Practical, touching and funny, David Sherrin’s Authentic Assessment in Social Studies: A Guide to Keeping It Real offers a multitude of innovative approaches while reminding us that student potential lies at the heart of everything we teachers do, writes Sarah Cooper.
In his new book James Dillon takes a unique and potentially powerful approach to professional development, writes Anne Anderson. Dillion replaces the usual data and research with a collection of stories about teaching and learning gathered during his 40+ years’ of education experience.
Looking through the lens of formative assessment, Dayna Laur shows how project based learning can be used as a way to teach all standards, using her five-stage process. Laur includes examples and many formative assessment tools, writes teacher leader Laura Von Staden.
Future teacher Kara Tyler recommends Determining Difference from Disability to help teachers and parents respond to linguistically, culturally and socio-emotionally diverse students. Tyler appreciates the book’s opportunities for reflection and the range of resources.
In Becoming a Transformative Leader Carolyn M. Shields makes the case for equity and justice in our schools and suggests practical ways to examine them more deeply with colleagues and to assess progress toward achieving them, writes educator Chris Dransoff.
Leading Learning for ELL Students is a helpful resource for all school and district leaders looking to evaluate and strengthen their EL services. ESOL educator Jordan Walker-Reyes explains how EL teachers can also use the book to improve their programs.
Today’s educators have a plethora of technology at their fingertips. A.J. Juliani’s Intentional Innovation can guide them to make intentional choices for their classrooms, writes consultant Anne Anderson. She suggests the book for a faculty book study.
Evidenced-Based Science Activities is an easy read and might be useful in changing classroom science instruction. Science leader Kathy Renfrew finds some excellent points in the book, including valuable and meaningful research, but notes there is newer research available.
The Elements of Education for Teachers offers 100 pages jam-packed with easily accessible, well vetted pedagogies and practices. Each of the 50 elements is presented in a crisp two-page format. Teacher Diane Kaplan has selected several strategies to implement right away.
Throughout Putting Teachers First, Brad Johnson supports his strong belief that a positive relationship between leader and teacher is essential in successful schools. He shares a myriad of ways to make that relationship happen, writes international ed leader Brad Latzke.
