Harness your community's powerful resources to support achievement! Every school exists within the broader context of its community. By tapping into the wealth of resources that abound beyond campus grounds, principals can weave a tightly knit safety net that buoys student learning. If the adage "It takes a village to raise a child" is true, then certainly raising schoolwide achievement is largely dependent upon the active involvement of local businesses, organizations, institutions, and parents. Cultivating strong alliances with community members entails a systemic, goal-centered outreach program-and this comprehensive guide outlines proven, practical strategies for effectively launching, implementing, and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships. It highlights straightforward best practices for: Reaching out to parents, including specific involvement activities; Building community relationships that support school initiatives, plus tips for leveraging the media; and Closing the achievement gap through community resources and reforms. This fourth volume in a seven-part leadership series features: Insightful questionnaire and response analysis Case study with reflective questions "What You Should Know About" sections framing each chapter Self-Assessment resources "In-basket Simulations" exploring real-life examples
"Very relevant to the real-life teaching situations that first-year teachers often encounter." -Joanne Ho, English Department Chair Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV "Easygoing and relaxed, a welcome break from over-flowery 'academic' language for students ready to enter the 'real world' of the classroom." -Elise Geither, Instructor Baldwin-Wallace College "The 'exploratory breaks' throughout each chapter provide readers an opportunity to apply their learning in a focused fashion." -Theresa Rouse, Superintendent/Principal San Lucas Union School District, CA Novice teachers can apply best practices for a successful ELL classroom experience! This easy-to-navigate resource offers beginning teachers a carefully phased-in guide to teaching strategies they can use with their ESL-ELL learners to enhance reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar skills. Each chapter provides clear guidelines and step-by-step coverage of these essentials and more: Using different models for lesson planning Monitoring classroom behavior and interactions Using prepared skill-building activities or developing new ones Assessing students for placement in ESL or general education classes Reflecting and exploring the development of their own teaching practice This sourcebook offers a solid reality-based plan for all new teachers who want to create a successful classroom experience for themselves and their ESL-EFL students!
Help children with learning difficulties or learning disabilities excel in the general education classroom! Help struggling students avert failure before it becomes chronic and destructive to their self-esteem and motivation! Drawing from the collective experience of professionals and parents who have successfully worked with students with learning disabilities and difficulties, and including the latest information from IDEA 2004 and NCLB, this revised edition of I Can Learn provides a wealth of best practices and policies specifically designed to help these students not only participate in but also excel in the general education classroom. Readers will discover: Characteristics of specific learning and performance difficulties and disabilities Strategies to improve learning skills such as listening comprehension, ability to pay attention, mathematical reasoning, and reading word recognition Strategies to enhance spelling, verbal and written expression, test-taking, and appropriate social behavior Information about the referral process, determination of eligibility for special services, and provision of services to students with specific learning disabilities School practices that support the success of all students This clear and concise reference offers educators and parents the support and tools they need to reduce special education referrals and help all students experience successful outcomes!
Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Second Edition focuses on seven day-to-day steps that can lead principals and administrators to becoming exemplary leaders, and make a difference in the lives of the students, teachers, and parents in their educational community. The Second Edition includes the use of standards-based reform as a ......
Changing School Supervisory Practice One Teacher at a Time
The Three Minute Classroom Walk-Through puts into perspective and practices the vision of what supervision should be. It is a model of principal-teacher interaction and redefines the professional relationships of classroom supervisory practice. The Downey approach attempts to change how principals approach supervision by replacing it with a ......
This second volume in a two-part mentoring series uses the foundations presented in Mentoring Guidebook Level 1: Starting the Journey and further explores the key skills and strategies of a successful mentoring relationship. Each skill is examined in greater detail and includes: Observation and data-gathering techniques Integrated lesson planning Brain-compatible teaching Cooperative learning Performance tasks Portfolios The professional development process Mentoring Guidebook Level 2: Exploring Teaching Strategies also explores the importance of establishing successful communication strategies and building effective learning communities of paraprofessionals, parents, volunteers, and teachers.
Foster the development of highly qualified teachers and improve your school's teaching and learning with solid teacher evaluations! The connection between teacher evaluation fostering school improvement and the development of highly qualified teachers is receiving more attention than ever before. Just as there is a rational connection between school improvement and teacher performance, there is a necessary and rational connection between supporting and cultivating highly qualified teachers through effective evaluations and improving relationships in the school. In this updated edition, top-selling author James H. Stronge and his colleagues synthesize current teacher evaluation research and blend it with practice, highlighting how to: Design a sound teacher evaluation system Assess teacher performance thoroughly and accurately Implement a successful teacher evaluation system Incorporate student performance data, teaching portfolios, and classroom observation into the evaluation process By aligning teaching performance and improvement goals with your school's mission, this text demonstrates how you can effectively encourage teachers to achieve a high standard of instruction at all levels.
Practical Teaching Strategies for Dramatic Results
Combining theory and practice, Nelson has developed an innovative way to reach the at-risk-or "dramatic"-learner, improving the learning environment for all other students in the process. Using dramatic theory as an extended metaphor, Nelson first provides the reader with a strong theoretical understanding of the particular learning needs of the "dramatic" learner, and explains why a traditional classroom environment fails to meet these needs. With this foundation in place, Nelson provides practical, classroom-tested strategies and ideas that can be used to meet the particular teaching and discipline needs of these students. Breaking the Learning Barrier for At-Risk Students presents four learning principles: o Learning! requires the active involvement of the learner. Nothing can be learned without the willing participation and effort of the learner. o Life without drama is meaningless and uninspiring. Learning that is not built upon dramatic elements is also meaningless and uninspiring. o Learning must be value based. When teaching takes into account the values and preferences of a learner, he or she will be motivated to participate. o Learning must be fun. When the first three conditions exist, learning becomes the most rewarding, engaging, and fun activity in life. By utilizing the principles of dramatic structure in their course work, teachers will uncover the power of discovery based learning-getting even the most reluctant students actively engaged in the learning process.
Get the blueprint for building bridges that leave no learner behind! Teaching Adolescents With Disabilities is the gold standard for proven methods of teaching students with disabilities at the secondary level. Developed by one of the most respected research teams in special education, this resource provides teachers and administrators with detailed and practical knowledge of research-validated practices that have been effective for adolescents with disabilities. Aligned with current Individuals with Disabilities Acts (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements, these proven strategies can break down the barriers to academic success, while opening doors to the complex curriculum of secondary schools. Donald D. Deshler and Jean B. Schumaker are highly attuned to these students' special needs, and the skills and methods required to teach them effectively, including: Practical planning advice, interventions, and learning strategies Tips for leveraging technology to promote student success Strategies for planning transition beyond high school Real-life examples and illustrations to facilitate implementation Methods for designing instructional materials that maximize curriculum access and student achievement With this resource, practitioners can gain the in-depth knowledge that will enable them to close the performance gap for middle and high school students with disabilities.
