Best of
Teaching

2015

The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers


Jennifer Serravallo - 2015
    Learn more. With hit books that support strategic reading through conferring, small groups, and assessment, Jen Serravallo gets emails almost daily asking, Isn't there a book of the strategies themselves? Now there is.Strategies make the often invisible work of reading actionable and visible, Jen writes. In The Reading Strategies Book, she collects 300 strategies to share with readers in support of thirteen goals-everything from fluency to literary analysis. Each strategy is cross-linked to skills, genres, and Fountas & Pinnell reading levels to give you just-right teaching, just in time. With Jen's help you'll:develop goals for every reader give students step-by-step strategies for skilled reading guide readers with prompts aligned to the strategies adjust instruction to meet individual needs with Jen's Teaching Tips craft demonstrations and explanations with her Lesson Language learn more with Hat Tips to the work of influential teacher-authors. Whether you use readers workshop, Daily 5/CAFE, guided reading, balanced reading, a core reading program, whole-class novels, or any other approach, The Reading Strategies Book will complement and extend your teaching. Rely on it to plan and implement goal-directed, differentiated instruction for individuals, small groups, and whole classes.We offer strategies to readers to put the work in doable terms for those who are still practicing, writes Jen Serravallo. The goal is not that they can do the steps of the strategy but that they become more comfortable and competent with a new skill. With The Reading Strategies Book, you'll have ways to help your readers make progress every day.

Reading Nonfiction: Notice & Note Stances, Signposts, and Strategies


G. Kylene Beers - 2015
    No matter the content area, with Reading Nonfiction's classroom-tested suggestions, you'll lead kids toward skillful and responsible disciplinary literacy.Picking up where their smash hit Notice & Note left off, Kylene Beers and Bob Probst write: "Fiction invites us into the writer's imagined world; nonfiction intrudes into ours and purports to tell us something about it." This crucial difference increases the responsibility of the nonfiction reader, so Kylene and Bob have developed interlocking scaffolds that every student can use to go beyond a superficial reading:3 essential questions that set students up for closer, more attentive readings of nonfiction texts 5 Notice & Note nonfiction signposts that cue kids to apply the skills and processes that sophisticated readers use instinctively 7 proven strategies readers can use to clear up confusions when the text gets tough. We all know the value of helping students define nonfiction and understand its text structures. Reading Nonfiction goes the next crucial step-helping kids challenge the claims of nonfiction authors, be challenged by them, and skillfully and rigorously make up their mind about purported truths.

In the Best Interest of Students: Staying True to What Works in the ELA Classroom


Kelly Gallagher - 2015
    He takes the long view, reminding us that standards come and go but good teaching remains grounded in proven practices that sharpen students’ literacy skills.Instead of blindly adhering to the latest standards movement, Gallagher suggests:Increasing the amount of reading and writing students are doing while giving students more choice around those activitiesBalancing rigorous, high-quality literature and non-fiction works with student-selected titlesEncouraging readers to deepen their comprehension by moving beyond the “four corners of the text”Planning lessons that move beyond Common Core expectations to help young writers achieve more authenticity through the blending of genresUsing modeling to enrich students’ writing skills in the prewriting, drafting, and revision stagesResisting the de-emphasis of narrative and imaginative reading and writingAmid the frenzy of trying to teach to a new set of standards, Kelly Gallagher is a strong voice of reason, reminding us that instruction should be anchored around one guiding question: What is in the best interest of our students?

What's Math Got to Do with It?: How Teachers and Parents Can Transform Mathematics Learning and Inspire Success


Jo Boaler - 2015
    Featuring all the important advice and suggestions in the original edition of What’s Math Got to Do with It?, this revised edition is now updated with new research on the brain and mathematics that is revolutionizing scientists’ understanding of learning and potential.As always Jo Boaler presents research findings through practical ideas that can be used in classrooms and homes. The new What’s Math Got to Do with It? prepares teachers and parents for the Common Core, shares Boaler’s work on ways to teach mathematics for a “growth mindset,” and includes a range of advice to inspire teachers and parents to give their students the best mathematical experience possible.

Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding, Grades 3-10


Cathy Humphreys - 2015
    Authors Ruth Parker and Cathy Humphreys introduce  Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding, Grades 3-10 , taking the readers into classrooms where their Number Talks routines are taught.Parker and Humphreys apply their 15 minute lessons to inspire and initiate math talks. Through vignettes in the book, you'll meet other teachers learning how to listen closely to students and how to prompt them into figuring out solutions to problems. You will learn how to make on-the-spot decisions, continually advancing and deepening the conversation.  Making Number Talks Matter  includes:Sample Problems: Making Number Talks Matter is filled with a range of Number Talks problems, 10-15 minute warm-up routines that lend themselves to mental math and comparison of strategiesNavigating Rough Spots: Learn how to create a safe environment for tricky, problematic, or challenging student discussions that can arise when talking through problems and sharing ideasResponding to Mistakes: Ways to handle misconceptions and mathematical errors that come up during the course of Number Talk conversations Making Number Talks Matter  is filled with teaching tips for honoring student contributions while still correcting errors, and teaching concepts while nudging independent thinking. Through daily practice and open conversation, you can build a solid foundation for the study of mathematics and make Number Talks Matter.

The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity


George Couros - 2015
    How you, as an educator, respond to students’ natural curiosity can help further their own exploration and shape the way they learn today and in the future.The traditional system of education requires students to hold their questions and compliantly stick to the scheduled curriculum. But our job as educators is to provide new and better opportunities for our students. It’s time to recognize that compliance doesn’t foster innovation, encourage critical thinking, or inspire creativity—and those are the skills our students need to succeed.In THE INNOVATOR'S MINDSET, George Couros encourages teachers and administrators to empower their learners to wonder, to explore—and to become forward-thinking leaders. If we want innovative students, we need innovative educators. In other words, innovation begins with you. Ultimately, innovation is not about a skill set but about mindset.THE INNOVATOR'S MINDSET is for you if: •You are a superintendent, district administrator, or principal who wants to empower your staff to create a culture of innovation.•You are a school leader—at any level—and want help students and educators become their personal best.•You are a teacher who wants to create relevant learning experiences and help students develop the skills they need to be successful.THE INNOVATOR'S MINDSET includes practical suggestions for unleashing your students’ and teachers’ talent. You’ll also read encouraging accounts of leaders and learners who are innovating “inside the box.” You'll be inspired to:•Connect with other innovative educators•Support teachers and leaders as learners •Tap into the strengths of your learning community•Create ongoing opportunities for innovation•Seek more effective methods for measuring progress •And, most importantly, embrace change and use it to do something amazing

Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day...No Matter What


Angela Watson - 2015
    Students can tell when we’re just going through the motions. But how can you summon the energy to teach with passion when there are so many distractions from what really matters? And if you barely have time for taking care of yourself, how can you have anything left to give your students? Don’t wait for teaching to become fun again: plan for it! Your enthusiasm will become unshakeable as you learn how to: Create curriculum “bright spots” that you can’t wait to teach Gain energy from kids instead of letting them drain you Uncover meaning and purpose for every single lesson Incorporate playfulness and make real connections with kids Stop letting test scores and evaluations define your success Construct a self-running classroom that frees you to teach Establish healthy, balanced habits for bringing work home Say “no” without guilt and make your “yes” really count Determine what matters most and let go of the rest Innovate and adapt to make teaching an adventure Unshakeable is more than a collection of inspiring mindset shifts and practical, teacher-tested ideas for getting more satisfaction from your job. It’s a set of practices to help you find your inner drive and an intrinsic motivation that no one can take away. It’s an approach that helps you incorporate a love of life into your teaching, and a love of teaching into your life. Learn how to tap into what makes teaching inherently rewarding and enjoy your work every day … no matter what.

Writing with Mentors: How to Reach Every Writer in the Room Using Current, Engaging Mentor Texts


Allison Marchetti - 2015
    In this practical guide, they provide savvy strategies for:--finding and storing fresh new mentor texts, from trusted traditional sources to the social mediums of the day --grouping mentor texts in clusters that show a diverse range of topics, styles, and approaches --teaching with lessons that demonstrate the enormous potential of mentor texts at every stage of the writing process.In chapters that follow the scaffolded instruction Allison and Rebekah use in their own classrooms, you'll discover how using mentor texts can unfold across the year, from inspiration and planning to drafting, revising, and "going public" in final publication. Along the way, you'll find yourself reaching every writer in the room, whatever their needs. "Our hope in this book," they write, "is to show you a way mentors can help you teach anything you need or want to teach in writing. A way that is grounded in the work of real writers and the real reading you do every day. A way that is sustainable and fresh, and will serve your students long after they leave your classroom."

Learn Like a PIRATE: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and Succeed


Paul Solarz - 2015
    Empowerment. Student Leadership. These buzz words get a lot of press, but what do they really mean for today's students? Can students really handle the responsibility of leading the class? Can they actually learn what they need to if they are working together so often? Won't all this freedom cause chaos in the classroom? Not if you're teaching them to learn like PIRATES! Peer Collaboration builds community and supports teamwork and cooperation. Improvement-focused learning challenges students to constantly strive to be their best. Responsibility for daily tasks builds ownership in the classroom. Active learning turns boring lessons into fun and memorable experiences. Twenty-first century skills engage students now and prepare them for their futures. Empowerment allows students to become confident risk-takers who make bold decisions. In Learn Like a PIRATE, teachers will discover practical strategies for creating a student-led classroom in which students are inspired and empowered to take charge of their learning experience. You'll learn strategies for: - Crafting active, relevant, and interesting lessons - Creating opportunities for student leadership - Providing effective and beneficial feedback - Instilling confidence so students can take risks - Increasing curiosity and passion for learning Incorporate the techniques and strategies Paul Solarz uses in his student-led classroom and watch your students transform into confident, collaborative leaders."In Learn Like a PIRATE, Paul Solarz explains how to design classroom experiences that encourage students to take risks and explore their passions in a stimulating, motivating, and supportive environment where improvement, rather than grades, is the focus. The particular techniques (and the underlying philosophy) he offers are highly consistent with teaching practice at the distinguished level in my Framework for Teaching. In that model, I tried to describe, at the distinguished level, classrooms in which the teacher has created a community of learners, with the students themselves assuming much of the responsibility for what occurs there. Mr. Solarz offers specific ideas for how to accomplish that." - Charlotte Danielson, author of Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching "As I read Learn Like A PIRATE I regretted that I was not teaching in the classroom where I would be able to work with students in the thoughtful and imaginative ways that he suggests. It is rare that we have a first hand report of the day to day practicalities of transforming classes into places where students can become self-directed, curious, interdependent learners. Paul has succeeded in sharing his passion for authentic 21st century teaching as well as inspiring us to imitate and invent our own models for preparing our students for an increasingly complex world of invention and problem solving." - Bena Kallick, Co-director of the Institute for Habits of Mind

Amplify: Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom


Katie Muhtaris - 2015
    "It's not the tools-it's what we do with them that counts.Katie and Kristin start with our most important educational goals-literacy, independence, and critical thinking-and helps you connect them to the technology available in your classroom or school. You'll help students dig into texts, research their questions, and create powerful learning communities by using digital tools effectively, responsibly, and in combination with trusted artifacts and print resources.Amplify does exactly what the title implies. "When introducing technological tools, we often apply the same practices and strategies we use in our daily teaching, but amplify their power with technology," write Katie and Kristin. "We model what we want students to do with the technology, guide them to try it out with us, provide time for practice, then share as a class." They help amplify your literacy curriculum with lessons and guidance for:explicitly teaching kids how to be effective digital readers and thinkers giving students practice with closely reading images, infographics, and video emphasizing student ownership and creativity Whether you are in a 1:1 school, want to squeeze everything you can out of the one device in your classroom, or your school is encouraging you to use more digital tools, read Amplify. You'll discover how to gradually release responsibility to empower students as you-and your students-make the most of any technology.

