While various activity books exist in the market, it is rare to find any activity book connected to research, aligned with Common Core, NETS, and 21st Century and Skills. In addition, Student Voice: Turn Up the Volume books recognize that teachers are learners, too. The short narrative in each activity engages teachers and provides them an opportunity to expand their thinking and connect to the activities they are leading. The three unique sections following each activity allow educators to expand, enhance, and differentiate instruction. Group Discussion supports student engagement, collaboration, and a variety of cognitive skills. Personal Reflection enhances the meaning of the depth and relevancy of each activity, encouraging students to relate the activity to their experiences and apply their learning to other contexts and settings. The final section following each activity is Extended Learning, connecting the activity to technology, for example creating iMovies, exploring new apps, and tweeting their learning. Introductory narratives and overviews for each section are provided by Russ Quaglia.
Help students thrive with this systematic approach to culturally responsive instruction! Research shows that students of color learn best in classrooms that reflect their cultural values. This breakthrough book shows educators how to create culturally relevant RTI models that help diverse students thrive! Step-by-step, you'll learn to skillfully apply 4 core characteristics critical to culturally responsive instruction: communalism, movement expressiveness, orality, and verve. Richly detailed case studies and evidence-based, process-focused strategies will help you to: Understand how and why culture mediates learning Dispel cultural biases and appreciate the assets among all student groups Address all tiers of the RTI model across grade levels Eliminate disproportionality in special education eligibility decisions Work collaboratively with African American parents and communities Use this thought-provoking handbook to confidently design high quality, culturally responsive instruction that fits the cultural needs of most African-American students! "All educators working with diverse students should read this book! Using personal experiences, the author provides examples of culturally responsive classroom instruction that brings tears to my eyes realizing what I missed in my own education." -Julie Esparza Brown, Assistant Professor in Special Education Portland State University "Diversity in race and culture is one of the greatest issues facing students and teachers in education today. Without changing our mindset and understanding how others learn, we will never meet the expectations of educating all people. This book is outstanding in addressing these issues. It is truly a powerful read and something all educators should keep as a resource when making decisions for students who do not fall into that stereotypical 'box'." -Cindy Lawrence, Curriculum Coordinator Lumberton ISD "This book presents salient and provocative ideas with regards to teaching the way students learn. These ideas are not readily spoken about in teacher preparation programs or in schools. This book provides an avenue to discuss the ways African American students learn best." -Lydia Adegbola, Assistant Principal NYC Department of Education
Competency-Based Case Studies with Practice Questions
Learn From The Best As You Prepare For The Principal TExES Exam. The TexES Principal exam is a high-pressure undertaking, as a passing score is required before principal certification can be granted. Prospective new school principals are faced with a difficult exam that requires careful case analysis and responses to multiple options. Elaine L. Wilmore's books have helped countless educators succeed on TExES exams and are widely recognized as the gold standard in TExES preparation. In this comprehensive new guide, the author turns her expertise to another facet of the exacting standards tested by the Principal exam. Beginning with a thorough overview, Wilmore delves into case studies that all students will find useful and applicable to their preparation. To solidify the concepts, the book includes multiple practice exam questions with a detailed answer key. Other features include: Graphics to clarify complex concepts A clear breakdown of the domains and competencies tested on the exam Specific advice and strategies for first-time test takers and also those who previously failed Texas needs great principals more than ever. With this book, your path to joining them is much clearer. "Dr. Wilmore's book is essential to preparing for the Principal TExES exam. The questions are aligned and provide an accurate experience that allows principal candidates to assess strengths and weaknesses in order to target specific competencies for additional study." Amy Burkman, Ed.D., Assistant Principal Wylie Independent School District, Wylie, Texas "Dr. Wilmore's book is so critical to the success of our UTSA students that we purchase a copy for each student in our program." David P. Thompson, Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle
Help your students find and keep the joy in learning! When creative use of technology meets outstanding teaching, incredible learning happens. This insightful guide is for all educators ready to move into a new commitment to true learning. Principal and respected digital educator Robert Dillon shows readers how to: Use student engagement to promote authentic, thoughtful learning Learn how 16 innovative connected educators provided incredible learning opportunities for their students Implement new technology resources and strategies for all classrooms and grade levels Help students build critical thinking skills and gain confidence in their unique voices
High School-College Partnerships for College and Career Readiness
Educational partnerships for postsecondary readiness - your resource guide is here! High school graduates want to be prepared to succeed in life after high school; for most that includes completing some form of postsecondary education. This thoroughly researched guide to building and sustaining effective, cross-system partnerships between high schools, colleges, and regional and local communities will help educators support students' college and career readiness. College and career readiness experts, McGaughy and Venezia lead education stakeholders through a step-by-step process that improves postsecondary outcomes for all students. This book stresses the need to build effective working relationships and offers practical, actionable, information and straightforward strategies to help you: Identify needs Leverage existing relationships, programs and resources Build and sustain regional and local partnerships Implement a plan to measure key outcomes and provide comprehensive supports to ensure postsecondary readiness Connect policies and practices across partnerships to benefit student learning Communicate and work across partnerships to support successful student transitions Includes key research findings, real-world examples and reflections, and templates to guide your work to support improved student learning.
