The Cluster Grouping Handbook


Book Description

Definitive resource for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping, fully revised and expanded. In today’s standards-driven era, how can teachers motivate and challenge gifted students and ensure that all students reach their potential? This book provides a compelling answer: the Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model. The authors explain how the model differs from grouping practices of the past, and they present a roadmap for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping. Readers will find a wealth of teacher-tested classroom strategies along with detailed information on identifying gifted students for clusters, gaining support from parents, and providing ongoing professional development to teachers and other staff. The new edition: offers identification and placement guidance for a wide variety of student ages and populations directs special attention toward empowering gifted English language learners shows teachers how to use the Depth of Knowledge framework to differentiate learning tasks offers new ideas for integrating technology into both professional development and student learning The Cluster Grouping Handbook offers a guide for schools to create a workable, defensible gifted program; to simplify teachers’ jobs; and to maximize learning for all students. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation; a free PLC/Book Study Guide is also available.




Teach for Attention!


Book Description

A lively read from a working teacher offers practical engagement strategies for students with attention challenges If learning is a motor, student engagement is the key. But when teaching students with ADHD and other attention challenges, sometimes even the most finely tuned classroom can sputter. Teach for Attention! is your tool belt of teaching strategies for students with ADHD, low self-confidence, distraction, and other attention challenges. Dozens of true classroom stories show the strategies in action. It’s all about making simple fixes so you can reach every student without changing your approach or revamping your curriculum. Carry these ideas with you like tools on a belt—the right one will be there when you need it!




Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School


Book Description

Practical, research-based lessons for middle school educators to teach students pro-social attitudes and behaviors to prevent bullying. Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School focuses on positive and pro-social attitudes and behaviors that build a respectful and compassionate school environment, while also addressing the tough issues of prejudice, anger, exclusion, and bullying. Through role-playing, perspective-taking, sharing, writing, discussion, and more, students develop the insights and skills they need to accept differences, resolve conflicts peacefully, stop bullying among peers, and create a community of kindness in their classrooms and school. Based on survey data gathered by the authors from more than 1,000 students, the book’s research-based lessons are easy to implement and developmentally appropriate. Digital content includes student handouts from the book.




Total School Cluster Grouping and Differentiation


Book Description

The Total School Cluster Grouping Model is a specific, research-based, total-school application of cluster grouping combined with differentiation, focused on meeting the needs of students identified as gifted while also improving teaching, learning, and achievement of all students. This revised and updated second edition of Total School Cluster Grouping and Differentiation includes rationale and research followed by specific steps for developing site-specific applications that will make the important art of differentiation possible by reducing the range of achievement levels in teachers' classrooms. Materials to support staff development—including powerful simulations, evaluation, management, special populations, differentiation strategies, social and emotional needs, and recommended materials—are included.




Enrichment Clusters


Book Description

Enrichment clusters engage students and facilitators in student-driven, real-world learning experiences. Grouped by interest, students working like practicing professionals apply advanced content and methods to develop products and services for authentic audiences. Clusters are scheduled during the school day over an extended period of time and involve all students. This updated second edition of Enrichment Clusters provides the rationale for including this important enrichment program for all students, suggestions for creating buy-in, and a step-by-step guide for successful implementation of a self-sustaining enrichment cluster program within the context of specific schools. Included are staff development activities, suggestions for evaluation and program improvement, guidelines for developing high quality cluster experiences for teachers and students, suggested resources, and everything one needs to develop, implement, and sustain a top-quality enrichment cluster program.




A Teacher's Guide to Flexible Grouping and Collaborative Learning


Book Description

Master flexible grouping and differentiation strategies to challenge every learner, every day. Grouping learners purposefully throughout the school day based on their needs and the curriculum remains the single best way to differentiate instruction. This award-winning guide will help teachers expertly use flexible grouping and differentiation strategies to respond to students’ diverse learning needs, abilities, and interests. Included are methods for creating groups based on assessment data, planning group lessons and tiered assignments, engaging learners at all levels, supporting personalized learning, grading collaborative work, and communicating with parents about the benefits of groupwork and productive struggle. Digital content contains all forms from the book and a PDF presentation. A free online PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/PLC.




Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom


Book Description

Since 1992, TEACHING GIFTED KIDS IN THE REGULAR CLASSROOM has been the definitive guide to meeting the learning needs of gifted students in the mixed-abilities classroom. This revised, expanded, and updated edition of the proven best-seller includes new chapters on the characteristics of gifted students and parenting gifted kids. Throughout, the compacting and differentiating strategies that were the core of the first edition have been greatly expanded. Also included are many new forms that teachers will use every day.




Fundamentals of Gifted Education


Book Description

The field of gifted education is characterized by a perplexing array of perspectives concerning such fundamental issues as definition, identification, curriculum, social and emotional development, and underserved populations. Fundamentals of Gifted Education provides a coherent framework for planning effective programs, providing appropriate educational services, and evaluating programs for the gifted. Parts are organized around fundamental issues confronting the field and follow a common structure: an introductory chapter that provides an overview of the theme of that part as well as guiding points and questions for the reader followed by representative point-of-view chapters written by leading experts that provide varied perspectives on the topic at hand.




Designing Services and Programs for High-Ability Learners


Book Description

THE comprehensive guide to establishing or strengthening a gifted program! Whether you are developing a new program from the ground up or need to restructure an existing one, Designing Services and Programs for High-Ability Learners will help you every step of the way with detailed guidelines, practical tips, templates, action plans, and suggestions for strategic planning teams as well as for the sole practitioner. Consolidating the sage advice and up-to-date research of 29 leaders in the field, this comprehensive and highly practical guide takes the guesswork out of providing appropriate services and programming for high-ability students from elementary through high school. Each chapter addresses a key feature of gifted programming, from identification to evaluation and advocacy, and includes Definition, Rationale, and Guiding Principles of the key feature Attributes That Define High Quality for assessing effectiveness Flawed Example of the key feature and strategies to improve the example Revised Example, illustrating implementation of high-quality attributes Strategic Plan for Designing or Remodeling the key feature, delineating the steps involved Template for Getting Started, helping you take the first steps of a complex process Must-Read Resources Informed planning allows you to tailor services to the specific needs of your students, whether youa're in a rural, urban, or suburban community. Superintendents, administrators, teachers, and advocates will find Designing Services and Programs for High-Ability Learners invaluable in defending, developing, and monitoring high quality gifted services and programs.




School, Family, and Community Partnerships


Book Description

Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.