The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job


Karen Kelsky - 2015
     into their ideal job   Each year tens of thousands of students will, after years of hard work and enormous amounts of money, earn their Ph.D. And each year only a small percentage of them will land a job that justifies and rewards their investment. For every comfortably tenured professor or well-paid former academic, there are countless underpaid and overworked adjuncts, and many more who simply give up in frustration.   Those who do make it share an important asset that separates them from the pack: they have a plan. They understand exactly what they need to do to set themselves up for success.  They know what really moves the needle in academic job searches, how to avoid the all-too-common mistakes that sink so many of their peers, and how to decide when to point their Ph.D. toward other, non-academic options.   Karen Kelsky has made it her mission to help readers join the select few who get the most out of their Ph.D. As a former tenured professor and department head who oversaw numerous academic job searches, she knows from experience exactly what gets an academic applicant a job. And as the creator of the popular and widely respected advice site The Professor is In, she has helped countless Ph.D.’s turn themselves into stronger applicants and land their dream careers.   Now, for the first time ever, Karen has poured all her best advice into a single handy guide that addresses the most important issues facing any Ph.D., including:   -When, where, and what to publish -Writing a foolproof grant application -Cultivating references and crafting the perfect CV -Acing the job talk and campus interview -Avoiding the adjunct trap -Making the leap to nonacademic work, when the time is right  The Professor Is In addresses all of these issues, and many more.

Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools


Ron Ritchhart - 2015
    This is something all teachers want and all students deserve. In Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools, Ron Ritchhart, author of Making Thinking Visible, explains how creating a culture of thinking is more important to learning than any particular curriculum and he outlines how any school or teacher can accomplish this by leveraging 8 cultural forces: expectations, language, time, modeling, opportunities, routines, interactions, and environment.With the techniques and rich classroom vignettes throughout this book, Ritchhart shows that creating a culture of thinking is not about just adhering to a particular set of practices or a general expectation that people should be involved in thinking. A culture of thinking produces the feelings, energy, and even joy that can propel learning forward and motivate us to do what at times can be hard and challenging mental work.

In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practice


Steven L. Layne - 2015
    The practice of reading aloud to children may be viewed by some educators as an “extra”—a bit of fluff used solely for the purposes of enjoyment or filling a few spare minutes, but researchers and practitioners stand in solidarity: the practice of reading aloud throughout the grades is not only viable but also best practice.  In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practices, author Steven Layne reinforces readers’ confidence to continue the practice of reading aloud and presents the research base to defend the practice in grades K–12. Layne also offers significant practical insights to strengthen instructional practice—answering the questions of “Why should we?” and “How should we?”—and provides practical advice about how to use read-alouds most effectively. Leading researchers in the field of literacy provide position statements, authors of professional books share insights on books they have loved, leaders of the largest literacy organizations in the United States write about their favorite read-alouds, award-winning authors of children’s and young adult book (Katherine Paterson, Andrew Clements, Lois Lowry, to name a few) share the powerful behind-the-scenes stories of their greatest books, and real classroom teachers and librarians speak about books that have “lit up” their classrooms and libraries around the world. Last but not least, In Defense of Read-Aloud features many great recommendations of books to share with children.Read-aloud is an essential practice in teaching literacy in grades K–12. In this book, Steven Layne has provided everything needed to support, sustain, and celebrate the power of read-aloud.

Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties


David A Kilpatrick - 2015
    It provides a detailed discussion of the nature and causes of reading difficulties, which will help develop the knowledge and confidence needed to accurately assess why a student is struggling. Readers will learn a framework for organizing testing results from current assessment batteries such as the WJ-IV, KTEA-3, and CTOPP-2. Case studies illustrate each of the concepts covered. A thorough discussion is provided on the assessment of phonics skills, phonological awareness, word recognition, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Formatted for easy reading as well as quick reference, the text includes bullet points, icons, callout boxes, and other design elements to call attention to important information.Although a substantial amount of research has shown that most reading difficulties can be prevented or corrected, standard reading remediation efforts have proven largely ineffective. School psychologists are routinely called upon to evaluate students with reading difficulties and to make recommendations to address such difficulties. This book provides an overview of the best assessment and intervention techniques, backed by the most current research findings.Bridge the gap between research and practice Accurately assess the reason(s) why a student struggles in reading Improve reading skills using the most highly effective evidence-based techniques Reading may well be the most important thing students are taught during their school careers. It is a skill they will use every day of their lives; one that will dictate, in part, later life success. Struggling students need help now, and Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties shows how to get these students on track.

A Mindset for Learning: Teaching the Traits of Joyful, Independent Growth


Kristine Mraz - 2015
    It's like sitting next to a skillful, experienced, focused teacher in a real classroom. Kristi and Christine draw on their years of teaching and their dedication to educating children to help students become more empathic and act more thoughtfully and to prepare them with the essentials for success in an uncertain future."-Arthur Costa, author of Learning and Leading with Habits of MindWe know how to teach content and skills. But can we teach the habits of mind needed for academic success, a love of learning, and agency in the world? We can, and A Mindset for Learning shows us how."We want our students to take on challenges with zeal," write Kristi Mraz and Christine Hertz, "to see themselves not as static test scores but as agents of change." Drawing on the work of Carol Dweck, Daniel Pink, Art Costa, and others, Kristi and Christine show us how to lead students to a growth mindset for school-and life-by focusing on five crucial, research-driven attitudes:optimism-putting aside fear and resistance to learn something newpersistence-keeping at it, even when a task is hardflexibility-trying different ways to find a solutionresilience-bouncing back from setbacks and learning from failureempathy-learning by putting oneself in another person's shoes.A Mindset for Learning pairs research-psychological, neurological, and pedagogical-with practical classroom help, including instructional language, charts and visuals, teaching tips, classroom vignettes, and more."This book holds our dreams for all children," write Kristi and Christine, "that they grow to be brave in the face of risk, kind in the face of challenge, joyful and curious in all things." If you want that for your students, then help them discover A Mindset for Learning.

Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era


Tony Wagner - 2015
    But while students may graduate with credentials, by and large they lack the competencies needed to be thoughtful, engaged citizens and to get good jobs in our rapidly evolving economy. Our school system was engineered a century ago to produce a work force for a world that no longer exists. Alarmingly, our methods of schooling crush the creativity and initiative young people need to thrive in the twenty-first century. In Most Likely to Succeed, bestselling author and education expert Tony Wagner and venture capitalist Ted Dintersmith call for a complete overhaul of the function and focus of American schools, sharing insights and stories from the front lines, including profiles of successful students, teachers, parents, and business leaders. Most Likely to Succeed presents a new vision of American education, one that puts wonder, creativity, and initiative at the very heart of the learning process and prepares students for today’s economy. This book offers parents and educators a crucial guide to getting the best for their children and a roadmap for policymakers and opinion leaders.

Making Every Lesson Count: Six principles to support great teaching and learning (Making Every Lesson Count series)


Shaun Allison - 2015
    Shaun Allison and Andy Tharby examine the evidence behind what makes great teaching and explore how to implement this in the classroom to make a difference to learning. They distil teaching and learning down into six core principles - challenge, explanation, modelling, practice, feedback and questioning - and show how these can inspire an ethos of excellence and growth, not only in individual classrooms but across a whole school too. Combining robust evidence from a range of fields with the practical wisdom of experienced, effective classroom teachers, the book is a complete toolkit of strategies that teachers can use every lesson to make that lesson count. There are no gimmicky ideas here - just high impact, focused teaching that results in great learning, every lesson, every day. To demonstrate how attainable this is, the book contains a number of case studies from a number of professionals who are successfully embedding a culture of excellence and growth in their schools. Making Every Lesson Count offers an evidence-informed alternative to restrictive Ofsted-driven definitions of great teaching, empowering teachers to deliver great lessons and celebrate high-quality practice. Suitable for all teachers - including trainee teachers, NQTs, and experienced teachers - who want quick and easy ways to enhance their practice and make every lesson count.

Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education


Ken Robinson - 2015
    Now, the internationally recognized leader on creativity and human potential focuses on one of the most critical issues of our time: how to transform the nation’s troubled educational system. At a time when standardized testing businesses are raking in huge profits, when many schools are struggling, and students and educators everywhere are suffering under the strain, Robinson points the way forward. He argues for an end to our outmoded industrial educational system and proposes a highly personalized, organic approach that draws on today’s unprecedented technological and professional resources to engage all students, develop their love of learning, and enable them to face the real challenges of the twenty-first century. Filled with anecdotes, observations and recommendations from professionals on the front line of transformative education, case histories, and groundbreaking research—and written with Robinson’s trademark wit and engaging style—Creative Schools will inspire teachers, parents, and policy makers alike to rethink the real nature and purpose of education.

A Gracious Space: Spring: Daily reflections to sustain your homeschooling commitment


Julie Bogart - 2015
    Daily readings are provided to give you support and encouragement in your homeschool adventure. These 50 essays are designed to offer you new ways to think about homeschooling, comfort for when you run up against your limitations, and energy for tackling your highest aspirations! Each day's reading includes a quote from a parent or notable individual, as well as a sustaining thought to take with you through the day. These essays originally appeared on the Brave Writer Facebook page and blog, shared hundreds of times. Julie Bogart, creator of Brave Writer, shares insight gleaned from working with thousands of families over 15 years and her own homeschooling experiences (five kids, 17 years).

What If Everything You Knew about Education Was Wrong?


David Didau - 2015
    What if everything you knew about education was wrong? is just a title. Of course, you probably think a great many things that aren't wrong. The aim of the book is to help you 'murder your darlings'. David Didau will question your most deeply held assumptions about teaching and learning, expose them to the fiery eye of reason and see if they can still walk in a straight line after the experience. It seems reasonable to suggest that only if a theory or approach can withstand the fiercest scrutiny should it be encouraged in classrooms. David makes no apologies for this; why wouldn't you be sceptical of what you're told and what you think you know? As educated professionals, we ought to strive to assemble a more accurate, informed or at least considered understanding of the world around us. Here, David shares with you some tools to help you question your assumptions and assist you in picking through what you believe. He will stew findings from the shiny white laboratories of cognitive psychology, stir in a generous dash of classroom research and serve up a side order of experience and observation. Whether you spit it out or lap it up matters not. If you come out the other end having vigorously and violently disagreed with him, you'll at least have had to think hard about what you believe. The book draws on research from the field of cognitive science to expertly analyse some of the unexamined meta-beliefs in education. In Part 1; 'Why we're wrong', David dismantles what we think we know; examining cognitive traps and biases, assumptions, gut feelings and the problem of evidence. Part 2 delves deeper - 'Through the threshold' - looking at progress, liminality and threshold concepts, the science of learning, and the difference between novices and experts. In Part 3, David asks us the question 'What could we do differently?' and offers some considered insights into spacing and interleaving, the testing effect, the generation effect, reducing feedback and why difficult is desirable. While Part 4 challenges us to consider 'What else might we be getting wrong?'; cogitating formative assessment, lesson observation, grit and growth, differentiation, praise, motivation and creativity.

Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom


Matt Miller - 2015
    Author and teacher, Matt Miller shows you how to choose and incorporate teaching practices that are:   Different from what students see daily. Innovative, drawing on new ideas or modifying others' ideas. Tech-laden with the use of digital sites, tools and devices. Creative, tapping into students' original ideas as well as your own. Hands-on, encouraging students to make and try things on their own.  Packed with practical advice, specific recommendations for tools, and the encouragement you need to revolutionize your classes, Ditch That Textbook will inspire you to create relevant teaching that gets student buy-in so they'l enjoy learning. What people are saying about Ditch That Textbook: "Matt Miller's Ditch That Textbook is a book that delivers sound advice, relatable anecdotes and an actionable roadmap for educators." -- Adam Bellow, 2011 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator of the Year"In an age where many schools are still training students to work in a factory, Matt Miller moves past sweeping rhetoric and shows teachers how to move their classes into the future. This is a quick, energetic read that will leave you inspired to take the next step in your classroom!" -- Don Wettrick, Innovation Specialist and Author, Pure Genius

Mindsets and Moves: Strategies That Help Readers Take Charge [Grades K-8]


Gravity Goldberg - 2015
    The way forward Gravity says lies in admiring, studying, and really getting to know your students. Easily replicable in any setting, any time, her 4 Ms framework ultimately lightens your load because it allows students to monitor and direct their reading lives.Miner: Uncovering Students' Reading Processes (Focus: Assessment) Mirror: Giving Feedback That Reinforces a Growth Mindset (Focus: Feedback) Model: Showing Readers What We Do (Focus: Demonstration) Mentor: Guiding Students to Try New Ways of Reading (Focus: Guided Practice and Coaching)

Teaching Arguments: Rhetorical Comprehension, Critique, and Response


Jennifer Fletcher - 2015
    Students need to know how writers’ and speakers’ choices are shaped by elements of the rhetorical situation, including audience, occasion, and purpose. In Teaching Arguments: Rhetorical Comprehension, Critique, and Response , Jennifer Fletcher provides teachers with engaging classroom activities, writing prompts, graphic organizers, and student samples to help students at all levels read, write, listen, speak, and think rhetorically. Fletcher believes that, with appropriate scaffolding and encouragement, all students can learn a rhetorical approach to argument and gain access to rigorous academic content. Teaching Arguments opens the door and helps them pay closer attention to the acts of meaning around them, to notice persuasive strategies that might not be apparent at first glance. When we analyze and develop arguments, we have to consider more than just the printed words on the page. We have to evaluate multiple perspectives; the tension between belief and doubt; the interplay of reason, character, and emotion; the dynamics of occasion, audience, and purpose; and how our own identities shape what we read and write. Rhetoric teaches us how to do these things. Teaching Arguments will help students learn to move beyond a superficial response to texts so they can analyze and craft sophisticated, persuasive arguments—a major cornerstone for being not just college-and career-ready but ready for the challenges of the world.

Don't Reply All: 18 Email Tactics That Help You Write Better Emails and Improve Communication with Your Team


Hassan Osman - 2015
    You'll get research-based guidelines for improving the way you communicate with your team members. Here is a partial list of what's covered:  -How to use the "3Ws" to clearly assign tasks in emails and get things done. -Four recommendations to help you create powerful subject lines to ensure that your emails are read. -How to use "If...then..." statements in your messages to improve clarity, increase accountability, and reduce the amount of follow-ups. -Tips to show you how to format your email so readers will easily be able to see the most important parts of your message.  -How to list questions and present options instead of asking open-ended queries to reduce back & forth emails.  -How to improve your email open-rate by using the "Delay Delivery" feature to schedule your emails in advance.  Here's what's included in the book:Tactic #1: Assign Tasks in an Email Using the "3Ws"Tactic #2: Write the Perfect Subject LineTactic #3: TL;DR - Write Emails That are Five Sentences or LessTactic #4: Break Long Emails into Two PartsTactic #5: Make Your Emails ScannableTactic #6: Show Instead of Tell by Attaching ScreenshotsTactic #7: Spell Out Time Zones, Dates, and AcronymsTactic #8: Use "If...then..." StatementsTactic #9: Present Options Instead of Asking Open-Ended Questions Tactic #10: Re-Read Your Email Once for a Content CheckTactic #11: Save Drafts of Repetitive EmailsTactic #12: Write It Now, Send It Later Using Delay DeliveryTactic #13: Don't Reply All (Unless You Absolutely Have To)Tactic #14: Reply to Questions InlineTactic #15: Reply Immediately to Time-Sensitive EmailsTactic #16: Read the Latest Email on a Thread Before RespondingTactic #17: Write the Perfect Out-of-Office (OOO) Auto ReplyTactic #18: Share the Rules of Email Ahead of Time Free Bonus As a free bonus for purchasing this book, you'll get a downloadable cheat sheet (a PDF file) that summarizes the content on one single page. You'll also get a PowerPoint presentation (a PPT file) that also summarizes the tactics in the book, but in more detail so you can share the deck with your team.

Passionate Learners: How to Engage and Empower Your Students


Pernille Ripp - 2015
    You’ll discover how to make fundamental changes to your classroom so learning becomes an exciting challenge rather than a frustrating ordeal. Based on the author’s personal experience of transforming her approach to teaching, this book outlines how to:• Build a working relationship with your students based on mutual trust, respect, and appreciation.• Be attentive to your students’ needs and share ownership of the classroom with them.• Break out of the vicious cycle of punishment and reward to control student behaviour.• Use innovative and creative lesson plans to get your students to become more engaged and intellectually-invested learners, while still meeting your state standards.• Limit homework and abandon traditional grading so that your students can make the most of their learning experiences without unnecessary stress.New to the second edition, you’ll find practical tools, such as teacher and student reflection sheets, parent questionnaires, and parent conference tools--available in the book and as eResources on our website (http://www.routledge.com/978113891692... help you build your own classroom of passionate learners.

Reading Reconsidered: A Practical Guide to Rigorous Literacy Instruction


Doug Lemov - 2015
    Our students learn their literature, history, math, science, or art via a firm foundation of strong reading skills. When we teach students to read with precision, rigor, and insight, we are truly handing over the key to the kingdom. Of all the topics we teach reading is first among equals.Grounded in advice from effective classrooms nationwide, "Reading Reconsidered" takes you into the trenches with actionable guidance from real-life educators and instructional champions. The authors address the anxiety-inducing world of Common Core State Standards, distilling from those standards four key ideas that help hone teaching practices both generally and in preparation for assessments. This 'Core of the Core, ' broken into small, easily navigable modules, comprises the first half of the book and instructs educators on how to teach students to: read harder texts, 'closely read' texts rigorously and intentionally, read nonfiction more effectively, and write more effectively in direct response to texts.The second half of "Reading Reconsidered" reinforces these principles, coupling them with the 'fundamentals' of reading instruction--a host of techniques and subject specific tools set forth by the authors to reconsider how teachers approach such essential topics as vocabulary, interactive reading, and student autonomy. "Reading Reconsidered" breaks an overly broad issue into clear, easy-to-implement approaches. Filled with practical tools including book lists, sample student work, and video clips from real classrooms, "Reading Reconsidered" provides the framework necessary for teachers to ensure that students forge futures as lifelong readers.

If You Were Me and Lived in...China: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World


Carole P. Roman - 2015
    Roman's book she had made it more exciting and interesting to know what to look for and see China which is officially known as the People's Republic of China which has a population of more the 135 billion people living there which is the most populated country in the world.You might of learned about the Yangtze River which is in the South, or the Yellow River which is located in the North. Although the capital is Beijing many people called it Peking, China has major highways, trains and expressways and the second busiest airport in the world.Children's names are picked because they have meanings so boys who are called An which means peace or Bao which is another word for treasure and Fu for happiness. Girls are called Hong because they like the color red, Yu which stands for Jade which is a gemstone or Zi which is the word for smart. What would you like to be called if you lived in China? I think I would like to be called Zi.China has some amazing places to visit like the Great Wall of China. It is a stone barricaded which was built thousands of years ago to keep strangers out of China. Nobody is sure but they believe it is about 5,500 hundred miles. Another very famous tourist site is the giant clay army that was only recently discovered that had been buried underground for more then two thousand years. You will be told that there are over eight thousand individually sculpted soldiers and about 520 statues of horses and 130 of just chariots. You will love explore the many tourist sites as you will have an opportunity to learn so much.The New year is a very fun holiday to be part of and begins at midnight with fireworks which hope that the noise will chase off the evil spirits. It is a very important day to honor your grandparents. You would receive red envelops filled with good luck money. Because the celebration last fifteen days you will get to enjoy many delicious meals but better learn how to use the chopsticks because if you drop them it could bring you bad luck. They are very superstitious people.

Pelvis with Distance


Jessica Jacobs - 2015
    A narrative-driven collection that reads like a novel, this book delves into issues of creativity, feminism, and relationships, while exploring turn-of-the last century New York City and the New Mexico high desert of the 1930s and today.

Poems From The Pond: 107 Years of Words and Wisdom - The Writings of Peggy Freydberg


Laurie David - 2015
    Please contact PoemsfromthePond@gmail.com with any questions.**Peggy Freydberg is proof positive that creativity has no age limit! Just when most people are winding way down, Peggy began writing a lifetime's worth of poems at age 90! Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks describes Peggy's poetry as having a "stunning intensity and searing emotional impact."Edited by Laurie David, these poems will resonate with anyone who is trying to unravel life's questions about life, love, fear, aging, and loss. Peggy's beautiful poetry proves it's never too late to start writing and be discovered - even if you are 107-years-old!"Reading these poems made me feel like I was being let in on a secret, a secret I'm dying to whisper to lots of other people," Billy Collins, Two-Term Poet Laureate of the United States"With an unflinching eye and a compassionate heart, Peggy Freydberg has looked deeply into what it means to live a long life. In pulse-quickening poems of stunning insight and artistry, she probes the necessity of loss and the exhilarations of love," Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist

The Power of Inquiry: Teaching and Learning with Curiosity, Creativity, and Purpose in the Contemporary Classroom


Kath Murdoch - 2015
    Organised around ten essential questions, each chapter provides both a theoretical and practical overview of the elements that combine to create learning environments rich in purpose and passion.

