After reading “The i5 Approach” to lesson planning, middle grades teacher Joanne Bell can see that better thinking skills not only lead to a deeper understanding of big concepts, they can spark fresh innovations. Bell welcomes the integration of 21st century skills.
In the 100+ pages of Two Teachers in the Room, Elizabeth Stein provides a treasure trove of strategies, tips and ideas not only for co-teaching, but also for creating a student-centered learning environment in every classroom, says ESE leader Laura Von Staden.
Book Reviews / English Language Learners
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/31/2018 · Last modified 11/22/2019
The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox is all meat with 400+ pages of teaching tactics, techniques, and methods, organized for use by ELL teachers and their colleagues across content areas. Educator Rita Platt says the book’s high impact strategies are perfect for summer PD.
To reach the student who hasn’t made that essential positive connection with reading, you can do no better than apply the ideas detailed by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward in From Striving to Thriving. Reviewer Linda Biondi recommends having a box of tissues handy.
In the 2nd edition of Fair Isn’t Always Equal Rick Wormeli employs patience and innovation along with multiple examples across disciplines and grade levels to explain how assessment works in differentiated classrooms, writes teacher Jennifer Randall. Essential reading!
In Literacy Essentials, Regie Routman delivers a thoughtful and thought-provoking book that will challenge and inspire educators on their professional journeys as they seek to provide empowering instruction to all their learners, writes literacy coach Pam Hamilton.
Book Reviews / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/10/2018 · Last modified 11/21/2019
SEL is a hot topic in education circles today, and it should be, writes reviewer Rita Platt. If you are looking for lesson plans and ideas to help you boost social and emotional learning, Boost Emotional Intelligence in Students will be a great addition to your toolkit.
Among the books educator Lisa Signorelli has read about teaching children in high poverty schools, she finds Disrupting Poverty: Five Powerful Classroom Practices is the easiest to understand and contains very impactful strategies to use in the classroom.
Two Teachers in the Room by Elizabeth Stein explores how co-teachers can work together as effective partners to best serve all their students. Elizabeth OBrien recommends the book for people new to co-teaching and as a key resource in professional development settings.
In an age of fake news and the dismissal of science, teaching students to conduct research provides them with a critical skill. In “It’s a Matter of Fact,” teacher librarian Angie Miller shows how students across content areas can focus on a thesis and master resources.
