Connect your students to science projects that are intriguing and fun! Let Randi Stone and her award-winning teachers demonstrate tried-and-tested best practices for teaching science in diverse elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Linked to companion volumes for teaching writing and mathematics, this resource for new and veteran educators helps build student confidence and success through innovative approaches for raising student achievement in science, such as: Expeditionary learning, technology and music, and independent research study Model lessons in environmental studies and real-world science Inquiry-based strategies using robotics, rockets, straw-bale greenhouses, "Project Dracula," "Making Microbes Fun," and more! With engaging activities weaving through science fact and fiction to lead learners on intriguing journeys of discovery, this guide is sure to fascinate and inspire both you and your students!
"Randi Stone has assembled an exciting collection of teaching methods to benefit all learners. The book brings together an esteemed group of teachers who are to be congratulated for sparking interest in a subject that is too often taught solely from a textbook." -Heather E. Robinson, Fifth-Grade Teacher Desert Canyon Elementary School, Scottsdale, AZ Adopt or adapt these exemplary social studies strategies from the nation's best teachers! Randi Stone transports readers into the lively classrooms of award-winning teachers in this collection of outstanding methods for teaching social studies to diverse elementary, middle, and high school learners. Like its companion volumes for teaching writing, mathematics, and science, Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies presents firsthand accounts from educators offering fresh ideas and inquiry-based techniques to build student confidence, increase academic achievement, and develop critical thinking skills. Highlights include master teachers' tips on how to: Organize and produce oral history projects Use technology to explore diversity Teach the art of geography and the geography of art Put the "social" back into social studies, and more! Beginning and experienced teachers alike will discover an abundance of creative teaching practices to strengthen the social studies curriculum.
"Randi Stone has assembled an exciting collection of teaching methods to benefit all learners. The book brings together an esteemed group of teachers who are to be congratulated for sparking interest in a subject that is too often taught solely from a textbook." -Heather E. Robinson, Fifth-Grade Teacher Desert Canyon Elementary School, Scottsdale, AZ Adopt or adapt these exemplary social studies strategies from the nation's best teachers! Randi Stone transports readers into the lively classrooms of award-winning teachers in this collection of outstanding methods for teaching social studies to diverse elementary, middle, and high school learners. Like its companion volumes for teaching writing, mathematics, and science, Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies presents firsthand accounts from educators offering fresh ideas and inquiry-based techniques to build student confidence, increase academic achievement, and develop critical thinking skills. Highlights include master teachers' tips on how to: Organize and produce oral history projects Use technology to explore diversity Teach the art of geography and the geography of art Put the "social" back into social studies, and more! Beginning and experienced teachers alike will discover an abundance of creative teaching practices to strengthen the social studies curriculum.
Add these innovative and proven strategies to your instructional toolbox! Join Randi Stone as she visits the classrooms of award-winning teachers to observe their tried-and-tested best practices for teaching writing to diverse elementary, middle, and high school learners. Linked to companion volumes for teaching mathematics and science, and presenting insightful methods for building student comprehension and confidence, this book: Models techniques for improving achievement in literacy, vocabulary, student writing, and language arts Demonstrates turning a classroom into a reading and writing oasis, teaching students to blend descriptive and narrative writing, and helping learners create persuasive cover letters Illustrates techniques that utilize annotated bibliographies, "Punny Valentines," "Five Circles/Five Paragraphs," and much more Packed with creative ideas and lessons that produce results, this resource will be used again and again by new and veteran teachers to expand their instructional repertoires and enrich students' writing experiences.
Join Randi Stone as she visits the classrooms of award-winning teachers to observe their tried-and-tested best practices for teaching writing to elementary, middle school, and high school learners in inclusive classrooms. Explore strategies for building student confidence and achievement in writing and language arts as Stone's teachers demonstrate how to use a reading and writing oasis; blend narrative and descriptive writing; create persuasive cover letters; use annotated bibliographies, autobiography, 'punny' valentines, five circles/five paragraphs; and much more. This book is packed with lessons that work and ideas that will expand the instructional repertoires of new and veteran teachers alike.
Use the wisdom of your award-winning peers to achieve leadership excellence! Which practices set award-winning principals apart from their equally hard-working peers? Using survey results and contributions from 35 award-winning elementary school principals nationwide, this essential text examines over 100 field-based practices recognized as the best for the elementary school principalship. Organized around seven themes ranging from leadership to collaborating and communicating to school improvement plans, this enlightening collection provides unparalleled advice and wisdom from the "best of the best." Aspiring, new, and veteran elementary school principals and assistant principals will benefit from: Comprehensive suggested readings and words of wisdom from award-winning principals across a variety of school settings Reflection and insight from practiced leaders Proven best practices and suggestions for how they can be implemented Ideas for how to engage in self-reflection and school study Gain insight into the best practices of your award-winning peers and learn to elevate your leadership to excellence with this invaluable resource.
Learn successful practices from the "best of the best" to become an exemplary secondary school principal! Using recent survey results from 34 award-winning NCLB blue-ribbon secondary principals across the nation, author Sandra Harris examines over 100 of their best field-based practices to help school leaders everywhere succeed in making their schools the best that they can be. The chapters in this unique collection are organized around six themes to help secondary school principals learn from their peers successful strategies centered on leadership, shaping campus culture, communicating for collaboration, curriculum and instruction, school improvement plans, and personalizing the learning environment. Aspiring, new, and veteran secondary principals will benefit from: Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them Recommended reading list for effective principals Reflection and insight from successful principals Additional resources to further extend best practices This invaluable resource covers the most current research, ideas, and strategies to help secondary principals become exemplary school leaders and create a thriving school environment
Learn successful practices from the "best of the best" to become an exemplary secondary school principal! Using recent survey results from 34 award-winning NCLB blue-ribbon secondary principals across the nation, author Sandra Harris examines over 100 of their best field-based practices to help school leaders everywhere succeed in making their schools the best that they can be. The chapters in this unique collection are organized around six themes to help secondary school principals learn from their peers successful strategies centered on leadership, shaping campus culture, communicating for collaboration, curriculum and instruction, school improvement plans, and personalizing the learning environment. Aspiring, new, and veteran secondary principals will benefit from: Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them Recommended reading list for effective principals Reflection and insight from successful principals Additional resources to further extend best practices This invaluable resource covers the most current research, ideas, and strategies to help secondary principals become exemplary school leaders and create a thriving school environment
Featuring the leading figures in educational leadership, this new resource from Owings and Kaplan connects best thinking with best practices and emerging issues in school leadership. The contributing authors-including Michael Fullan, Linda Darling-Hammond, Alan November, Robert Marzano, Gerald Tirozzi, and Gene Carter-present leading research and key considerations to assist in making decisions about new programs and new directions for your school. This book highlights: Future Trends Recruiting High-Stakes Testing Teacher Quality Technology Curriculum and Instruction Special Education School Law Political Environment Building-level Change Parent/Community Relationships Best Practices, Best Thinking, and Emerging Issues in School Leadership unites the ideas of these leading educators and researchers with the perspectives of practicing principals, reconciling theory and fieldwork with recommendations for best practice-truly applying research-into-practice into one manageable, accessible guide.
