Dale Russakoff’s The Prize recounts what happens to Newark NJ schools when Gov. Chris Christie, Mayor Cory Booker and Supt. Cami Anderson take a $100 million gift from Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and invest in corporate reform. Matt Renwick says it’s a must read.
Nancy Butler Wolf addresses how teachers can help middle schoolers solve authentic math problems, stressing rich tasks and converting textbook problems into challenging learning. Maia Fastabend recommends the book to newer teachers and those seeking clarity.
Book Reviews / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 11/12/2015 · Last modified 11/18/2019
The social-emotional concerns addressed by Tom Conklin are long overdue for guided discussion by today’s adolescents. Mary Langer Thompson appreciates his inclusion of foundational thinkers and his instructional materials for middle schoolers.
Debbie Zacarian and Michael Silverstone successfully build the case for school and community partnerships in diverse settings that are two-way relationships with the goal of increased student achievement, both academic and social, says principal Deb Hubble.
Jerry Burkhart’s Advanced Common Core Math Explorations: Fractions Grades 5-8 can change middle graders’ attitude about fractions from consternation to curiosity and “produce true knowledge of the essence of all types of fractions,” says teacher Karen Bloom.
Teacher Teamwork explains the stages of effective team building, including agendas, routines, common purpose & more. Educator Laura Von Staden reports the book is right on point in terms of activities & concepts to implement, but may be overly time consuming.
Reading Learn Like a Pirate is “like having a front row seat in a master teacher’s classroom,” says educator Laura Von Staden. She recommends the book’s guidelines for empowering students as well as its plentiful resources to help each reader chart a fresh path.
In Power Up, Diana Neebe and Jen Roberts offer a 1:1 teaching framework that will guide teachers to a technology-rich learning environment. In addition to extensive online resources, the book is filled with actual classroom examples, says Emily Prissel.
In “Get Organized!” Frank Buck offers a fast, functional read to help all educators get and stay organized. It will be a favorite go-to manual for any school leader eager to increase the most valuable resource in education – time, says ASCD Emerging Leader Michael Janatovich.
In their follow-up to Notice & Note, Kylene Beers & Robert Probst consider the importance of stance, the power of signposts & the role of strategies in helping students become effective readers of nonfiction in every subject. Teacher Linda Biondi celebrates their success.
