Best of
Teachers

2009

Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood


Phillip Done - 2009
    Starting with the relative calm before the storm of buying school supplies and posting class lists, he shares the distinct personalities of grades K-4, what he learned from two professional trick or treating 8-year-old boys, the art of learning cursive and letter-writing, how kindergartners try to trap leprechauns, and what every child should experience before he or she grows up. These charming, sweet, and funny tales of Mr. Done's trials and triumphs as an award-winning schoolteacher will touch readers' hearts and remind them of the true joys of childhood. We all have that one special, favorite grade school teacher whom we fondly remember throughout our adult lives - and every teacher also has students whom they will never forget. This is the perfect book for teachers, parents, and anyone else who is looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic read.

There Is an Urgency


Gregrhi Arawn Love - 2009
    With Howard in prison, the only father he knew as a child was Bobby, his mother's pimp, drug dealer, and lover. In 1980, he was placed in his first foster home. While foster care was often horrifying, nothing compared to the daily near-death experiences he survived living in Father Panik Village with Bobby and Debbie. On May 23, 1980 his coerced testimony sent Debbie to prison. Now a grown man, Mr. Love uses his childhood traumas to change lives. Working as a teacher allows him to use the experiences of his life to help children who live in a similar world. His experiences give him a perspective most people do not have and knowledge that cannot be obtained from any textbook. There Is An Urgency explores these experiences in an effort to make others aware that people like him walk among us every day. There Is An Urgency is inimitable in that it juxtaposes Mr. Love's experiences as an adult, working with children in school and juvenile detention settings, with personal accounts of physical and sexual abuse from his childhood. There Is An Urgency to share this story of hard won hope and resilience after years of terrifying abuse by a real life monster.

Moonrunner


Mark Thomason - 2009
    It is the 1890s and 12-year-old Casey has just moved to Australia. He misses his home in Montana and his friends, but most of all he misses the wild mustangs. When Casey discovers a herd of wild brumbies he develops a bond with a stallion, Moonrunner, that changes his life.

Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching


Julie Vargas - 2009
    The mission of this book is to provide teachers and other human service professionals specific tools they can use to teach more effectively without using the punitive methods that are too often part of educational practices. At the same time, the book explains the behavioral science on which behavioral practices are based.This text is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in teacher education, special education, physical education, and educational psychology as well as for practicing teachers who would like to know what behavior analysis has to offer. The book is also appropriate for students in school psychology, school counseling, school social work and other human service areas. A course using this book as its basic text would qualify as one of the five courses required to sit for the credentialling exams given by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.Outstanding features include:Classroom Focus - The book seamlessly integrates behaviour management with effective instruction within a classroom context. It focuses on practical steps that teachers can take in any classroom setting to improve performance and reduce disruptions. It explains topics that teachers frequently encounter such as functional analysis, functional assessment, and behavior support plans. It addresses from a behavior analysis framework recent advances in Tag teaching, Precision Teaching, and verbal behavior. Exercises at the end of each chapter provide quick checks on basic concepts and problem-solving exercises, with answers where appropriatePresentation - The author is an exceptionally clear writer who uses a wealth of real (not imaginary) classroom examples.Pedagogy - The pedagogy follows behavior-analytic principles including clear behavioral objectives and coordinated end-of-chapter exercises. The book contains an end-of-book glossary and bibliography.Website - A coordinated website provides additional web-based quizzes, illustrative video clips, and guidelines for research projects that can be done as part of course requirements.

Owning Up Curriculum: Empowering Adolescents to Confront Social Cruelty, Bullying, and Injustice


Rosalind Wiseman - 2009
    The Owning Up Curriculum, written and developed by Rosalind Wiseman, author of The New York Times bestseller Queen Bees and Wannabes, provides a structured program for teaching students to own up and take responsibility for their behavior. The curriculum is designed for adolescent groups in schools and other settings. The Owning Up Curriculum presents a unique and comprehensive approach to preventing youth violence by targeting the root causes of bullying and other forms of social cruelty. It addresses issues such as racism, classism, and homophobia, as well as moral courage, perseverance, and commitment to ethical behavior. Separate sessions for girls and for boys combine group discussions, games, role-playing, and other activities to engage students in understanding the complexities of adolescent social culture. A CD-ROM of reproducible program forms and student handouts is included with the curriculum.

Helen Keller: Courage in Darkness


Emma Carlson Berne - 2009
    As a mature, confident woman, she showed the world that people with disabilities should not-and would not-be pushed aside. Helen was a wild, uncontrollable child who was frustrated by her inability to communicate with others. But after nearly two decades of work led by her teacher, Annie Sullivan, Helen not only learned to express herself through language, she became an author, a political activist, a lecturer, and a vaudeville performer. She worked tirelessly as an advocate and fundraiser on behalf of blind and deaf people. Helen Keller has enabled generations of people with similar challenges to excel beyond their wildest dreams.

Better Than Book Reports: More Than 40 Creative Responses to Literature


Christine Boardman Moen - 2009
    Activities include easy instructions, links to literature, and a student sample. A number of reproducible template pages are also included.What's new in the revised and updated edition:* Activities correlate to the language-arts standards* Labels show which activities can be used with fiction, nonfiction, or other types of literature* Grade-level book lists include favorite classics as well as new releases* Additional book lists are provided for upper elementary readers* Tech tips help teachers integrate technology in their activity goals For use with Grades 2–6.

Think Fair Trade First!


Ingrid Hess - 2009
    With the help of Aunt Mabel, the two children discover the world of Fair Trade and learn about how shopping wisely can help improve many people's lives around the world.

Motivating Every Learner


Alan McLean - 2009
    Alan McLean's very practical approach shows teachers how to understand children's learning stances--the modes of behavior that children bring with them to the classroom. Linking this to specific teaching methods, he shows how teachers can shape their teaching to help children learn more effectively.Chapters cover:- What makes pupils tick?- What pupils do to motivate themselves- Understanding children's emotions- What teachers can do to motivate pupils- Personality styles and how to work with them effectively- Children's learning stancesAlan McLean is Principal Educational Psychologist at Glasgow City Council.