All you need to make the shift to STEM a reality! Now more than ever, educational leaders are encouraged to implement STEM as the foundation for preparing students with the 21st century skills required for college and career readiness. This resource makes the process of shifting to a comprehensive, integrated STEM school or district within reach! Invaluable case studies featuring current STEM pioneers from across the country model how successful, STEM-centered learning takes place. You'll find process-specific best practices and strategies to help you: Understand, create, and lead the STEM change process Transform existing school programs Prepare the school community for STEM and plan for STEM integration Integrate 21st Century Skills, the arts, and humanities Create essential partnerships with business and higher education Includes step-by-step checklists and visual mapping guides for successfully navigating the STEM change process. Use this groundbreaking resource to systematically implement coherent and integrated STEM instruction that transforms learning and prepares students for the global economy!
Ownership of Learning offers a powerful framework to significantly accelerate student motivation and learning. This book provides teachers and leaders with the "how to" by focusing on the impact of building collaborative relationships, clarifying criteria for success, building learner capacity, embedded formative assessment, and using feedback to deepen and prove learning. The three sections in the book - Defining the Journey, Learning on the Journey, and Retracing and Extending the Journey - are used as signposts to anchor the partnering process to: Demonstrate how to develop the students' role as a full-fledged partners in the learning process Offer practical steps to empower and motivate students Provide multiple examples and visuals of key ideas and steps to develop partnerships in the classroom Align to the natural teaching and learning cycle in every classroom Download the flyer
Straight Talk About Bettering Education and Children's Lives
Understand the connection between how kids grow and how they learn Rae Pica knows what she's talking about. With over 35 years in the field of education, she's realized that what's missing from our approach to schooling is an understanding of the connection between how children develop and how they learn. In this collection, Pica keeps children front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and actionable insights on topics such as the Common Core, the self-esteem movement, and standardized testing. You'll find 29 short essays on topics critical to best practice in child development and education Opinions of experts supported by research and anecdotal evidence Real-life stories shared by teachers and parents References to related articles and interviews with experts With its unflinching look at well-meaning initiatives that may be holding students back, this pocket-sized powerhouse of educational philosophy is sure to inspire discussion about our schools. "What a pleasure to read common sense wisdom about what young children need!" Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education New York University "This amazing book does far more than chase down the myths about how to ensure that children are successful. If offers real, research-backed practical strategies every teacher and parent can use. It belongs on every desk for quick and handy use!" Eric Jensen, Director Jensen Learning, Maunaloa, HI "Rae Pica has a deep understanding of childhood development and she has delved into every facet of it so that educators, parents, and policymakers will come to that understanding, too. This book needs to not just be on everyone's shelves, but open in everyone's hands." Peter DeWitt, Author/Consultant and Former K-5 Principal
Foster life-long teacher learning embedded in effective teaching practices and the science standards Science is a natural motivator and an academic engine for utilizing language, but it is the teacher who is the key to fostering the innate curiosity in each learner. Growing Language Through Science offers a model for contextualizing language and promoting academic success for all students, particularly English learners in the K-5 science classroom, through a highly effective approach that integrates inquiry-based science lessons with language rich hand-on experiences. You'll find A wealth of instructional tools to support and engage students, with links to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Presentation and assessment strategies that accommodate students' diverse needs, while encouraging them to use communicative language, speaking, listening, reading, and writing Ready-to-use templates and illustrations to enrich the textual discussion Field-tested teaching strategies framed in the 5Es used in monolingual and bilingual classrooms Reflection exercises that enhance teacher instructional decision making. Use this timely resource to build students' science and language skills simultaneously - while helping them find the joy in learning.
