"The return to K-8 schools is an opportunity to step back, be purposeful and thoughtful, and plan for what we want for young persons in our schools. This book provides the vision and the tools we need to plan and build something better in Grades K-8." -Heather MacTaggart, Executive Director Classroom Connections, Ontario, Canada A how-to guide for developing or transitioning to a K-8 school! The K-8 model for school design has gained popularity with educators and parents for demonstrating higher student achievement, fewer behavioral problems, and increased cost effectiveness. This comprehensive guide provides school leaders with the tools to develop and implement a sound plan for creating an exemplary K-8 school or transitioning successfully to the K-8 approach. Developing Successful K-8 Schools offers strategies for designing curriculum aligned to state standards, promoting 21st-century skills, planning instruction, and evaluating an effective K-8 program. Readers will also find: Ten proven instructional methods for meeting the learning needs of K-8 students, plus examples that illustrate how to apply the strategies and deal with problems that might arise Student assessment techniques and record-keeping procedures Implementation tools such as checklists, activity charts, and much more! This resource is ideal for school leaders who want to articulate a clear vision for a K-8 school and stay on the cutting edge of educational excellence and student achievement.
"The return to K-8 schools is an opportunity to step back, be purposeful and thoughtful, and plan for what we want for young persons in our schools. This book provides the vision and the tools we need to plan and build something better in Grades K-8." -Heather MacTaggart, Executive Director Classroom Connections, Ontario, Canada A how-to guide for developing or transitioning to a K-8 school! The K-8 model for school design has gained popularity with educators and parents for demonstrating higher student achievement, fewer behavioral problems, and increased cost effectiveness. This comprehensive guide provides school leaders with the tools to develop and implement a sound plan for creating an exemplary K-8 school or transitioning successfully to the K-8 approach. Developing Successful K-8 Schools offers strategies for designing curriculum aligned to state standards, promoting 21st-century skills, planning instruction, and evaluating an effective K-8 program. Readers will also find: Ten proven instructional methods for meeting the learning needs of K-8 students, plus examples that illustrate how to apply the strategies and deal with problems that might arise Student assessment techniques and record-keeping procedures Implementation tools such as checklists, activity charts, and much more! This resource is ideal for school leaders who want to articulate a clear vision for a K-8 school and stay on the cutting edge of educational excellence and student achievement.
"This book contributes to the literature on teacher leadership with a particular focus on schoolwide excellence in teaching, learning, and assessment. The exercises are filled with solid and practical but generative ideas." -Richard Ackerman, Professor The University of Maine Rediscover the importance of teacher leadership in revitalizing schools! Teacher leadership is a transformative process that can drive school and community reform. This revised edition of the groundbreaking bestseller builds on current research to help teachers and administrators work together to foster, develop, and support teacher leadership. Principals and staff developers will learn how collaborating with teacher leaders can result in significantly improved school outcomes. With the Teachers as Leaders Framework, teachers can become leaders who facilitate communities of learning, strive for pedagogical excellence, confront barriers in the school's culture and structures, and nurture a culture of success. Featured in the second edition are: Five new school case studies with insights about the complexity of teacher leadership Expanded discussion of the capacity-building process for teacher leaders and principals An outline of a school development program based on teacher leadership and parallel leadership With exercises for systematically developing teacher leaders, the second edition of this invaluable guide is for every educator who believes in teacher leadership as a crucial step toward making schools a source of instruction and inspiration.
Dive into this deep exploration to cultivate a proactive culture of leading learning and equip teachers to make 'what works best' work in every context.
How do we engage students and ensure they understand argument writing's fundamental components? How do we take them from "Here's what I think" to "Here's what I think. Here's what makes me think that. And here's why it matters"? This book shows the way, with ready-to-implement lessons that make argument writing topical and relevant. Students are first asked to form arguments about subjects that matter to them, and then to reflect on the structure of those arguments, a process that provides learners with valuable, reusable structural models. Throughout the book, the authors provide helpful instructional tools, including Literary, nonfiction, and author-created simulated texts that inspire different points of view. Complete with guidance on applying the lessons' techniques in a broader, unit-wide context, Developing Writers of Argument offers a practical approach for instructing students in this crucial aspect of their lifelong development.