Explore Like a Pirate: Engage, Enrich, and Elevate Your Learners with Gamification and Game-inspired Course Design


Michael Matera - 2015
     In EXPLORE LIKE A PIRATE, Matera serves as your experienced guide to help you apply the most motivational techniques of gameplay to your classroom using strategies that work with and enhance (rather than replace) your current curriculum. Part I debunks common myths and fears about gamification and explains why and how game-based learning effectively engages students in any subject or grade level. Part II focuses on how you can empower students to take control of their learning. You’ll also learn all about the different kinds of players in your classroom—and how to inspire them to set and achieve big goals. Part III is an all-in-one treasure chest, tool box, and field guide. Packed with ideas and examples that can be applied or adapted to any classroom—from badges and points, to mini-games and yearlong adventures—this is a resource you’ll return to again and again. Join the adventure with EXPLORE LIKE A PIRATE and discover how gamification can enrich your classroom!

The 20Time Project: How educators can launch Google's formula for future-ready innovation


Kevin Brookhouser - 2015
    

If You Were Me and Lived in...Scotland: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World


Carole P. Roman - 2015
    Roman has a wonderful way of introducing younger children and their parents to different countries and this book about Scotland is excellent. We learn that Scotland occupies about a third of the island of Great Britain and is made up of more than 790 islands. Since Edinburgh is the capital, many people live, work and go to the university there where they can learn about medicine, law, engineering and science. Children call their mothers, Mathair and their fathers, Daddah. Some of the more common boys names are Ian, Connor or Malcom. Girls common names are Kelsey, Margaret and Aillen. Many people who visit take a trip to Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands. Some people claim to have seen Nessie a large dinosaur but nobody has even seen a picture of her so they are not sure if she is even there. Like here golf is a favorite sport and played on a large open field. Of course the idea of the game is the same, to get a small hard ball into a tiny hole with as few strokes as possible. After learning some of these interesting facts my family definitely would like to visit Scotland, wouldn’t you?

The Way Back to Heaven


S. Michael Wilcox - 2015
    In contrast, the prophet Jacob dreamed of a ladder sent down from heaven by God, with rungs—steps—that we could ascend to return to Him. In The Way Back to Heaven: The Parable of the Crystal Stairs, award-winning author S. Michael Wilcox helps us discern the "stairs of man" from the "stairs of God." Using the metaphor of a beautiful crystal stairway, he shows us the difference between a focus on "being and becoming" and "believing and doing" in our life's journey. While we may think we know the steps we'll need to take, the author suggests some unexpected—even counterintuitive—yet essential stairs each of us will encounter as we make our way back to our Father in Heaven.

Father, Child, Water


Gary Dop - 2015
    This is a book of honest feeling. This book believes in the sacred exchange of a smile. Father, Child, Water wants to make you laugh, wants to surprise you with sorrow, and certainly wants to remind you that you are alive.

Best Practice in the Early Years (Professional Development)


Alistair Bryce-Clegg - 2015
    The author, Alistair Bryce-Clegg is known for his original and creative ideas and witty and accessible writing style, and this book does not disappoint! It is filled with brilliant ideas covering everything you need to know as an early years practitioner, including advice for planning sessions, setting up an outstanding environment and encouraging outdoor learning activities. There is also a big focus on child-led learning and help and advice for working with parents.This book is a must for all early years practitioners and early years school teachers eager to ensure their practice is the best it can be for all of the children in their care.

In Praise of American Educators: And How They Can Become Even Better


Richard DuFour - 2015
    In this thought-provoking book, the author presents a compelling case for why contemporary American educators are the greatest generation in history. He carefully explains why current national reform policies have failed and presents specific steps policymakers, administrators, and teachers must take to transform American schools to meet student needs in the 21st century.

Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties


David A Kilpatrick - 2015
    It provides a detailed discussion of the nature and causes of reading difficulties, which will help develop the knowledge and confidence needed to accurately assess why a student is struggling. Readers will learn a framework for organizing testing results from current assessment batteries such as the WJ-IV, KTEA-3, and CTOPP-2. Case studies illustrate each of the concepts covered. A thorough discussion is provided on the assessment of phonics skills, phonological awareness, word recognition, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Formatted for easy reading as well as quick reference, the text includes bullet points, icons, callout boxes, and other design elements to call attention to important information.Although a substantial amount of research has shown that most reading difficulties can be prevented or corrected, standard reading remediation efforts have proven largely ineffective. School psychologists are routinely called upon to evaluate students with reading difficulties and to make recommendations to address such difficulties. This book provides an overview of the best assessment and intervention techniques, backed by the most current research findings.Bridge the gap between research and practice Accurately assess the reason(s) why a student struggles in reading Improve reading skills using the most highly effective evidence-based techniques Reading may well be the most important thing students are taught during their school careers. It is a skill they will use every day of their lives; one that will dictate, in part, later life success. Struggling students need help now, and Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties shows how to get these students on track.

A Kid's Guide to the Armor of God


Tony Evans - 2015
    He understands that Christian kids want to be stronger, more confident, and skilled at living an exciting God-centered life, and so he presents the unvarnished truth.Tony Evans gives kids a plan for success by explaining:Scripture reveals who's behind the world's traps and snares and how to resist him.God offers all Christians a powerful suit of armor and mighty weapons.The suit includes a belt of truth and helmet of salvation to wear and shield of faith to carry into the battle.When every piece of God's armor is worn correctly, the enemy is defeated and Christians finish victorious.By learning how to dress in the armor God provides, preteens are able to speak the truth, stand firm in the faith, and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Bonhoeffer's Seminary Vision: A Case for Costly Discipleship and Life Together


Paul R. House - 2015
    However, most of us are less familiar with his tireless work educating seminary students for a life of pastoral ministry--a role that occupied him for most of his adult life.Anchored in a variety of influential lectures, personal letters, and major works such as The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together, this book attempts to recover a largely unexamined part of Bonhoeffer's life, exploring his philosophy and practice of theological education in his original context. It then builds on this foundation to address the drift toward increasingly impersonal educational models in our own day, affirming the value of personal, face-to-face seminary education for the health of pastors and churches.

Antiracist Writing Assessment Ecologies: Teaching and Assessing Writing for a Socially Just Future


Asao B. Inoue - 2015
    Inoue theorizes classroom writing assessment as a complex system that is "more than" its interconnected elements. To explain how and why antiracist work in the writing classroom is vital to literacy learning, Inoue incorporates ideas about the white racial habitus that informs dominant discourses in the academy and other contexts. Inoue helps teachers understand the unintended racism that often occurs when teachers do not have explicit antiracist agendas in their assessments. Drawing on his own teaching and classroom inquiry, Inoue offers a heuristic for developing and critiquing writing assessment ecologies that explores seven elements of any writing assessment ecology: power, parts, purposes, people, processes, products, and places. Asao B. Inoue is Director of University Writing and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma. He has published on writing assessment, validity, and composition pedagogy in Assessing Writing, The Journal of Writing Assessment, Composition Forum, and Research in the Teaching of English, among other journals and collections. His co-edited collection Race and Writing Assessment (2012) won the CCCC's Outstanding Book Award for an edited collection.

I Am Reading: Nurturing Young Children's Meaning Making and Joyful Engagement with any Book


Kathy Collins - 2015
    -Kathy Collins and Matt GloverWhat do we see when young children interact with books before they can read the words?Kathy Collins and Matt Glover see real reading, characterized by purposeful meaning-making and opportunities for reading growth and language development."One of our biggest hopes," write Kathy and Matt, "is to help you see and value all of the powerful work young children do as readers." With I Am Reading you'll see that fostering what little ones do before they can read the words is important early instruction.Kathy and Matt show how to nurture, nudge, and instruct young readers to make meaning in any text, whether or not they are reading the words. They share: observation guides for children reading any kind of book specific descriptions of language and independence development sample reading conferences and whole-class minilessons suggestions for creating reading opportunities in preschool and reading workshops in K-1 action plans to get you going 25 online video clips of children making meaning and teachers supporting them.I Am Reading pairs two important voices in early literacy to remind us that we're teaching children, not reading levels. "In the rush toward ever higher reading levels in the early years," write Kathy and Matt, "we may fail to value the strategy use and high-level thinking children do before they are reading conventionally." Join Kathy and Matt and look anew at your young readers so you can provide the kind of support that gets them off to a great start.

Rhythm and Resistance: Teaching Poetry for Social Justice


Linda Christensen - 2015
    Rhythm and Resistance reclaims poetry as a necessary part of a larger vision of what it means to teach for justice.

Explore Like a PIRATE: Gamification and Game-Inspired Course Design to Engage, Enrich and Elevate Your Learners


Michael Matera - 2015
    In Explore Like a PIRATE, Matera serves as your experienced guide to help you apply the most motivational techniques of gameplay to your classroom using strategies that work with and enhance (rather than replace) your current curriculum. Part one debunks common myths and fears about gamification and explains why and how game-based learning effectively engages students in any subject or grade level. Part two focuses on how you can empower students to take control of their learning. You'll also learn all about the different kinds of players in your classroom - and how to inspire them to set and achieve big goals. Part three is an all-in-one treasure chest, tool box, and field guide. Packed with ideas and examples that can be applied or adapted to any classroom - from badges and points, to mini-games and yearlong adventures - this is a resource you'll return to again and again.

Mission High: One School, How Experts Tried to Fail It, and the Students and Teachers Who Made It Triumph


Kristina Rizga - 2015
    He always struggled with his reading and writing skills. Darrell's father, a single parent, couldn't afford private tutors. By the end of middle school, Darrell's grades and his confidence were at an all time low. Then everything changed.When education journalist Kristina Rizga first met Darrell at Mission High School, he was taking AP calculus class, writing a ten-page research paper, and had received several college acceptance letters. And Darrell was not an exception. More than 80 percent of Mission High seniors go to college every year, even though the school teaches large numbers of English learners and students from poor families.So, why has the federal government been threatening to close Mission High—and schools like it across the country?The United States has been on a century long road toward increased standardization in our public schools, which resulted in a system that reduces the quality of education to primarily one metric: standardized test scores. According to this number, Mission High is a “low-performing” school even though its college enrollment, graduation, attendance rates and student surveys are some of the best in the country.The qualities that matter the most in learning—skills like critical thinking, intellectual engagement, resilience, empathy, self-management, and cultural flexibility—can't be measured by multiple-choice questions designed by distant testing companies, Rizga argues, but they can be detected by skilled teachers in effective, personalized and humane classrooms that work for all students, not just the most motivated ones.Based on four years of reporting with unprecedented access, the unforgettable, intimate stories in these pages throw open the doors to America's most talked about—and arguably least understood—public school classrooms where the largely invisible voices of our smart, resilient students and their committed educators can offer a clear and hopeful blueprint for what it takes to help all students succeed.

