Becka Lynch share insightful perspectives on professional learning.Tom SherringtonFrom the moment I read the dedication to this brilliant book I was hooked. It was as if Zoe and Mark could see into my memories of the endless hours of pointless CPD I'd endured over the last 15 years. For years, teachers have been crying out for more teacher-centred development - and this book definitely answers that call. Packed full of research and musings on teacher development from the great and good in education, it is a thorough and robust exploration of the "why" of CPD and the reasons why schools sometimes don't get it right. As the authors state, great teacher development should be part of a bigger picture and a shared vision that all teachers are working towards and in which each teacher is an essential component to complete the picture. If more teachers felt this sense of importance and autonomy, then surely we could help to solve the retention crisis? The CPD Curriculum is not just an essential book for those in charge of staff development in schools, it is a must-read for all teachers who feel anchorless and adrift on the vast ocean of CPD. It will be your stay.Haili HughesWhen Viviane Robinson was asked by the New Zealand government to conduct a review of school leadership research into what school leaders did that made the biggest difference to pupil outcomes, her team identified five key factors. The most important of these, at least twice as impactful as any of the other factors, was effectively about supporting teachers to become better teachers. Yet this research also suggested that school leaders spend as little as 16% of their time on this important work. In this timely book, Zoe and Mark Enser not only make a compelling case for why CPD matters and what great CPD looks like, they crucially identify the difference between learning and development. Only the latter will make a long-term and sustained impact on teacher professional practice and pupil outcomes. Superbly evidenced and elegantly structured, this book is a manifesto for what great CPD can be and yet so often isn't. Backed up by powerful case studies from an impressive array of contributors, it brings alive what the very best of our schools are already doing. As they candidly acknowledge themselves, reading this book won't make any difference in itself, but if every head and senior leader had access to the excellent thinking and analysis in this text, we would at least have a fighting chance of making CPD something teachers and support staff up and down the land will both look forward to and value. Our profession deserves nothing less.Andy BuckThe CPD Curriculum grabbed my attention right from the dedication: "to every teacher who has ever sat in a hall after school and thought 'there must be a better way'". Sadly, I suspect there are more of us who have felt like this than those who have not. Research tells us that, despite very well-intentioned efforts, teachers' CPD is still yet to bear the fruits of our labour in terms of the positive impact on student outcomes, the financial cost of resources and, most importantly, the take-up of people's time. There has to be a better way - and Zoe and Mark Enser show us how in The CPD Curriculum, taking the time to consider what teachers need to know and how best to teach it, all with the same level of care and thought we would apply to our students' curriculum design and implementation. With a powerful blend of synthesised evidence-informed ideas and pragmatic insights from their own experiences and those offered in the case studies, this book acts as a highly effective tool to ensure that more CPD in schools leaves teachers energised and with a greater sense of efficacy, satisfaction and agency.Kathryn MorganIn The CPD Curriculum, Zoe and Mark Enser model a road to a CPD utopia and carefully detail how to put this into place in our schools. We are shown that the typical CPD course, with its deluge of information thrown at teachers, rarely has meaningful impact. Instead, in this book we are introduced to a new model of CPD which integrates experience and theory, and always has its end goal in sight. We are scaffolded with strategies to ensure we nurture teachers who are active rather than passive participants in the process. The CPD Curriculum explores a holistic approach to our aims to improve, where motivation of our teachers is key.The cycle utilised to ensure vision is translated into reality is key - involving theory, exploration, experience and reflection. We are guided to make the move from instruction to induction, trusting and valuing the role of teachers in their development.The CPD Curriculum takes you to the very heart of just how fantastic CPD has the potential to be a game changer for your school, when developed within the right culture. As described by the authors, this book is a call to revolution - and every brave school leader should be answering the call. I certainly will be. Essential readingChris DysonSo much of the CPD that is offered to teachers, or even imposed upon them, fails to take account of two simple but vital elements: teacher autonomy and career-stage relevance. In The CPD Curriculum, Zoe and Mark not only highlight these issues (among many others) but they ask the pertinent questions needed to help the reader re-evaluate and redesign the CPD offering in their own school. Excellent CPD can take many forms and this is reflected by the authors' selection of highly useful case studies, each of which approach the CPD conundrum from different directions. The long-term and personalised CPD approach advocated is a refreshing change from some of the top-down efforts of Whitehall, Ofsted and some MATs, in that Zoe and Mark recognise that effective development of staff cannot be achieved solely through one-off sessions or from telling staff what they need to work on. Instead, this book provides the inspiration needed for taking action and a highly practical blueprint for becoming better teachers over time. After all, CPD isn't a thing you complete on Thursday afternoon, but rather is a lifelong journey of growth towards expertise. To this end, The CPD Curriculum is the perfect travel companion for the way ahead.Andy McHugh

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