Wherever you are in your school’s leadership journey, Five Critical Leadership Practices can be the map to help you become a leader for student success. Assistant Principal Mike Janatovich appreciates the authors’ ability to weave the practices into an interconnected whole.
Take 5! is a handy science resource targeted for K-5 teachers that can also help differentiate instruction in higher grades, says Laura Von Staden. The year’s worth of prompts will help young students to tie science, writing and critical thinking together.
To learn science deeply, students need the trifecta of instruction: experiments; exploration of a complex text; and teaching that’s both challenging and empowering. Deeper learning expert Libby Woodfin shares how this works in Peter Hill’s 8th grade classroom.
The last weeks of school are a time when a little hard work and lots of organization can pay big dividends in a learning experience that is smooth, structured, and fun for all, says middle grades educator Elyse Scott, who shares a dozen end-of-year activities.
The restorative practices advocated by authors Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey invite teachers “to switch their energies from rules to relationships, and provide meaningful instruction,” writes reviewer and instructional coach Glenda Moyer.
Pia Hansen’s Mathematics Coaching Handbook carefully explores the roles played by coaches, then goes on to describe how to approach and work with teachers. Middle grades specialist Scott Sharp also finds the appendix’s many templates helpful.
Figuring out what’s going on with a child emotionally and behaviorally is the practice of counselors and therapists. But the classroom teacher often sees problems first. Psychotherapist Noah Kempler suggests things to consider when a student’s behavior shifts.
Thematic text sets that tap into the social worlds and narrative driven lives of adolescents can spark “unstoppable learning,” say literacy educators Katie and Chris Cunningham, who share several text-set examples and a 10-step process for building your own.
“Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future,” packs in activities & learning for teachers and students. STEM coordinator Emily Anders says it’s “a must-have resource” for teachers who want to add project learning to their lessons on energy sources.
Adam Sáenz and Jeremy Dew link relationship building to its impact on fulfilling our calling as educators. The authors invite readers to reflect on how they connect and set boundaries to best use energy. Well worth the read, says Laura Von Staden.