Grammar Keepers: Lessons That Tackle Students′ Most Persistent Problems Once and for All, Grades 4-12 (Corwin Literacy)


Gretchen S. Bernabei - 2015
    . . frequently and across the grades! The biggest issue? Most of our grades 4-12 students continue to make the same old errors year after year. Grammar Keepers to the rescue, with 101 lessons that help students internalize the conventions of correctness once and for all. Bernabei’s key ingredients include Daily journal writing to increase practice and provide an authentic context Minilessons and Interactive Dialogues that model how to make grammatical choices A “Keepers 101” sheet to track teaching and “Parts of Speech Sheet” for student reference

Basic Training for the Prophetic Ministry Study Guide


Kris Vallotton - 2015
    Scripture promised that in the last days, the Holy Spirit would be poured out and the people of God would prophesy. This is the hour. This is your time.This study guide includes group activities, engaging devotional readings, and space for interactive journaling to help you activate the gift of prophecy in your everyday life.Get equipped to:Tell the difference between Old and New Covenant prophecy—and correctly operate as a New Testament prophetic voiceLearn the languages of God and hear His voice like never beforeDiscover and develop your prophetic gifts in a safe environmentStep out and confidently share words of knowledge, wisdom, and prophecyRecognize a true prophet from a false prophetDesigned for use with the Basic Training for the Prophetic Ministry DVD curriculum, these study guide exercises will help you clearly understand and confidently operatein the prophetic ministry.  Get ready to hear the voice of God in a fresh way, speak His word with power, and release hope, life, and destiny to those around you!

The Teacher You Want to Be: Essays about Children, Learning, and Teaching


Matt Glover - 2015
    It is focused on a set of strongly held beliefs that drive the actions of educators every day. Each chapter of the book is focused on a single belief and invites readers to consider what they can do to help children attend schools based on the true, authentic expressions of their teachers' beliefs. Contributions include essays by many prominent educators including Sir Ken Robinson, Deborah Meier and Thomas Newkirk. Please click on the contents tab below for a list of all 18 contributors.In 2012, a diverse group of American educators made a pilgrimage to Italy to observe instruction at a Reggio Emilia school. Their observations resulted in a desire to articulate a set of belief statements about education. This book is based on those beliefs. With this collection, the authors and editors hope to create a space in the current education conversation for teachers to know that they can teach in a way that is aligned to their beliefs.

The Savvy Music Teacher: Blueprint for Maximizing Income and Impact


David Cutler - 2015
    This comprehensive resource reveals an entrepreneurial process with lessons that cannot be found anywhere else. Armed with Cutler's expert guidance, readers will learn to develop:- A thriving studio with a transformative curriculum- Multiple income/impact streams- Innovation strategies for every aspect of business and art- Powerhouse marketing- Time management skills- Financial literacy and independence- An inspired career outlookA must-read for music students, aspiring studio owners, early career instructors, and established gurus, The Savvy Music Teacher is packed with actionable advice written in accessible language. Real-life experiences from successful teacher-entrepreneurs are featured throughout.

Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trama


Barbara Sorrels - 2015
    You are also the gateway to healing. In Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trauma, you will find the tools and strategies to connect with harmed children and start them on the path to healing. Award Winner!  Recipient of 2016 Academics' Choice Smart Book Award

Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8


William L. Bass II - 2015
    Educators William L. Bass II and Franki Sibberson believe that teachers can help students recognize their expertise in out-of-school digital reading and extend it into the world of school. For this to happen, we need to redefine reading to include digital reading and texts, learn how to support digital reading in the classroom, and embed digital tools throughout the elementary and middle school curriculum.

300+ Mathematical Pattern Puzzles


Chris McMullen - 2015
    It starts out easy with basic patterns and simple puzzles, and the challenge level grows progressively. This way, puzzlers of all ages and abilities can enjoy many of the patterns and puzzles in this book.Patterns include: Arithmetic Prime numbers Fibonacci sequence Visual puzzles Roman numerals Arrays and moreChallenge yourself and develop useful skills: pattern recognition visual discrimination analytical skills logic and reasoning analogies mathematicsAnswers and explanations for all puzzles can be found at the back of the book.Each chapter begins with a brief introduction or review of the relevant concepts, followed by 2-3 examples of pattern puzzles with explanations.

Real Homeschool: Letting Go of the Pinterest-Perfect and Instagram-Ideal Homeschool


Karen DeBeus - 2015
    Everywhere we turn, social media is screaming at us and showing us pictures of what we should be. Slowly, gradually, we start following the world and trying to bring God with us, rather than letting God lead us and then bringing the world with us!There are the desires that creep in and take my focus off of my true purpose in homeschooling. You know what I mean— when the focus becomes all about finding the best curriculum or filling up the schedule with the most extracurricular activities? Or how about decorating the perfect homeschool room? Or the hours spent online searching what others are doing, while neglecting your own time with the Lord? These are all things that have become an issue with me, and I am sure with others, especially as social media grows.I have often thought about those early homeschoolers who had no Internet or fancy curriculum but truly sought the Lord in their decision to homeschool. I admire them so much! They weren’t busy showing off their schoolrooms or their kids on Instagram; they were deep in the nitty-gritty of daily homeschool life when homeschooling wasn’t even mainstream. They weren’t spending hours on Pinterest, but probably hours in the Word.This book will challenge us to get back to the basics and fully rely on God. Pinterest and Instagram and all the other media out there are certainly not bad in and of themselves, but we do need to be aware of our hearts when using them. We must not let those things rule our standards. Only God should rule us.Will you join me as we get back to the basics? Will you join me as we endeavor to be real with each other because we need each other? Will you join me as we focus on what God wants for our homeschools and not what the world says is success?
Will you join me as we pursue Real Homeschool? Not a picture-perfect homeschool, but a real homeschool –where the rubber meets the road and it sometimes gets messy –and we work together through those messes… And then it gets beautiful…oh, so beautiful…because God is right there with us. He is working through our families on this real homeschooling journey.God has called us to this beautiful journey…and the perfect picture is the one where He is leading every step, guiding us, and our eyes are fixed solely on Him.

Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School Community


Carolyn Boyes-Watson - 2015
    This resource guide offers comprehensive step–by-step instructions for how to plan, facilitate, and implement the Circle for a variety of purposes within the school environment. It describes the basic process, essential elements and a step-by-step guide for how to organize, plan, and lead Circles. It also provides over one hundred specific lesson plans and ideas for the application of Circles in the following areas of school life:• Learning and establishing a Circle practice• Establishing and affirming community norms• Teaching and learning in Circle• Building connection and community• Promoting social-emotional skills• Facilitating important but difficult conversations• Working together as adults• Engaging parents and the wider community• Developing students as leaders in peer Circles• Using Circles for restorative disciplineWHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING ABOUT CIRCLE FORWARD:"Seeing the announcement about the ebook version of Circle Forward prompts me to drop you a line to say what an outstandingly excellent book it is. I took it away on holiday with me, and have been working more closely with it over the past two days – and I am so hugely impressed by it. The theoretical discussion (especially in the Appendix) is brilliant, and the practical guidelines for employing circles for a wide array of issues are invaluable. It presents itself as a kind of cook book for delving into when needed, and that is how I am sure I will use it in the time ahead. But I am already recommending it widely."Please convey my deep appreciation to Carolyn and Kay. They have produced a masterpiece."—Professor Chris Marshall, The Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, School of Government, Victoria University of WellingtonI am very grateful to Kay and Carolyn for their commitment to creating healthy communities for all young people, for their wisdom, and for their generosity. I cannot wait to share this wisdom with our schools—the teachers, administrators, students and their families, student support staff, educational assistants, volunteers, cooks, janitors, bus drivers, and school board members. This book is such a gift!— Nancy Riestenberg, author of Circle in the Square, School Climate Specialist, Minnesota Department of EducationIt takes skill to author a book that is both inspiring and practical. Kay and Carolyn provide a strong theoretical foundation for Circles and include extensive information about how teachers might utilize Circles in their schools and classrooms. The modules containing models for various types of Circles are extremely helpful and the appendix contains so many valuable resources. As a teacher educator looking to assist teachers as they develop both the knowledge and skills needed to effectively facilitate Circle processes, I am so excited about this book.— Kathy Evans, Assistant Professor of Education, Eastern Mennonite University, active in furthering Restorative Justice in Education (RJE), Harrisonburg, VirginiaAs a former schoolteacher and school administrator, I see this book adding positively to literature being written on this topic. You have given our teachers practical methods for using Circles in their classrooms and for creating an Ecosystem of Care in schools. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with our educators!— Robert Spicer, Restorative Justice Consultant and Community Activist: Restorative Strategies, Chicago, Illinois

A Guide to the Reading Workshop Primary Grades


Lucy Calkins - 2015
    

Learning Theories Simplified: ...and How to Apply Them to Teaching


Bob Bates - 2015
    Willingham on educational neuroscience? Written for busy teachers, trainers, managers and students, this dip-in dip-out guide makes theories of learning accessible and practical. It explores over 100 classic and contemporary learning theorists in an easy-to-use, bite-sized format with clear relevant illustrations on how each theory will benefit your teaching and learning.Each model or theory is explained in less than 350 words, many with accompanying diagrams, and the 'how to use it' sections, in less than 500 words. Every entry includes:Do it steps in order to apply the theory or modelReflection points & challenges to develop your understanding of how to apply itAnalogies & metaphors from which understanding and meaning can be drawnTips for the classroomFurther reading if you want to explore a theory in greater depth. More titles by Bob Bates: Educational Leadership Simplified A Quick Guide to Special Needs and Disabilities

Sensory Processing 101


Dayna Abraham - 2015
    You may have heard of Sensory Processing Disorder, but this book is designed to help all children - not just those with a sensory disorder. The truth is that supporting healthy sensory processing is an important part of promoting overall health in every child.With this comprehensive guide, you get three books in one, including:*Sensory Processing Explained: An explanation of each sensory system from a therapist's point of view and from the perspective of a parent and educator*Sensory Activities: Step-by-step instructions for activities you can use in everyday play with kids at home or at school to support the development of each sensory system*Sensory Resources: Resources related to sensory processing, including support groups for parents and caregivers of children who have sensory needs, cheat sheets with quick overviews of each sensory system, and moreThis full-color sensory guide is different than anything you have read before. It contains:*Information concisely presented in one place to support sensory needs at home and in the classroom *Real life stories from the classroom, home, and therapy settings*Parent friendly language *Easy to navigate format so you can find the information you need at the right moment*Extensive list of sensory behaviors with strategies, activities and resources to help you understand your child and address their sensory needs *Reproducible resources such as red flag checklists, sensory system overviews, quick materials shopping lists for sensory activities

Growing Musicians: Teaching Music in Middle School and Beyond


Bridget Sweet - 2015
    It provides a look at the importance of music courses in the lives of adolescents as they navigate the path between being a child and an adult. As every music student is completely unique, there is no one-size-fits-all prescriptive way of working with this age group. Rather, music educators must approach adolescents with high musical standards and aspirations to learn and achieve within music; a willingness to honor the individuality of each adolescent musician; a sense of structure, but an ability to be flexible; a desire to foster and promote a safe classroom environment where students feel empowered to be themselves and speak openly about what they think and believe; an understanding that music classes are not only safe places where students learn how to become better musicians but also better people through musical experiences focused on humanity and empathy; and a dose of humor, or at least the ability to acknowledge that adolescents are extremely funny whether or not they realize it. In addition, this book encourages pre-service and practicing music educators to mindfully examine and better understand their own teaching practices.

