Applying curriculum theory to classroom reality of K-12 classrooms Practical and engaging, this book contains 21 case studies that help students apply curriculum theory to classroom reality. Each case is authored by an in-service teacher, reflecting on ways to improve instruction by making changes to various aspects of the curriculum. These real-life examples investigate up-to-date curricular issues ranging from accountability in education to curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation, school reform, pedagogy, and decision making in diverse educational settings. Key Features Consistent formatting- Each case follows the same structure and includes proposed/actual solutions and expected/observed outcomes, allowing readers to compare their solutions to those in the text- leading to reflective, data-driven decision making Points to Ponder- Open-ended questions invite readers to further elaborate on how the solution proposed by the practitioner may impact additional curricular levels Text Boxes- Brief background information related to each cases provides a context for analysis
"Kist writes as a learner should, sharing what he discovers along the way. I like even more that he asks important questions while capturing how he and several other master teachers have attempted to ask and answer them with their own students. You will, too." -Bud Hunt, Blogger at Bud the Teacher Instructional Technologist, St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, CO "The innovative classroom activities in this engaging book will inspire teachers to help students acquire digital-media literacies for collaborating on and sharing their work-literacies essential for participation in a networked world." -Richard Beach, Professor of English Education University of Minnesota "A veritable smorgasbord of ideas and suggestions. This text grabbed me right away, and I started flagging all sorts of ideas even in the earliest chapters. It is as if Bill Kist met me in the hallway, took me by the hand, and simply said, 'Come here, I want to show you something.'" -Sheila M. Gragg, Technology Integration Coach Ashbury College, Canada Incorporate social networking into instruction, no matter your level of technological expertise or Internet access! Web sites like Facebook and Twitter have transformed the way young people interact and communicate. With appropriate guidelines, students' social networking skills can be harnessed to develop new literacies and deepen teaching and learning in the 21st century. The Socially Networked Classroom demonstrates how pioneering teachers have successfully integrated screen-based literacies into their instruction. This book includes: Real-world activities and lesson examples with assignment sheets, assessments, and rubrics Ideas on fostering collaborative learning using blogs, wikis, nings, and other interactive media. Tips on Internet safety, blogging etiquette, protected blogging sites, and more Blog entries from classroom teachers With this accessible guide for Grades 5-12, teachers of all levels of technological expertise can help students develop the new literacies necessary to succeed in a digital world.
"The Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) holds the power to help students and teachers 'see the whole' of what they are learning. We invite practitioners to read more about this model and join us on a professional journey that we believe will yield that joy and wisdom that comes from seeing the whole. To address the varying needs of teachers across the K-12 grade span-as well as different content areas-we decided to create a series of curriculum units, based on PCM, that could be used by practitioners. It is our hope that the lessons not only underscore important and discipline-specific content, but also illuminate the four parallels in unique and enduring ways." -From the Introduction Design exemplary language arts lessons based on the Parallel Curriculum Model! Want to create rigorous learning opportunities for students in language arts based on a deeper understanding of pedagogy and curriculum design? As demonstrated in the best-selling book The Parallel Curriculum, the Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) allows teachers to determine student performance levels and design intellectual challenges that help students develop expertise in specific subject areas. Parallel Curriculum Units for Language Arts, Grades 6-12 provides sample language arts units written by practicing teachers to demonstrate what high-quality curriculum looks like within a PCM framework. Covering a variety of topics-including narrative voice, literary criticism, and writing original pieces-these field-tested units each contain: Teacher rationales explaining the unit design Connections to concepts, skills, and national or state standards Step-by-step directions for delivering the lessons and unit Modification strategies, assessments, and reproducibles Use these examples to design your own units and deepen your understanding of how the PCM framework helps tailor curriculum to the abilities, interests, and learning preferences of each learner.
This book describes and exemplifies strategies for teaching history across the 11-19 age range in rigorous and enjoyable ways. It illustrates active learning approaches embedded in pupil-led enquiries, through detailed case studies which involve students in planning and carrying out historical enquiries, creating accounts and presenting them to audiences, in ways that develop increasingly sophisticated historical thinking. The case studies took place in a number of different localities and show how practising teachers worked with pupils during each year from Y6/7 to Y 13 to initiate, plan and implement enquiries and to present their findings in a variety of ways. Each case study is a practical example which teachers can use as a model and modify for their own contexts, showing how independent learning linked to group collaboration and peer assessment can enhance learning. Social constructivist theories of learning applied to historical thinking underpin the book, with particular emphasis on links between personalised and collaborative learning and e-learning.
