Positive Learning Environments


Book Description

How do you create a learning environment that's productive; one where students are engaged, learning and happy? And how do you ensure that inappropriate behaviours are kept to a minimum? This exciting new text introduces the key concepts you need to know to create and maintain your classroom as a positive learning environment. It begins by introducing four essential components that are the cornerstones of creating a positive, productive learning environment. These positive practices will set you on the pathway to success and help you establish classrooms that recognise and encourage appropriate behaviours while reducing the probability of inappropriate behaviours. It then examines in turn each of the four main groups of evidence-based approaches to managing student behaviour: behavioural, cognitive behavioural, psychoeducational and social justice approaches. For each it discusses the theories that inform them, their practical applications for fostering appropriate behaviours and also when and how to use them to proactively intervene, if necessary. By the end you will be empowered to select appropriate theories, approaches and strategies and bring these together to develop your individualised classroom management plan: one that suits your own theoretical beliefs, professional philosophy and teaching style.




Positive Learning Environments : Creating and Maintaining Productive Classrooms


Book Description

How do you create a learning environment that’s productive; one where students are engaged, learning and happy? And how do you ensure that inappropriate behaviours are kept to a minimum? The second edition of Positive Learning Environments: Creating and Maintaining Productive Classrooms introduces the key concepts teachers need to know to create and maintain their classroom as a positive learning environment. It begins by introducing four essential components that are the cornerstones of creating a positive, productive learning environment. These positive practices set readers on the pathway to success and help them establish classrooms that recognise and encourage appropriate behaviours while reducing the probability of inappropriate behaviours. It then examines in turn each of the four main groups of evidence-based approaches to managing student behaviour: behavioural, cognitive behavioural, psychoeducational and social justice approaches. For each it discusses the theories that inform them, their practical applications for fostering appropriate behaviours and also when and how to use them to proactively intervene, if necessary. By the end, readers are empowered to select appropriate theories, approaches and strategies and bring these together to develop their individualised classroom management plan: one that suits their own theoretical beliefs, professional philosophy and teaching style. Premium online teaching and learning tools are available on the MindTap platform. Learn more about the online tools cengage.com.au/mindtap




Classroom Management


Book Description

Deals with management of student conduct in the classroom, which is the number one area of concern for many teachers. This book includes discussions and real-life cases with reference to the influence of Chinese culture on Hong Kong classrooms. It covers topics such as managing behaviour, establishing classroom rules, and conveying authority.




Creating Inclusive Classrooms


Book Description

Creating an inclusive classroom means understanding federal legislation as well as national and state standards, but the practical and streamlined seventh edition of Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Effective and Reflective Practices recognizes that it means more than that. This text goes beyond the typical inclusion text, translating theory and research into practices you can use in your inclusive classroom by illustrating the principles of effective inclusion through classroom scenarios, online footage, and successful strategies. The text has the most current vision of today's inclusive classroom, which truly helps you create a successful educational experience for all students. New to This Edition: *NEW UDL and You features throughout the text guide you in understanding and implementing the principles of universal design to help all learners access the general education curriculum and succeed in inclusive classrooms.




Creating a Positive Learning Environment


Book Description

Pre-service and graduate teachers need a book which is simple in construct, is memorable for practice, and which is easily accessible for when they face a challenging behaviour or situation in their teaching.There is no single answer nor one right way to manage student behaviour or a class situation. Instead, there are a range of effective and skilful ways of enabling students to respond cooperatively, take responsibility and learn to manage their own behaviour.This book is made up of two parts. Part A clearly outlines the practical strategies, skills and techniques that every graduate teacher needs to know, understand and be able to apply, in order to skilfully manage their students, their classes and collegial relationships within the school community.The ultimate goal for teachers is not only to learn to manage the behaviour they meet on a daily basis, but also to enable their students to learn to manage themselves, their own behaviour, relationships and their learning.Part B presents common questions that graduate teachers ask throughout their first year of teaching. This section allows readers to dip in and read a suggested solution to a problem that they are facing, with cross references to Part A, which will expand on the theory, relevant strategies, skills,and techniques.