Assessment 3.0: Throw Out Your Grade Book and Inspire Learning


Mark Barnes - 2015
    The method in this book will loosen and then break your classroom's dependence on the "A-through-F" grading system that does little more than silence student voices.Delving into what really motivates students, the book covers:How GPA is a classic example of "the tail wagging the dog" Utilizing mobile devices and social networks to maximize the benefits of SE2R Addressing and overcoming bureaucratic resistance to change

Simple Starts: Making the Move to a Reader-Centered Classroom


Kari Yates - 2015
    You can fill your classroom with piles of amazing books kids will be itching to get their hands on. You can find stretches of time every single day during which kids read books they care about. You can observe, respond, and interact with your readers in powerful and meaningful ways. You can make it happen, starting today. -Kari YatesYou don't become an amazing reading teacher all at once. Someone shows you where to begin. Someone who has taught every kind of reader and coached teachers just like you. Someone like Kari Yates. Simple Starts is Kari's getting-started guide to creating the reading classroom of your dreams-and your students'. Teacher to teacher, she distills research and best practice into essentials that help you:Engage readers with books they'll love Provide kids the time for reading and discussion Nurture independence through choice Guide students' growth and yours by asking What's next? Conversational, practical, and inspirational, Simple Starts is filled with teaching strategies, quick reflection charts, example anchor charts, and teacher know-how from thirty years in classrooms and schools.What's next is simple, writes Kari Yates. You don't have to know everything about books or reading. You just need to follow a few simple steps. With Kari and Simple Starts you'll do it. So come on in! Your kids are counting on you, and it's time to bravely begin.

The Family Board Meeting: You Have 18 Summers to Create Lasting Connection with Your Children


Jim Sheils - 2015
     If you could do one thing that you knew would dramatically strengthen your family in just a few hours, would you do it? That's the question we pose in the Family Board Meeting, the simple guide to reconnecting with your children that has spread around the globe. Discover the elegant and powerful strategy that promises to: *Connect you more deeply with your children *Reduce "screen sucking" and device dependence *Make each child in your family feel important and unique *Help you feel more open and authentic with your children *Increase your happiness at home *Building an enduring family legacy of connection and memories The Family Board Meeting is a carefully designed, easy-to-follow guide to creating quality time with your children. It takes only minutes to plan your first Board Meeting... and it's guaranteed to be a ton of fun for both you and your child! Welcome to the most important meeting of your life.

Action ART: Hands-On Active Art Adventures


MaryAnn F. Kohl - 2015
    Each child-tested art activity is grouped into engaging action categories including:Smacking • Squeezing • Tapping Rolling • Spinning • Swinging Blowing • Exploding • Smooshing Tools • Toys • Utensils Up • Down • All AroundFull color photographs highlight all activities including painting, photography, collage and sculpture, each with helpful icons indicating levels for both children and adults. Action Art experiences are built on the knowledge that art for children is a creative process and not just a finished product. MaryAnn Kohl is famous around the world for encouraging children to experience creative art exploration best known as “process art”.Action Art offers 5 chapters of exciting and adventurous creative art activities, all with surprise outcomes, including – Blowing Glitter, Dancing Blottos, Bubble Wrap, Boot Walk, Clear Color Squish

The Grammar Book


Diane Larsen-Freeman - 2015
    This highly acclaimed text, used both as a course book and as a grammar reference guide, is suitable for all teachers of English. What sets it apart from other grammar books is its unique pedagogical focus: It describes not only how each grammatical construction is formed, but also its meaning and its use. Grammar is seen to be a resource for making meaning in textually and socially appropriate ways.

The Outstanding Actor: Seven Keys to Success


Ken Rea - 2015
    It also shows you how to increase the chances of having a more successful career.'Ken taught us to be dangerous, to abandon any sense of failure and to take risks – that's where to find creativity. A lesson we can never stop learning.' Orlando Bloom'The classes with Ken at Guildhall, I consider to be the most important part of the acting training. They are exercises in patience, unpredictability and encouraging students to make utter fools of themselves – vital for any actor embarking on a life in the profession.' Michelle Dockery'Ken's classes were some of the most interesting that I was lucky enough to attend at drama school. He opened the mind to what acting could be.' Ewan McGregorIncludes a foreword by Damian Lewis.

The Alien Logs of Super Jewels


B.K. Bradshaw - 2015
    Could she be an alien, a superhero, or something completely different? Join Jewels as she explores the confusing - and often hilarious - world of social expectations. Jewels' journey of self-discovery takes her to some unexpected places, and most surprising of all is finding a little bit of ourselves along the way.

This Much I Know About Love Over Fear ...: Creating a culture for truly great teaching


John Tomsett - 2015
    Weaving autobiography with an account of his experience of headship, John Tomsett explains how, in an increasingly pressurised education system, he creates the conditions in which staff and students can thrive. Too many of our state schools have become scared, soulless places. John Tomsett draws on his extensive experience and knowledge and calls for all those involved in education to find the courage to develop a leadership-wisdom which emphasises love over fear. Creating a truly great school takes patience. Ultimately, truly great schools don’t suddenly exist. You grow great teachers first, who, in turn, grow a truly great school. There is a huge fork in the road for head teachers: one route leads to executive headship across a number of schools and the other takes head teachers back into the classroom to be the head teacher. John strongly believes that if the head teacher is not teaching, or engaged in helping others to improve their teaching, in their school, then they are missing the point. The only thing head teachers need obsess themselves with is improving the quality of teaching, both their colleagues’ and their own. This Much I Know about Love Over Fear is an authentic personal narrative of teaching, leadership and discovering what really matters. It gets to the heart of what is valuable in education and offers advice for those working in schools.

Furious Dusk


David Campos - 2015
    Espaillat, judge of the 2014 Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize, describes Furious Dusk, David Campos’s winning collection, as "a work whose five parts trace a son’s efforts—only partially successful—to fulfill his father’s expectations and—perhaps even more difficult—understand those expectations enough to forgive them.” The poet's reflections are catalyzed by learning of his father’s impending death, which, in turn, forces him to examine his father’s expectations against his own evolving concept of what it means to be a man. The poems' speaker sifts through his past to find the speckles of memory that highlight the pressures to fit the mold of masculinity forged both by the Mexican culture of his father and the American culture he inhabits. The problematic norms of both rip the speaker in two directions as he recounts his father’s severe parenting, as he explores the inability to father a child, as he witnesses human suffering, as he overeats and confronts the effects on his body, and, finally, as he realizes what it means to transcend these expectations. The speaker’s epiphany frees him to reject masculine stereotypes and allows him to see himself simply as a human being. That realization, in turn, enables the speaker to see his father not only as “father,” “husband,” and “man,” but as a citizen of Earth. Through Campos’s bold imagery and accessible language and themes, he memorably adds to the continuing conversation of the effects of cultural expectations on the children of immigrant parents. "This is a fearless poetics—no heroes, no myth-making, no jazzy lingo games. David Campos is intent on one inner phrase: 'I will become the fire.' I applaud David’s first book. It is relentless in wrestling the darkness, reminiscent in some ways of Delmore Schwartz, Joan Larkin, and Victor Martinez. A tour de force, a rare heart of raw light." —Juan Felipe Herrera, California Poet Laureate “David Campos writes tenderly and with compassion about fathers, sons, and the way we become men. He writes with an original voice and fire about race, identity, and nation. He writes lyrics that skirt tightropes of impossible, beautiful contradictions. David is a Fresno poet, an American poet, a Chicano poet, and more. This is an extraordinary book of grace, I cannot recommend it highly enough.” —Chris Abani, author of Sanctificum and Hands Washing Water “A monster debut collection that refuses to go unnoticed, the same way one cannot divert their eyes from an anatomical dissection. In five deftly crafted sections, we are given an unflinching view of the poet’s own innards; from wrestling with eating disorders to father-son relations, body image, and marriage, the tendons and ligaments of a life are exposed, and the red muscle of reality is left jutting toward you, the reader. Campos’s poetry is a physical experience, a glimmering mirror that forces us to call out our own dark secrets, to be accountable and 'take comfort that we’re alive as animals.' From the same literary stomping grounds and fertile groves that first produced the fearless and prophetic Andrés Montoya himself—emerges this new and necessary breed of luminary voice.” —Tim Z. Hernandez, author of Mañana Means Heaven

Vulnerable Faith: Missional Living in the Radical Way of St. Patrick


Jamie Arpin-Ricci - 2015
    But Jamie Arpin-Ricci contends that, although St. Patrick may have been extraordinary, the sort of life he lived is available to everyone – if we only desire and accept it. This book is Arpin-Ricci’s exploration of what that sort of radical way of living might look like. Drawing from Scripture, church history and his own ministry experiences among those who live on the margins, Vulnerable Faith bridges the often enormous gap between the conceptual ideal of faithfulness we talk about in church and a genuine, practical, radical obedience to Jesus. “This book is an invitation to radical faithfulness found in willing vulnerability. Jamie Arpin- Ricci guides readers through a process of transformation, which exposes our pretense and promises new life through and beyond the cross of Christ.” —Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking “If you are intrigued by the life of early Celtic leader St. Patrick, and if you see a need for transformation in your own life, Vulnerable Faith is your invitation to take some time to explore what greater faithfulness in the people of God might look like. Jamie juxtaposes the life of St. Patrick with lessons learned from AA's Twelve Steps in a way that is refreshing and challenging. This is not for the faint-hearted but for those who want to take steps deeper into the love of God. I loved it, was inspired by it and recommend it to all who take their faith seriously.” —Christine Sine, author of Return to Our Senses "In Vulnerable Faith the life of St. Patrick meets the spirituality of the Twelve Steps. It is a surprising, potent and challenging combination, one that Jamie Arpin-Ricci uses to profound effect in setting before us a vision of Christian community characterized by loving vulnerability, sacrificial generosity and a radical welcome of the stranger into the Shalom of God's Kingdom. An inspiring and life-changing book."  —Richard Beck, author "Unclean" & "Slavery of Death"

The Day the Crayons Quit: An Instructional Guide for Literature: An Instructional Guide for Literature


Jodene Smith - 2015
    Students will love analyzing the crayons' struggles and complaints by completing age-appropriate activities and lessons provided in this guide.

The Zen Teacher: Creating Focus, Simplicity, and Tranquility in the Classroom


Dan Tricarico - 2015
    All it takes are a few moments of peace and a little focus. If you're like many teachers, your day is busy, demanding, even chaotic. But just because you live in a fast-paced, always-on world, doesn't mean your life has to feel rushed and crazy. In The Zen Teacher, educator, blogger, and speaker Dan Tricarico provides practical, easy-to-use techniques to help teachers slow down and create a sense of focus, simplicity, and tranquility in the classroom - and in life. As a teacher, you have incredible power to influence, even improve, the future. By being at your best - unrushed and fully focused - you ensure that every interaction with your students is beneficial, for them and for you. If you're new to the concept of Zen, don't worry. In this introductory guide, Dan Tricarico explains what it means to develop a Zen practice - something that has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with your ability ability to thrive in the classroom. The Zen Teacher will help you: Maximize your performance while lowering your stress. Transform your classroom and experience a better quality of life. Focus on things that really matter and let go of things you can't control. Find time to take care of yourself, so you can be at your best!