"This book not only provides a solid foundation for guiding school improvement, but also details an array of very practical tools that can be used to implement tiered instructional options in middle and high school settings." -Donald D. Deshler, Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education Director, Center for Research on Learning University of Kansas "From research-based screenings to evidence-based interventions, the authors address the challenges specific to secondary schools and provide concise, realistic options." -Nicole Power, RTI Coordinator and Speech Language Pathologist Bethany Public Schools, OK Practical solutions for implementing RTI and improving student outcomes in Grades 6-12! Implementing Response to Intervention (RTI) in Grades 6-12 offers many unique challenges, but this comprehensive, research-based book provides secondary school administrators with the information, resources, and guidance necessary to use RTI for the benefit of struggling adolescent learners. Drawing on the latest research, the authors identify the current best practices for key components of RTI and demonstrate how school teams can work together to implement an assessment- and data-driven decision-making process for educators. Describing how all these elements can work together under the RTI framework, this book provides: Specific guidance on building leadership capacity to make RTI implementation a success Case studies that illustrate real middle and high school RTI models Instructional strategies for tiers one, two, and three Forms, checklists, and lists of Web and print resources With this valuable resource, secondary school leaders can avoid potential missteps when implementing RTI and make dramatic improvements in outcomes for adolescent learners!
If you are training to teach science this book will help you to improve your classroom performance, by providing you with practical advice, but also by helping you to think in depth about the key issues. It also supplements guidance on undertaking a research project with examples of the research evidence that is needed in academic work at Masters level, essential for anyone undertaking an M-level PGCE.
"The Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) holds the power to help students and teachers 'see the whole' of what they are learning. We invite practitioners to read more about this model and join us on a professional journey that we believe will yield that joy and wisdom that comes from seeing the whole. To address the varying needs of teachers across the K-12 grade span-as well as different content areas-we decided to create a series of curriculum units, based on PCM, that could be used by practitioners. It is our hope that the lessons not only underscore important and discipline-specific content, but also illuminate the four parallels in unique and enduring ways." -From the Introduction Design exemplary language arts lessons based on the Parallel Curriculum Model! Want to create rigorous learning opportunities for students in language arts based on a deeper understanding of pedagogy and curriculum design? As demonstrated in the best-selling book The Parallel Curriculum, the Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) allows teachers to determine student performance levels and design intellectual challenges that help students develop expertise in specific subject areas. Parallel Curriculum Units for Language Arts, Grades 6-12 provides sample language arts units written by practicing teachers to demonstrate what high-quality curriculum looks like within a PCM framework. Covering a variety of topics-including narrative voice, literary criticism, and writing original pieces-these field-tested units each contain: Teacher rationales explaining the unit design Connections to concepts, skills, and national or state standards Step-by-step directions for delivering the lessons and unit Modification strategies, assessments, and reproducibles Use these examples to design your own units and deepen your understanding of how the PCM framework helps tailor curriculum to the abilities, interests, and learning preferences of each learner.
Why do so many pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 'switch off' and make very little progress in the core subjects such as English and mathematics? What can teachers and schools do to improve pupils' attitudes and motivation? Maurice Galton and his team have collected examples from various schools of what works in re-energising demotivated pupils. This book presents practical advice and strategies for improving lower secondary school classrooms, ranging from reducing class size, to innovative induction programmes emphasising the development of core study skills, and developing effective procedures to train pupils to cooperate rather than confront each other during lessons. Chapters cover: - Making a Good Start to Secondary Education. - Creating a Cooperative Classroom Climate - Improving Communication between Pupils and Teachers - Why are some classrooms more successful? - How can school structures influence positive relationships? The book is a much-needed resource for all secondary teachers, and is particularly useful for year and subject heads.
Research-Based Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Today's Adolescents
Featuring the latest research on the adolescent brain, this second edition offers teachers fresh instructional strategies that work for engaging erratic, distracted, and often unpredictable teenagers. Lighthearted and informative, this hands-on resource helps educators understand the key issues affecting cognition and adolescent learners' emotional, social, and physical well-being. Each chapter is supported with a multitude of techniques that can be adapted to individual content areas and teachers will find new sections about: - Technology and the brain - Mirror neurons and at-risk behaviors like cutting, violence and aggression - An Educator's Book Club guide for sharing the challenges of teaching adolescents