"The best educators are the best learners. It's all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice." -Raymond J. McNulty, Senior Vice President International Center for Leadership in Education "At last, a diagnostic classroom observation tool that moves beyond generic criteria for examining teaching and learning. This is a must-have resource for teachers, administrators, and professional developers who want to look beyond the veneer of 'best practice' and use evidence-based, content-focused criteria to get to the heart of deep, conceptual teaching and learning." -Page Keeley, Senior Program Director Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance A complete instructional leadership system for improving classroom practice! Providing effective classroom evaluation is a critical function of authentic instructional leadership. Diagnostic classroom observation (DCO) is a research-based system that helps principals and other supervisors carry out classroom observations and evaluations to support effective teaching practices. Based on the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool, the DCO model covers the entire supervision process, from preconference analysis to postconference follow-up, and includes protocols for observing math, science, and literacy instruction. Program users can determine classroom quality and student engagement by evaluating four critical aspects of instructional practice: lesson planning, lesson implementation, lesson content, and classroom culture. Additionally, the author supplies readers with: Classroom observation forms to help identify instructor strengths and weaknesses Scoring forms to assist with the final evaluation and review process Real-world vignettes that clearly illustrate key indicators of quality teaching Methods for matching student learning assessments with appropriate instructional strategies Guidance for introducing DCO into any school or school district Diagnostic Classroom Observation offers principals and teacher leaders a thoroughly tested and validated classroom observation system that improves instructional performance and enhances student learning.
"The best educators are the best learners. It's all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice." -Raymond J. McNulty, Senior Vice President International Center for Leadership in Education "At last, a diagnostic classroom observation tool that moves beyond generic criteria for examining teaching and learning. This is a must-have resource for teachers, administrators, and professional developers who want to look beyond the veneer of 'best practice' and use evidence-based, content-focused criteria to get to the heart of deep, conceptual teaching and learning." -Page Keeley, Senior Program Director Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance A complete instructional leadership system for improving classroom practice! Providing effective classroom evaluation is a critical function of authentic instructional leadership. Diagnostic classroom observation (DCO) is a research-based system that helps principals and other supervisors carry out classroom observations and evaluations to support effective teaching practices. Based on the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool, the DCO model covers the entire supervision process, from preconference analysis to postconference follow-up, and includes protocols for observing math, science, and literacy instruction. Program users can determine classroom quality and student engagement by evaluating four critical aspects of instructional practice: lesson planning, lesson implementation, lesson content, and classroom culture. Additionally, the author supplies readers with: Classroom observation forms to help identify instructor strengths and weaknesses Scoring forms to assist with the final evaluation and review process Real-world vignettes that clearly illustrate key indicators of quality teaching Methods for matching student learning assessments with appropriate instructional strategies Guidance for introducing DCO into any school or school district Diagnostic Classroom Observation offers principals and teacher leaders a thoroughly tested and validated classroom observation system that improves instructional performance and enhances student learning.
Students, Schools, and Communities Alive With Possibility
Diverse case studies and a framework based on timely issues help educators focus students' talents and interests on developing an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills.
"Jensen truly understands what educators need to know to provide the opportunities for success that every child needs." -Gerard Dery, Principal Nessacus Regional Middle School, Dalton, MA "This is the book that teachers will keep by their desk for quick reference, ideas, inspiration, and hope." -Mary Beth Cary, Teacher Worth County Primary School, Sylvester, GA Give hard-to-reach students the tools for lifelong success and watch test scores improve! Different learners have different ways of learning, but when students are exposed to chronic stress, trauma, or drugs, or when a student's brain is impacted by developmental delays, abnormality, or chemical imbalances, academic achievement is threatened. Educators need to be able to understand the symptoms and make appropriate adjustments in the classroom. Updated throughout and packed with powerful tools and strategies to help learners improve brain function, this full-color guide presents a concise outline for identifying prevalent impairments such as oppositional disorder, learned helplessness, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, depression, auditory processing deficits, and more With this reference, teachers can guide students with learning difficulties more effectively and be able to: Recognize the most common conditions that challenge learners Accommodate the specific learning needs of students with learning impairments Minimize disruptions for other students The second edition of Different Brains, Different Learners helps teachers become facilitators of successful interventions that can turn at-risk students into confident achievers!