Hope and Healing in Urban Education: How Urban Activists and Teachers are Reclaiming Matters of the Heart


Shawn Ginwright - 2015
    Drawing on ethnographic case studies from around the country, this book chronicles how teacher activists employ healing strategies in stressed schools and community organizations, and work to reverse negative impacts on academic achievement and civic engagement, supporting their students to become powerful civic actors. The book argues that healing a community is a form of political action, and emphasizes the need to place healing and hope at the center of our educational and political strategies. At once a bold, revealing, and nuanced look at troubled urban communities as well as the teacher activists and community members working to reverse the damage done by generations of oppression, Hope and Healing in Urban Education examines how social change can be enacted from within to restore a sense of hope to besieged communities and counteract the effects of poverty, violence, and hopelessness.

From Master Teacher to Master Learner (Solutions)


Will Richardson - 2015
    That means emphasis in classrooms must move toward helping students develop the skills, literacies, and dispositions to be powerful, self-organized learners. Teachers who are themselves master learners in new, modern contexts are crucial to making that happen.

59 Reasons to Write: Mini-Lessons, Prompts, and Inspiration for Teachers


Kate Messner - 2015
    They must experience the same uncertainty of starting a new draft and then struggling to revise. As they learn to move past the fear of failure, they discover the nervous rush and exhilaration of sharing work with an audience, just as their students do. Only by engaging in the real work of writing can teachers become part of the writing community they dream of creating for their students.   Kate Messner’s new book, 59 Reasons to Write, shows teachers and librarians who teach writing how to be stronger role models for their students.   “Writing for my students provided me with appropriate mentor texts to share,” she writes. “Writing with my students made me a mentor and a far better teacher.”  59 Reasons to Write grew out of Messner’s popular online summer writing camp, Teachers Write. Throughout the book she offers mini-lessons, writing prompts, and bursts of inspiration designed to get you writing every day, whether on your own or as part of a group. Dozens of guest authors also share their writing processes and secrets, from brainstorming ideas and organizing research to developing characters and getting unstuck from writer’s block.  59 Reasons to Write is for anyone who has always wanted to write but never managed to get into the habit. Daily warm-ups will help you flex your writing muscles and energize your teaching. As Messner shares, “One of the greatest gifts of writing is the way it nudges us to look more closely not only at the world but also at ourselves.”

Can I Use I?: Because I Hate, Hate, Hate College Writing


Catherine Prendergast - 2015
    But keep reading.Even if you don’t like college writing—no, even if you hate college writing—this guide will get you through it. It offers clear and concise answers to your questions about writing college papers. Find out:What makes a good research question?How do I write a strong thesis statement?What if I don’t understand my assignment?How do I write an introduction?How do I answer the “so what” question?

This Is Disciplinary Literacy: Reading, Writing, Thinking, and Doing . . . Content Area by Content Area


ReLeah Cossett Lent - 2015
     In this important reference, content teachers and other educators explore why students need to understand how historians, novelists, mathematicians, and scientists use literacy in their respective fields. ReLeah shows how to teach students to:Evaluate and question evidence (Science) Compare sources and interpret events (History) Favor accuracy over elaboration (Math) Attune to voice and fi gurative language (ELA)

Write What Matters For Yourself, For Others


Tom Romano - 2015
    But sometimes they lose heart. They are cowed in the face of so many fine writers of fiction, memoir, poetry, columns, and creative nonfiction. Their confidence wanes. If you want to write, but are hesitant, let Tom Romano lift your confidence. In Write What Matters you will find discussions of writing processes that make sense, demonstrations of effective strategies to try, advice about developing productive habits to get your writing done, and examples of illuminating writing from fearless writers, both professional and novice. Your voice, your vision, your way with words matter. They are tied to your identity. You know that you are more alive when you put words on paper. Accept that you not only want to write. You need to write. Write What Matters will help you learn to dwell in your written words and craft them into writing worth reading by others.

Jumpstart! Grammar: Games and Activities for Ages 6 - 14


Pie Corbett - 2015
    Jumpstart! Grammar will prepare children for any grammar tests on the horizon in an engaging way so that they love playing with words and spinning sentences to make ideas dance. And, of course, they will be able to name the parts if that is what is required.Fun games will focus first on helping children hear the difference various types of grammar can make followed by activities to help them understand what different effects you can create with grammar. Technical terms will only be introduced once the children have established what the various features can do, with a particular focus on those terms that really help children discuss what makes language coherent and effective.This indispensable, practical book celebrates the joys of language and coherent expression; of finding just the right words or phrases to express what you want to say.

The Essential Rudolf Steiner: Theosophy: An Introduction to the Supersensible Knowledge of the World and the Destination of Man; An Esoteric Cosmology; ... Waldorf Education; How to Know Higher Worlds


Rudolf Steiner - 2015
    Collected here in this omnibus edition are five of Rudolf Steiner's most important works: 'Theosophy: An Introduction to the Supersensible Knowledge of the World and the Destination of Man,' 'An Esoteric Cosmology,' 'Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path,' 'An Introduction to Waldorf Education,' and 'How to Know Higher Worlds.' Rudolf Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, literary scholar, educator, artist, playwright, social thinker, and esotericist.

Pedagogical Documentation in Early Childhood: Sharing Children’s Learning and Teachers' Thinking


Susan Stacey - 2015
    This book supports teachers on their journey to tell the stories behind children's work and inquiry.

Mailbox: A Scattershot Novel of Racing, Dares and Danger, Occasional Nakedness, and Faith


Nancy Freund - 2015
    The USA turns 200 while scrappy agnostic Sandy Drue turns 10, finds an electric typewriter in her father's office, and begins turning out page after page on the conflicting demands of burgeoning adolescence and her own quiet search for the Meaning of Life. The result is a beguiling collection of loosely linked short stories and vignettes, gathered by a now 13-year-old Sandy into an unconventional novel structured like a blog, long before blogging. In the wake of the Watergate scandal, American society is in a state of bewilderment, the economy is fragile, and Sandy's friends are secretly reading Judy Blume -- against their mothers' warnings. The Drue family has moved from New York to Small Town USA where Sandy and her brother try to find their way to fit in. What they find instead is something ultimately more valuable. Mailbox is an unusual mother-daughter love story that is both hopeful and heartbreaking... profound and good fun.

Make Me! Understanding and Engaging Student Resistance in School


Eric Toshalis - 2015
    All too often treated as a matter of compliance, student resistance can also be understood as a form of engagement, as young people confront and negotiate new identities in the classroom environment. The focus of teachers’ efforts, Toshalis says, should not be about “managing” adolescents but about learning how to read their behavior and respond to it in developmentally productive, culturally responsive, and democratically enriching ways. Noting that the research literature is scattered across fields, Toshalis draws on four domains of inquiry: theoretical, psychological, political, and pedagogical. The result is a resource that can help teachers address this pervasive classroom challenge in ways that enhance student agency, motivation, engagement, and academic achievement. The coauthor of Understanding Youth: Adolescent Development for Educators (Harvard Education Press, 2006), Toshalis blends accessible explanations of theory and research with vignettes of interactions among educators and students. In Make Me!, Toshalis helps teachers perceive possibility, rather than pathology, in student resistance.

Ready-To-Use Resources for Mindsets in the Classroom: Everything Educators Need for School Success


Mary Cay Ricci - 2015
    The book features ready-to-use, interactive tools for students, teachers, parents, administrators, and professional development educators. Parent resources include a sample parent webpage and several growth mindset parent education tools. Other resources include: mindset observation forms, student and teacher “look fors," lists of books that contribute to growth mindset thinking, critical thinking strategy write-ups and samples, and a unique study guide for the original book that includes book study models from various schools around the country. This book is perfect for schools looking to implement the ideas in Mindsets in the Classroom so that they can build a growth mindset learning environment. When students believe that dedication and hard work can change their performance in school, they grow to become resilient, successful students. This book contains many of the things that schools need to create a growth mindset school culture in which perseverance can lead to success!

Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected


Jim Knight - 2015
     Some were good, others not so much so. But I want to have GREAT conversations, and Jim Knight has taught me how. The proof is in: better conversations are possible and the results are worth the investment.”--DOUGLAS FISHERCoauthor of Rigorous Reading and Unstoppable LearningBecause conversation is the lifeblood of any schoolYou don’t want this book—you need this book. Why this confident claim? Think about how many times you’ve walked away from school conversations, sensing they could be more productive, but at a loss for how to improve them.Enter instructional coaching expert Jim Knight, who in Better Conversations honors our capacity for improving our schools by improving our communication. Asserting that our schools are only as good as the conversations within them, Jim shows us how to adopt the habits essential to transforming the quality of our dialogues. As coaches, as administrators, as teachers, it’s time to thrive. Learn how to: Coach ourselves and each other to become better communicators Listen with empathy  Find common ground  Build Trust Our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth depends upon our doing this hard work. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, open our minds, and dare to change for the better of the students we serve. You can get started now with Better Conversationsand the accompanying Reflection Guide to Better Conversations.

Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-in World


Julie Smith - 2015
    Without question, television, films, radio, and music, the Internet, social media, news programs, and books and magazines are part of our daily lives. And while some claim that all of this media consumption is detrimental to society, the truth is it doesn't have to be. Times have changed. Technology connects us today in new and exciting ways. We have more choices and more control than ever, regarding what and when we will watch, listen to, and read. And, as Julie Smith explains in Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-in World, with that control comes a heightened level of responsibility to think critically about the content we consume. Written to help teachers and parents educate the next generation, Master the Media explains the history, purpose, and messages behind the media. The point isn't to get kids to unplug; it's to help them make informed choices, understand the difference between truth and lies, and discern perception from reality. Critical thinking leads to smarter decisions-and it's why media literacy can save the world.

Look Inside Food


Emily Bone - 2015
    It is important for children to understand food - where it comes from, what's in it, and how it affects our bodies. This is an interactive introduction which traces food production from farm to fork. Part of a collectible series, featuring subjects to "Look Inside" such as Mummies & Pyramids, Your Body, a Roman Town, a Pirate Ship, Science, and Space (winner of the Royal Society Prize for Children's Science Books).

Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice


Joseph A. Durlak - 2015
    The prominent editors and contributors describe state-of-the-art intervention and prevention programs designed to build students' skills for managing emotions, showing concern for others, making responsible decisions, and forming positive relationships. Conceptual and scientific underpinnings of SEL are explored and its relationship to children's and adolescents' academic success and mental health examined. Issues in implementing and assessing SEL programs in diverse educational settings are analyzed in depth, including the roles of school- and district-level leadership, teacher training, and school-family partnerships.

