Book Reviews / Student Driven Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 07/16/2020 · Last modified 04/20/2022
Two-for-One Teaching is an excellent resource for educators who want to help connect what matters most to kids with what matters most to schools. The authors’ flexible strategies will help students learn and grow, writes 21st century curriculum coordinator Alex Valencic.
In More Grammar to Get Things Done, authors Crovitz and Devereaux strike the right balance of ideological and practical to make the idea of a pedagogical shift to teaching grammar in context not only doable but exciting, says ELA teacher Karen Rubado.
Jenny Rankin writes that sharing teachers’ individual wisdom and expertise with the world is necessary, and, more importantly, possible. Read Rankin’s book to feel encouraged and inspired in your quest to expand your impact on the world, says teacher-reviewer Kathleen Palmieri.
Are you tasked with preparing students for college and careers? “The Skills That Matter: Teaching Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Competencies in Any Classroom” by Noonan and Erickson can help, writes consultant Anne Anderson. The book gives teachers and administrators a place to begin.
The authors of the Social Studies Teacher’s Toolbox have constructed a research-based “honest, human guide” to helping students understand and care about what they learn. You will dig through and dog-ear it, and your students will be the richer for it, writes Sarah Cooper.
When Karen Rubado started reading this book, she hoped to pick up some tips to make “turn and talk” in her classroom work better. Instead she found new perspectives on teaching conversation as a skill and on using talk as a way to deepen knowledge in any subject area.
In addition to offering how-to’s on presenting read-alouds, Rebecca Bellingham shares extensive resources for taking students beyond hearing a story to understanding the story and learning how to share their reactions. Sixth grade teacher Jeny Randall finds lots to use.
Assessment of Gifted and High-Ability Learners is a guide to classroom assessment for instructional decisions, using the authors’ framework, Dynamic Teaching. The book presents a good foundation of three common assessment tools, writes gifted education specialist Kate Boonstra.
After explaining how stress affects the brain, Thomas Armstrong shows how mindfulness promotes concentration, compassion and calm in students and teachers. Teacher Nicole Warchol explains the book is just what she needs as she seeks to bring more focus into her classroom.
Self-confidence is hugely important in learning math. Amanda Jansen shows how teachers can help students embrace a “revising to learn” approach, gaining confidence and understanding. Teacher Michael Hernandez says the book will help him create a safe space to make mistakes and grow.
