Effective Strategies for Teaching in K-8 Classrooms


Book Description

Featuring a wealth of reflection activities and connections to standards, this concise, easy-to-read teaching methods text equips students with the content knowledge and skills they need to become effective K–8 teachers. The book maximizes instructional flexibility, reflects current educational issues, highlights recent research, and models best pedagogical practices. Current and realistic examples, a section in each chapter on using technology in the classroom, and material on differentiating instruction for diverse learners—including students with special needs and English language learners—make this a must-have resource for any K–8 teacher.




The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Implementing K-8 Science Practices


Book Description

This resource helps instructional leaders empower teachers to provide rich science experiences in which students work together to make sense of the world around them.




200+ Proven Strategies for Teaching Reading


Book Description

"200+ Proven Strategies for Teaching Reading, Grades K-8 is an easy-to-use reference guide for teachers who seek to invigorate their literacy practices. Author Kathy Perez provides practical, brain research-based invervention techniques and reading strategies K-8 teachers can use to help all students - especially those who are struggling - make strides in their literacy achievement. As an experienced general educator, special educator, reading specialist, and literacy coach, Perez has a deep understanding of the instructional practices and interventions necessary to help meet all learners' diverse needs. Teachers can motivate and engage all students to develop their reading abilities through practices this book highlights."--Back cover.




Readings in Science Methods, K-8


Book Description

The book is a generously sized compendium of articles drawn from NSTA's middle and elementary level journals Science Scope and Science and Children. If you're teaching an introductory science education course in a college or university, Readings in Science Methods, K-8, with its blend of theory, research, and examples of best practices, can serve as your only text, your primary text, or a supplemental text.




Interdisciplinary Instruction


Book Description

The fifth edition of this practical guide to interdisciplinary instruction focuses on the thinking and reasoning skills mandated by the Common Core State Standards and the content-learning standards required by an increasing number of states. The author provides an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to designing, creating, and implementing unit and lesson plans for all learners. Both pre-service and in-service elementary and middle-school teachers will find Wood’s approach to be comprehensive, with a strong theoretical foundation. Using Wiggins and McTighe’s backward design process, Wood offers specific protocols for creating unit and lesson plans at the elementary and middle-school levels. By emphasizing differential instruction, constructivist educational philosophy, application of skills in meaningful context, and the art of engaging student interest, he demonstrates how diverse student populations can benefit from the interdisciplinary approach. Prospective teachers will learn to create interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary plans that promote problem solving, creativity, and social interaction. Examples abound, with an appendix of sample unit plan designs filled with ideas for lessons and activities.




Bringing Math Students Into the Formative Assessment Equation


Book Description

Make formative assessment work for you—and your math students! Finally, formative assessment that adds up! Bringing Math Students Into the Formative Assessment Equation is the ultimate resource for helping teachers implement formative assessment in the middle school mathematics classroom. And it’s much more than that. With this research-based, teacher-tested guide, you won’t just learn effective teaching strategies—you’ll turn your students into self-regulated learners. They’ll monitor and assess their own progress—and communicate to you about it! Features include: A clear and manageable six-aspect instructional model Detailed strategies for helping students own their successes Real-life examples from middle school mathematics teachers Useful resources and a companion website to help you implement formative assessment in your classroom Formative assessment isn’t just for teachers anymore. With the help of this essential resource, you’ll work together with your students toward a common goal of math success. "This book is outstanding. I would recommend it to any math educator. The depth of research integrated into practice is extensive and, as a result, it is the most practical book I have come across related to formative assessment and mathematics The self-regulation aspects, as well as the ownership and involvement emphasized in the book, went beyond the traditional cognitive strategies endorsed in most books." Marc Simmons, Principal Ilwaco Middle School, Ocean Beach School District, Long Beach, WA "The ideas in this book are brought to life with examples of teachers and students in the classroom. The teacher voices, comments, and quotes lend credibility and are a big component of the book’s strengths as well as the visuals and graphics." Rita Tellez, Math Coordinator Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, TX







Proactive Classroom Management, K–8


Book Description

77 practical activities that reinforce positive behavior This gold mine of teacher-developed and -approved activities goes beyond classroom management theory and gives you ready-to-use tools that not only encourage positive behavior, but also empower students to take responsibility for their behavior. Excellent for all students, these activities will help you: Improve your teaching and classroom management skills Enhance your knowledge base Maintain a positive attitude so that you can be proactive rather than reactive Also included are a quick-glance chart that groups the activities by appropriate grade level and helpful checklists.




Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning, Grades K-8


Book Description

Because fluency practice is not a worksheet. Fluency in mathematics is more than adeptly using basic facts or implementing algorithms. Real fluency involves reasoning and creativity, and it varies by the situation at hand. Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning offers educators the inspiration to develop a deeper understanding of procedural fluency, along with a plethora of pragmatic tools for shifting classrooms toward a fluency approach. In a friendly and accessible style, this hands-on guide empowers educators to support students in acquiring the repertoire of reasoning strategies necessary to becoming versatile and nimble mathematical thinkers. It includes: "Seven Significant Strategies" to teach to students as they work toward procedural fluency. Activities, fluency routines, and games that encourage learning the efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy essential to real fluency. Reflection questions, connections to mathematical standards, and techniques for assessing all components of fluency. Suggestions for engaging families in understanding and supporting fluency. Fluency is more than a toolbox of strategies to choose from; it’s also a matter of equity and access for all learners. Give your students the knowledge and power to become confident mathematical thinkers.




Teaching K-8 Reading


Book Description

Accessible and engaging, this methods textbook provides a roadmap for improving reading instruction. Leland, Lewison, and Harste explain why certain ineffective or debunked literacy techniques prevail in the classroom, identify the problematic assumptions that underly these popular myths, and offer better alternatives for literacy teaching. Grounded in a mantra that promotes critical thinking and agency—Enjoy! Dig Deeply! Take Action!—this book presents a clear framework, methods, and easy applications for designing and implementing effective literacy instruction. Numerous teaching strategies, classroom examples, teacher vignettes, and recommendations for using children’s and adolescent literature found in this book make it an ideal text for preservice teachers in elementary and middle school reading, and English language arts methods courses as well as a practical resource for professional in-service workshops and teachers. Key features include: Instructional engagements for supporting students as they read picture books, chapter books, and news articles, and interact with social media and participate in the arts and everyday life; Voices from the field that challenge mythical thinking and offer realworld examples of what effective reading and language arts instruction looks like in practice; Owl statements that alert readers to key ideas for use when planning reading and language arts instruction.