Anne of Green Gables Series: Set of 11 Books With Links to Free Audiobooks, Annotated


L.M. Montgomery - 2015
     Enjoy her stories and other books by Lucy Maud Montgomery in this collection which includes: --11 Full Length Books from the Bestselling Author Lucy Maud Montgomery --Links to 11 Free Full Length Audiobooks. Over 76 hours of Audio Entertainment! -Easy to use clickable Table of Contents, with links to each book and chapter -Bonus: A Fan Resource List of Films & TV Shows Based on the Anne of Green Gables Series All that at an unbeatable price of only 99 cents! Books Included In This Collection: -Anne of Green Gables -Anne of Avonlea -Anne of the Island: -Anne's House of Dreams: -Rainbow Valley -Rilla of Ingleside -Chronicles of Avonlea -Further Chronicles of Avonlea Plus Bonus Books: -The Story Girl -The Golden Road -Kilmeny of the Orchard ****** A talented cast of actors do dramatic readings of the books. Links to 11 Free, Full Length Audiobooks by L.M. Montgomery: -Anne of Green Gables (over 9 1/2 hours of audiobook entertainment) -Anne of Avonlea (8 1/2 hours of audio) -Anne of the Island (Almost 8 hours of audio) -Anne's House of Dreams (7 1/2 hours of audio) -Rainbow Valley (almost 9 hours of audio) -Rilla of Ingleside (11 hours of audio) -Chronicles of Avonlea (Over 6 hours of audio) -Further Chronicles of Avonlea (Over 6 1/2 hours of audio) -The Story Girl (Over 8 1/2 hours of audio) -The Golden Road (Over 7 1/2 hours of audio) -Kilmeny of the Orchard (Almost 4 hours of audio)

What If Everybody Understood Child Development?: Straight Talk About Bettering Education and Children's Lives


Rae Pica - 2015
    In this collection, she keeps kids front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and actionable insights on topics such as the Common Core, the self-esteem movement, and standardized testing. Sure to inspire discussion, this pocket-size powerhouse of educational philosophy includes29 short essays on topics critical to best practice in child development and educationOpinions of experts supported by research and anecdotal evidenceReal-life stories shared by teachers and parentsReferences to related articles and interviews with experts

The Bones of a King: Richard III Rediscovered


The Grey Friars Research Team - 2015
    "Bones of a King" presents the official behind-the-scenes story of the Grey Friars dig based directly on the research of the specialists directly involved in the discovery.?A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most exciting historical discoveries of our timeFeatures numerous photographs of the dig as well as the king's remainsExplains the scientific evidence behind his identification, including DNA retrieval and sequencing, soil samples, his wounds and his scoliosis, and what they reveal about his life, his health and even the food he ateBuilds an expansive view of Richard's life, death and burial, as well as accounts of the treatment of his body prior to burial, and his legacy in the public imagination from the time of his death to the presentThe most extensive and authoritative? book written for non-specialists by the team who discovered Richard III

English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. (with Embedded Audio & MP3) (English as a Second Language Series)


Sheila MacKechnie Murtha - 2015
    with Embedded Audio & Mp3 DownloadHelps English Language Learners Improve Their SkillsA fun guide to everything American for the English language learner!Authored by seasoned ESL instructors, this handy guidebook is perfect for people who already have a good grasp of English, but want to improve how they speak the language as it is spoken in the United States. Written in a lighthearted and easy-to-follow style, this book is a great resource for people of all ages and all nationalities. Each unit introduces commonly used phrases, vocabulary, and verbs, and offers sample dialogs to illustrate everyday American life. Sentence completions, quizzes, tips, and illustrations make learning fun. Individual units cover topics essential to the mosaic of American life: making friends, basic skills, driving, dining out, dealing with money, home life, emergency situations, doctor visits, handling a job interview, and more. To improve your pronunciation, listen to the embedded audio that accompanies this e-book or download the Mp3. The audio contains all the dialogues and pronunciation pointers found in the book so you can listen along and practice your speaking skills as you read. The dialogues are read by native speakers and are a great way to work on accent reduction. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to improve your English language skills, this is the book for you!

Anyone Can Get An A+: How To Beat Procrastination, Reduce Stress and Improve Your Grades


Geetanjali Mukherjee - 2015
    Grades in school exams and standardized tests can seem to determine your entire future, and yet many students are not able to get the grades they think they need to succeed. Anyone Can Get An A+ is a conversational, down-to-earth guide for high school and college students on how to maximize their learning and get the grades they want. This book draws on research from the fields of psychology and neuroscience, and gives students practical advice that they can implement right away, to overcome procrastination, make the most of their study time and improve their grades significantly. The book includes sections on how the right nutrition and diet can aid learning, how to organize your time and study schedule, how to keep track of all your deadlines and school-related paperwork, and how to overcome procrastination to complete your schoolwork on time. The author also discusses how students can incorporate the latest research on education and learning into their everyday study habits. Anyone Can Get An A+ contains 39 tips on various aspects of studying and preparing for exams. In this book, you will learn: -How best to prepare for exams -What is the top mistake most students make when doing exam preparation and how to avoid it -How to overcome procrastination and use your study time wisely -How to break down larger assignments into smaller chunks -How to write a paper -How to use small segments of time effectively -How to get help to understand difficult material This book includes techniques that work for both high school and college students. Although some of the examples used may resonate more easily with college students, it is never too early to start good study habits, and many of the tips translate equally to high school and college. The author herself learnt many of these techniques while preparing for board exams in high school. Anyone Can Get An A+ includes the following chapters: Chapter 1: Adopting The Right Attitude Chapter 2: Nourishing Your Mind and Body Chapter 3: Organizing Your Study Life Chapter 4: Getting The Most From Your Study Time Chapter 5: Beating Procrastination Chapter 6: Studying Effectively Chapter 7: Tackling Difficult Subjects Chapter 8: Revising For Exams

It Happens In The Hallway: Impacting School Climate Beyond the Classroom


Mark Johnson - 2015
    They have provided instruction, training, and leadership at every level from elementary school to university institutions. Through MissionMonday.com as well as the opportunity to speak at conferences and schools Mark and Sam have been able to connect with thousands of educators nationwide. This endeavor began years ago in a little coffee shop where two good friends would get together to talk about how being a teacher was going. Logically it grew beyond the classroom to changing the world. And that conversation never really stopped. It Happens In The Hallway is an extension of those conversations. Consider this your invitation to join in with us.

Schooling Beyond Measure and Other Unorthodox Essays about Education


Alfie Kohn - 2015
    Why, he asks, do we assume learning can be reduced to numerical data? What leads us to believe that standards-based grading will eliminate the inherent limitations of marks? Or that training students to show more grit makes sense if the real trouble is with the tasks they've been given to do?Kohn's analytical style-incisive yet accessible-is brought to bear on big-picture policy issues as well as small-scale classroom interactions. He looks carefully at research about homework, play, the supposed benefits of practice, parent involvement in education, and summer learning loss-discovering in each case that what we've been led to believe doesn't always match what the studies actually say. Kohn challenges us to reconsider the goals that underlie our methods, to explore the often troubling values that inform talk about everything from the disproportionate enthusiasm for STEM subjects to claims made for more effective teaching strategies.During these dark days in which teachers are viewed as expendable test-prep technicians, and global economic competitiveness eclipses what children need, Kohn calls for us to summon the courage to act on what we already know makes sense. Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of thirteen books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations. Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores.

Learner-Centered Design of Computing Education: Research on Computing for Everyone


Mark J. Guzdial - 2015
    Many students (both children and adult) are realizing that they will need programming in the future. This book presents the argument that they are not all going to use programming in the same way and for the same purposes. What do we mean when we talk about teaching everyone to program? When we target a broad audience, should we have the same goals as computer science education for professional software developers? How do we design computing education that works for everyone? This book proposes use of a learner-centered design approach to create computing education for a broad audience. It considers several reasons for teaching computing to everyone and how the different reasons lead to different choices about learning goals and teaching methods. The book reviews the history of the idea that programming isn't just for the professional software developer. It uses research studies on teaching computing in liberal arts programs, to graphic designers, to high school teachers, in order to explore the idea that computer science for everyone requires us to re-think how we teach and what we teach. The conclusion describes how we might create computing education for everyone.

The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations


Sylvia M. Vardell - 2015
    This latest book in The Poetry Friday Anthology series offers 12 new, original poems per month plus a dozen monthly poems with the theme of “Birthdays and Baby Days” written by 115 different award-winning and new names in poetry publishing. With calendar offerings for everything from National Soup Day in January to National Flashlight Day in December, the book features traditional holidays, book-related holidays, celebrations of diversity, historic commemorations, and odd and unusual occasions like National Cookie Day and Shark Week. In addition, the anthology suggests picture books to use along with each poem to keep the literacy-building momentum going!

Teaching for Learning: 101 Intentionally Designed Educational Activities to Put Students on the Path to Success


Claire Howell Major - 2015
    Teaching for Learning fills that gap. Each of the one hundred and one entries:describes an approach and lists its essential features and elementsdemonstrates how that approach has been used in education, including specific examples from different disciplinesreviews findings from the research literaturedescribes techniques to improve effectiveness. Teaching for Learning provides instructors with a resource grounded in the academic knowledge base, written in an easily accessible, engaging, and practical style.

The Dyspraxic Learner: Strategies for Success


Alison Patrick - 2015
    By exploring dyspraxia and its physical, emotional, psychological and social impacts on learning, the author shares tried-and-tested strategies for ensuring that students with dyspraxia achieve their full potential. This book covers a wide range of topics, such as research and study skills, improving memory, teaching literacy, visual and auditory learning styles, dealing with sleeplessness, stress, low self-esteem and anxiety, and preparing for future employment. Teachers will have a greater understanding of dyspraxia, and feel confident in helping students with dyspraxia to overcome educational challenges. Teachers, lecturers, tutors and SENCOs will find this book useful, and it will also be of interest to students with dyspraxia who are looking for ways to help themselves with their school or university work.

Power Up


Diana Neebe - 2015
    In this inspiring and practical book, Diana Neebe and Jen Roberts draw on research and their extensive experience working with teachers across subject areas and grade levels to share the keys to success when teaching with a computer or tablet for every student.       This is the book secondary teachers need to understand the changes in pedagogy, planning, classroom organization, time management, and collaboration that will help them be successful in a 1:1 environment. Whether providing immediate and detailed feedback to student writers, giving voice to quiet learners, or creating more time for actual work in a jam-packed school day, Neebe and Roberts show teachers how communication, differentiation, and other effective practices can be powered up with personalized technology.   Throughout the book, Neebe and Roberts coach teachers through their initial concerns about technology integration, offer advice about avoiding common problems, and encourage innovation. Using detailed classroom examples, questions, and suggestions, they provide a framework for shaping the transformation of a traditional classroom into a student-centered, technology-rich learning environment. Readers will come away with a clear sense of how a fully implemented 1:1 classroom operates.                                                                                              Staff developers can use this book as a long-term program for teachers who are adapting to 1:1 classrooms. They also can draw on the companion study guide for additional discussion questions and prompts.  Power Up makes the transition to 1:1 a manageable and exciting journey. It's a key part of supporting teachers and ensuring the success of your 1:1 program.   Download the free companion study guide at www.stenhouse.com/1013. Visit the companion website, pluginpowerup.com, for updated links to resources.

Ride Ricardo, Ride!


Phil Cummings - 2015
    It is set in a village in Europe during WWII and is based on a true story. Illustrated by Shane Devries

What Connected Educators Do Differently


Todd Whitaker - 2015
    You'll find out how to create a personal and professional learning network to share resources and ideas, gain support, and make an impact on others. By customizing your professional development in this way, you'll be able to learn what you want, how you want, when you want. Best of all, you'll become energized and inspired by all the great ideas out there and how you can contribute, benefiting both you and your students.Whether you are a teacher or school leader, you will come away from this book with step-by-step advice and fresh ideas to try immediately. Being a connected educator has never been easier or more important than it is right now!