"By guiding teachers and their students through the workings of Excel, this book ultimately leads to high-ordered decision making about data management and interpretation-a compelling reality of the 21st century." Nancy Tanner Edwards, Professor of Education Missouri Western State College St. Joseph, MO "A wonderful tool for instruction in Excel. The authors have given a clear and concise explanation which is easy to comprehend, in addition to practical examples to use with students." Peggy Miller, Technology Coordinator/Teacher St. James/Seton School Omaha, NE Make Microsoft Excel (TM) work for you-in the classroom and at your desk! Microsoft Excel is much more than a simple spreadsheet program. It is a sophisticated and flexible reporting, planning, and presentation tool that teachers can use effectively for curriculum prep, class projects, budget planning and reporting, and even as a database. Here is all you need to know on Understanding Excel Creating a gradebook Solving basic mathematics problems Building formulas and functions Creating charts and graphs Making Web pages Using color, fonts, and graphics in presentations . . . and all of it built by tech experts and experienced educators, especially for teachers. Using Excel in the Classroom is the essential how-to for teachers at all grade levels, filled with specific, classroom-tested templates, and techniques that teachers need most!
This book will help teachers understand the multimedia development process so that they can incorporate student-produced multimedia projects into their curriculum. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapters one-four address issues of integrating multimedia production into the classroom. Chapter five explains how professional multimedia producers work, including common jargon and procedures used in the industry.
"Using Problem-Based Learning has changed the way I teach completely. My children now learn more, do more, and have much more fun in the process. I have more fun in the process too and, once again, can enjoy the things that attracted me to teaching in the first place. I recommend that every K-8 teacher pick up this book and use it not just for ......
New and Smarter Compensation Strategies to Improve Schools
Praise for the First Edition: `It was refreshing to read a thorough exploration of such a complex issue. The ideas which are proposed are of interest ot policy makers, trade union negotiators adn headteachers' - Management in Education The demand for more innovative, more competitive, and more motivating compensation plans for teachers is growing every day . . . and now Allan Odden and Carolyn Kelley have updated their classic book on teacher compensation to give school administrators all the new information and insight they need to start moving in the right direction. The Second Edition of Paying Teachers for What They Know and Do describes various pay and compensation initiatives currently in use across the country, including signing bonuses, upgrades in teacher pensions, higher salaries to those who are willing to work in more challenging schools, and other approaches. It also explores the different types of compensation plans used in the private sector as well as systems based on the continued acquisition of skills, knowledge, and experience
"The most helpful and practical resource I own! It has aided me in increasing my efficiency and therefore my confidence in the classroom. This is a must-read for all first- year teachers!" Jennifer Jackson, First-Grade Bilingual Teacher Landels Elementary School Mountain View, CA "A blockbuster book for the beginning teacher-chock-full of practical and imaginative suggestions. A source book of fine educational practices." Mary B. Roberts, Principal (retired) University of San Francisco College of Education, CA "Kathleen Jonson has designed an excellent road map to guide new teachers during their beginning years." Gail Adams, Program Administrator Curriculum Improvement and Professional Development San Francisco Unified School District, CA The ultimate how-to reference-here's expert teaching advice at your fingertips anytime you need it! An invaluable companion for any beginning teacher, this definitive resource has been updated to offer even more tried and true techniques to foster triumphant teaching. Drawing upon more than 27 years' experience as an educator, the author highlights the most effective strategies that lead to powerful results in the classroom. The New Elementary Teacher's Handbook Flourishing in Your First Year, second edition, provides desperately needed, yet often unavailable, practical advice. This easy-to-read, jargon-free guide empowers new teachers with the tools necessary not only to feel prepared, confident, and comfortable, but also to succeed, maintain enthusiasm, and remain committed to the profession. It is teeming with helpful hints, red flags to watch for, examples of best practices, and time-saving solutions for some of the most common questions and concerns practitioners face. Among the numerous strategies and survival skills the book promotes are time and stress management, effective organization, quality lesson plans, and professional development. It deals with such issues as assessment, preventive discipline, homework, and motivation. Jonson offers sound advice on building positive relationships with parents and conducting school events, including a parent conference, open house, and back-to-school night. Resources include sample homework and behavior contracts, model letters to parents, and examples of programs for students with special needs. This enhanced second edition offers the following new features: Classroom-tested techniques for overcoming the challenges of a multicultural, demographically diverse student population, including limited-English-proficient students Tips for maximizing technology Twelve additional "Resource" sections that provide quick-reference ideas easy to implement in any classroom Tactics for coping with-and even embracing-the pressures of accountability, high standards, and high-stakes testing Resources include sample homework and behavior contracts, model letters to parents, and examples of programs for students with special needs.
