Category: Book Reviews

Get Kids Thinking with Talks about Math

Educator Jennifer Underwood reports Making Number Talks Matter is an excellent read for all math teachers. The book explains both how to do math talks and why these talks are an important means of helping all students become confident mathematical thinkers.

A Quick Look at G&T Teaching Strategies

The authors of Proven Strategies That Work attempt to provide solutions to complex issues of teaching gifted children in about four pages each, including forms, says reviewer Lisa Penrod. Some tips are helpful but suggested strategies need more development.

Make the Shift to 1:1 Teaching & Learning

In Power Up, Diana Neebe and Jen Roberts offer a 1:1 teaching framework that will guide teachers from the implementation process to a technology-rich learning environment. The online companion PD resources are extensive, says reviewer Sandy Wisneski.

Serravallo’s Reading Strategies Earn a Rave Review

Jennifer Serravallo’s new book on reading strategies was worth the wait, says Linda Biondi. It offers “adaptable, research based lessons targeting student’s skills, adaptable to different levels of students and texts, as well as different reading programs.”

Tools to Bring the World to Your Classroom

Homa Sabet Tavangar and Becky Mladic-Morales have created the ideal global education toolkit for any teacher, K-12, to bring the world into their classroom. The resource packed book is well written and easy to navigate, says 5th grade teacher Jennifer Druffel.

How to Create Formative Classroom Assessments

Teacher-Made Assessments: How to Connect Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Learning (2nd Ed) by Gareis and Grant gets reviewer Anne Anderson’s gold star for usefulness and practicality with its guidelines offering plentiful techniques and examples.

Solutions to Writing Workshop Challenges

In The Unstoppable Writing Teacher, M. Colleen Cruz addresses issues that stop teachers from teaching writer’s workshop the way that they want. She tackles time, resources, families, curriculum and administration effectively, says reviewer Laura Von Staden.

Why and How to Connect with Educators

Whitaker, Zoul and Casas show how to fit digital connections into an already busy life, along the way packing their new book with digital resources to make PLNs a source of professional growth and friendship. Digital immigrant Laura Von Staden highly recommends it.