Michael Barber, former chief advisor on delivery to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, provides steps to achieving public education reform in this practical field guide.
Even more ways for educators to flourish A lot has changed in schools since Deliberate Optimism was first published, but one thing hasn't: Attitude can make all the difference. When educators choose optimism-even in the face of the toughest challenges-they foster a school culture where students and staff feel safe, engaged, and productive, able to enjoy the healthy interactions that lead to real change. Updated to address major changes in education since 2015, the second edition of this much-loved book features new doses of the same cathartic humor, plus Revised, more succinct Principles of Optimism Expanded focus on leadership Updated strategies and thought-provoking scenarios Interactive "Action Step" exercises A new chapter on mental health QR codes leading to additional resources such as self-assessments and videos Optimism is the salve for overworked leaders and teachers, and this book delivers on outlining its indisputable benefits. Brimming with wit and honesty, the updated Deliberate Optimism demonstrates how changing your mindset can help you rediscover your motivation-and create a school environment bound for success.
Three Fundamental Strategies That Drive Educational Leadership
The book focuses on 3 key success principles - Leading With Equity, Implementing Change Successfully, and Leading Through Communication. After reading this book the reader will feel confident and capable of realizing the loftiest career goals as a leader in education, and even more, that empowerment will be supported with the tools to bring career dreams to pass.
When it comes to school initiatives, more isn't always better. Today's educators are buried under old practices, new ideas, and recommended initiatives. Before you're tempted to add just one more idea to the pile, take a step back--and an objective look--so that you and your teachers can decide which practices to keep, which to modify, and ......
A teacher's initial response to the different kinds of behaviours that occur in the classroom often determines what the student or students might do next. In this sense, initial and subsequent interactions are critical moments that can change the direction of student behaviour. This book presents strategies for responding to common problem behaviours to both defuse the situation and correct the problem. Defusing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom is primarily designed for teachers--who are on the frontline for addressing problem behaviour in schools--as well as specialists and behaviour support teams who have the responsibility of assisting teachers with managing challenging and persistent behavioural issues. School administrators who are charged with following-up directly with student office referrals and other serious behaviour issues will also find this resource invaluable. Readers will learn about seven key behaviour principles and strategies for defusing: - Off-task behaviour - Rule infractions - Disrespectful behaviour - Agitation and acting out - Noncompliance and testing the limits of authority.
The expert guide to the conceptualization of giftedness and talent! At last, the most predominant and compelling theories on the specific nature of giftedness and talent are available in a single volume! With the wealth of hands-on research in Definitions and Conceptions of Giftedness, the reader will gain a clearer conception of what it means to be gifted. Key features include: Robert J. Sternberg's insightful coverage of the critical developments and lingering questions educators must address in order to make more informed decisions about student placements Thirteen influential articles from leading researchers and educators in the field of gifted education Profiles of gifted and talented students and suggestions for expanding conventional notions of giftedness Explore the multiple faces of giftedness and talent, learn about the validity of available assessments, and discover the numerous opportunities educators have to foster the development of giftedness and talent in its many forms. The ERGE Series: The National Association for Gifted Children series Essential Readings in Gifted Education is a 12-volume collection of seminal articles from Gifted Child Quarterly. Put the knowledge and power of more than 25 years of research on giftedness and talent into your hands with the leading theories, studies, and findings the experts in the field have to offer.
Meaningful teacher evaluation starts with visible student growth Annual standardized test scores cannot provide evidence of student growth needed to evaluate teacher performance. But consider student growth in the form of evidence derived from classroom assessment and you're on to something. For assessment expert Rick Stiggins, this can form the basis for a truly productive teacher evaluation strategy. This revolutionary book helps you bring classroom assessment to bear for real school improvement, with A plan for teacher evaluation based, in part, on dependable evidence of student growth Strategies for improving the assessment literacy of teachers and school leaders Five steps for developing and implementing productive local district assessment systems Practical tools that teachers and their evaluators can put to use immediately In this era of aggressive teacher evaluation reform, where teachers are charged with preparing ALL students to master 21st century proficiencies, the measurement of teacher success must start where learning happens-in the classroom. "Developing a fair, practical, and effective teacher evaluation system is like climbing a high mountain: it's impossible until someone finds a route. That's what Rick does in this book. He identifies the immense challenges associated with using evidence on student learning as the principal criteria in teacher evaluation and then offers practical guidance for overcoming those challenges. He hasn't made the climb easy, but he shows us the way." -Thomas R. Guskey, Professor of Educational Psychology University of Kentucky "Rick Stiggins builds a compelling case for the development of a solid foundation of assessment competence throughout our educational system." -Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Stanford University
Quick Writes and Mentor Texts to Illuminate New Possibilities
Your best tool for building fluent writers Move beyond routine assignments and make your classroom's writing time really count! No extra time or effort required-this smart and compelling collection is designed to enhance the writing instruction you're already providing. More than just prompts, these texts will foster authentic writing every day, as you challenge your students to build fluency and write for a variety of purposes-top priorities of the Common Core. Whether you teach beginning writers or high school students, you can dive right in to 45 quick writes in an easy-to-use framework with suggested grade levels Carefully selected mentor texts that provide models and inspiration for student writing Guidelines for crafting your own original quick writes, tailored to your students' needs Deeper Writing gives you the tools and strategies you need to help your students' writing flourish, as they dig beneath the surface, remember and reflect and imagine, and learn to write with deeper meaning. "Here are the resources you would collect if you had months to search for them. Robin shows how each can be used to help students find satisfying topics and then develop those by studying the craft of other writers. This book will inspire you to write-and lead your students to write-with heart, with passion, and with increasing skill." -Penny Kittle, Author of Write Beside Them and Book Love
Discover how free, scannable technology can enrich learning and captivate students, including use of QR codes and Augmented Reality to promote hands-on learning, creativity, and critical thinking.