Handbook of Classroom Management


Book Description

Classroom management is a topic of enduring concern for teachers, administrators, and the public. It consistently ranks as the first or second most serious educational problem in the eyes of the general public, and beginning teachers consistently rank it as their most pressing concern during their early teaching years. Management problems continue to be a major cause of teacher burnout and job dissatisfaction. Strangely, despite this enduring concern on the part of educators and the public, few researchers have chosen to focus on classroom management or to identify themselves with this critical field. The Handbook of Classroom Management has four primary goals: 1) to clarify the term classroom management; 2) to demonstrate to scholars and practitioners that there is a distinct body of knowledge that directly addresses teachers’ managerial tasks; 3) to bring together disparate lines of research and encourage conversations across different areas of inquiry; and 4) to promote a vigorous agenda for future research in this area. To this end, 47 chapters have been organized into 10 sections, each chapter written by a recognized expert in that area. Cutting across the sections and chapters are the following themes: *First, positive teacher-student relationships are seen as the very core of effective classroom management. *Second, classroom management is viewed as a social and moral curriculum. *Third, external reward and punishment strategies are not seen as optimal for promoting academic and social-emotional growth and self-regulated behavior. *Fourth, to create orderly, productive environments teachers must take into account student characteristics such as age, developmental level, race, ethnicity, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and ableness. Like other research handbooks, the Handbook of Classroom Management provides an indispensable reference volume for scholars, teacher educators, in-service practitioners, and the academic libraries serving these audiences. It is also appropriate for graduate courses wholly or partly devoted to the study of classroom management.




The Knowledge Gap


Book Description

The untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty. It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.




The SEL Solution


Book Description

Inspiring and practical guide to create a safe and positive learning environment and help students master critical social and emotional skills. The SEL Solution provides everything teachers need to create a safe and positive learning environment. With dozens of fun and easy-to-do lessons and activities, educators have a clear path to integrate SEL lessons into social studies and language arts curriculum as well as throughout the school day. Additional sections for SEL directors and school leaders offer a blueprint for building a school-wide community that: helps students and staff master critical social and emotional skills, like self-awareness, the ability to focus, self-control, self-regulation, the ability to empathize, active listening, and cooperation engages everyone—kids and adults—in effective, compassionate behavior management strategies increases student success For use by teachers, counselors, coaches, principals, and other educators, the strategies in The SEL Solution provide a plan for engaging the whole school community in identifying, celebrating, and sustaining its positive values.Digital content includescustomizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation for professional development.




How Learning Works


Book Description

Praise for How Learning Works "How Learning Works is the perfect title for this excellent book. Drawing upon new research in psychology, education, and cognitive science, the authors have demystified a complex topic into clear explanations of seven powerful learning principles. Full of great ideas and practical suggestions, all based on solid research evidence, this book is essential reading for instructors at all levels who wish to improve their students' learning." —Barbara Gross Davis, assistant vice chancellor for educational development, University of California, Berkeley, and author, Tools for Teaching "This book is a must-read for every instructor, new or experienced. Although I have been teaching for almost thirty years, as I read this book I found myself resonating with many of its ideas, and I discovered new ways of thinking about teaching." —Eugenia T. Paulus, professor of chemistry, North Hennepin Community College, and 2008 U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education "Thank you Carnegie Mellon for making accessible what has previously been inaccessible to those of us who are not learning scientists. Your focus on the essence of learning combined with concrete examples of the daily challenges of teaching and clear tactical strategies for faculty to consider is a welcome work. I will recommend this book to all my colleagues." —Catherine M. Casserly, senior partner, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "As you read about each of the seven basic learning principles in this book, you will find advice that is grounded in learning theory, based on research evidence, relevant to college teaching, and easy to understand. The authors have extensive knowledge and experience in applying the science of learning to college teaching, and they graciously share it with you in this organized and readable book." —From the Foreword by Richard E. Mayer, professor of psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara; coauthor, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction; and author, Multimedia Learning




Positive Teaching


Book Description

Problems of classroom management and control are a recurring concern for many teachers. Disruptive behaviour and inattention hinder effective learning and impose a constant drain upon the teachers’ emotional resources. Continual nagging at children only increases teacher stress: what is needed is an effective alternative set of strategies. Originally published in 1984, Positive Teaching seeks to meets this need by presenting the behavioural approach to teaching in a clear, direct and lucid way. By adopting the behavioural approach, problem behaviour can be minimised, or rapidly nipped in the bud when it does arise. While punishment may be used in an attempt to stop almost any kind of behaviour, only the appropriate use of positive methods applied contingently, immediately and consistently can teach new, more adaptive behaviour. This is a crucial issue in real teaching and is rarely encountered or even discussed in most teacher education programmes. It is the central focus of Positive Teaching. This book is for all teachers, from the beginning student to experienced head teachers; for those teaching in a first school, and for those teaching sixth-formers; for those experiencing difficulties and for those whose authority is already well established. The behavioural approach offers practical support to those who are struggling and a rationale for the effective, positive strategies of the successful. We can all improve our teaching.