Foreword by Grant Wiggins Afterword by Michael Fullan "[Parsons' work remind us] that collegial consideration of what works, what doesn't, and why is . . . interesting and enjoyable professional work." From the Foreword by Grant Wiggins "Whether you are planning a limited innovation in a few classrooms or implementing new state standards as a whole-school or districtwide change, this book will help you chart your course." Judith Renyi, Executive Director The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education "In clear, accessible language, Beverly Parsons demystifies evaluation and provides numerous practical examples of how schools can use the methods she describes to better understand the process of change and achieve their goals-and to create schools in which youngsters and adults thrive." Dennis Sparks, Executive Director National Staff Development Council "Parson's evaluative inquiry framework is a gold mine of ideas and designs. It is at once complex, accessible, and comprehensive." From the Afterword by Michael Fullan, Dean Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto Improve learning for all students in all environments! Evaluative Inquiry advances the capacity of teachers and principals to provide more effective learning for all students in every type of academic environment. In this jargon-free book, Parsons delivers a systematic program evaluation process for gathering, analyzing, and identifying what changes are needed in schools today for productive learning. Parsons provides the guidance, step-by-step instructions, and easy-to-use forms to help educators and school leaders understand and implement this hands-on, in-depth program evaluation process. Evaluative Inquiry can help you discover if your programs and initiatives are making a difference and whether they enhance the successes of students and teachers alike. Three types of evaluative inquiry are explored in this book: Quality-Does the initiative promote high-quality learning? Sustainability-Can the initiative be sustained? Cultivation-Can the initiative be expanded and nurtured? This unique book puts the evaluative process into the hands of principals, teachers, administrators, board members, foundations, and community members. It contains a number of real-life case examples to clearly demonstrate how the process actually works and outlines the tangible, successful results you can expect to realize in your own school or district.
"Dr. Johnson's book is far more than a how-to guide for constructing meaningful learning activities for students. It is the definitive treatise on the fundamental concepts of acquiring and transferring knowledge. This is an invaluable contribution." Arlene H. Parisot, Director of Workforce Department Office of Commissioner of Higher Education Montana State System "This is a 'must' read for all teachers and administrators in their search for meaning. Elaine Johnson has artfully captured the essence of the 'best practices' conversation taking place in schools today by speaking directly to the heart of classroom experience." Stephen Olczak, Principal Reynolds High School Oregon Contextual teaching and learning (CTL) is a system for teaching that is grounded in brain research. Brain research indicates that we learn best when we see meaning in new tasks and material, and we discover meaning when we are able to connect new information with our existing knowledge and experiences. Students learn best, according to neuroscience, when they can connect the content of academic lessons with the context of their own daily lives. Johnson discusses the elements of the brain-compatible contextual teaching and learning system: making meaningful connections; investing school work with significance; self-regulated learning; collaboration; critical and creating thinking; nurturing the individual; reaching high standards; and using authentic assessment. Drawing on the practices of teachers in kindergarten through university, Johnson provides numerous examples of how to use each part of the CTL system. Contextual Teaching and Learning: What it Is and Why It's Here to Stay is more than a handbook on precise steps to follow to help children of all abilities achieve high standards by joining academic lessons with their immediate context. This book also explains how the brain works, discusses why teachers need to pay attention to context, and makes a strong case for the need to teach students to think critically and creatively. This inspirational book urges educators to eliminate the student question: "Why do we have to learn this?" If the educators invest learning with meaning by relying on context, that question won't have to be asked.
An important addition to the Experts In Assessment series, Holistic Accountability is an essential guide to creating a holistic accountability system. Douglas B Reeves includes four building blocks: * structure * collaboration * implementation * communication The text includes step-by-step instructions on creating a holistic accountability system. Each chapter builds upon the other until the final pieces come together in chapter eight. The author defines holistic accountability, dispels accountability myths, and suggests better ways to improve teaching and learning and always focuses on the central purpose of accountability, which is the improvement of student achievement.
Foreword by Grant Wiggins Afterword by Michael Fullan "[Parsons' work remind us] that collegial consideration of what works, what doesn't, and why is . . . interesting and enjoyable professional work." From the Foreword by Grant Wiggins "Whether you are planning a limited innovation in a few classrooms or implementing new state standards as a whole-school or districtwide change, this book will help you chart your course." Judith Renyi, Executive Director The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education "In clear, accessible language, Beverly Parsons demystifies evaluation and provides numerous practical examples of how schools can use the methods she describes to better understand the process of change and achieve their goals-and to create schools in which youngsters and adults thrive." Dennis Sparks, Executive Director National Staff Development Council "Parson's evaluative inquiry framework is a gold mine of ideas and designs. It is at once complex, accessible, and comprehensive." From the Afterword by Michael Fullan, Dean Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto Improve learning for all students in all environments! Evaluative Inquiry advances the capacity of teachers and principals to provide more effective learning for all students in every type of academic environment. In this jargon-free book, Parsons delivers a systematic program evaluation process for gathering, analyzing, and identifying what changes are needed in schools today for productive learning. Parsons provides the guidance, step-by-step instructions, and easy-to-use forms to help educators and school leaders understand and implement this hands-on, in-depth program evaluation process. Evaluative Inquiry can help you discover if your programs and initiatives are making a difference and whether they enhance the successes of students and teachers alike. Three types of evaluative inquiry are explored in this book: Quality-Does the initiative promote high-quality learning? Sustainability-Can the initiative be sustained? Cultivation-Can the initiative be expanded and nurtured? This unique book puts the evaluative process into the hands of principals, teachers, administrators, board members, foundations, and community members. It contains a number of real-life case examples to clearly demonstrate how the process actually works and outlines the tangible, successful results you can expect to realize in your own school or district.
