Among the elements of Suzy Pepper Rollins’ Learning in the Fast Lane that reviewer Carolyn Miller liked best were her references to recent research, her fresh suggestions for making formative assessments, and her close look at student motivation. And there’s lots more to try out!
In “Engaging Minds in Science and Math Classrooms,” Eric Brunsell & Michelle A. Fleming explain in just 55 pages the why & how of joyful learning that supports today’s ed initiatives. Excellent resource for new and veteran STEM teachers, says math teacher/coach Lynne Menechella.
Book Reviews / Common Core State Standards
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/16/2014 · Last modified 11/16/2019
Common Core Literacy for ELA, History/Social Studies and the Humanities deserves a place on the bookshelf of all educators in the Humanities, says reviewer and rookie SS teacher Michael DiClemente. The book offers detailed strategies and timely tech advice.
Erik Palmer makes a compelling case for the explicit instruction of communication skills in Teaching the Core Skills of Listening and Speaking, relating them to CCSS anchor standards and providing helpful lessons and good advice, says reviewer Rebecca Crockett.
Principals and others who want to serve as principals will find a “symphony of theory, practice, data, advice and inspiration” in Michael Fullan’s The Principal – Three Keys to Maximizing Impact, says reviewer Holly Foley.
Teaching with Heart gives voice to teachers and explores the nature of teaching in a totally new way. Reviewer and teacher-leader Ariel Sacks also finds it a testament to the power of poetry in a culture that often forgets its value.
Regie Routman’s Read, Write, Lead could not have come out at a better time. Reviewer Matt Renwick says the veteran educator brings much needed sanity to the learning discussion, emphasizing the link between school leadership and literacy success.
“Close Reading in Elementary School,” by Betsy and Diana Sisson, offers upper elementary teachers a framework for creating lessons; ways to link close reading, writing and talking; a model for gauging text complexity, and a reasonable approach to rigor, says reviewer and 4th grade teacher Linda Biondi.
Book Reviews / Data-driven Instruction
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/03/2014 · Last modified 11/22/2019
“How Teachers Can Turn Data into Action” is an excellent guide to planning, ordering, and running data talks that lead to better instruction. Teacher-reviewer Dina Murphy also recommends its appendix, filled with protocols, flow charts and checklists to help get your team started.
Book Reviews / Common Core State Standards
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/03/2014 · Last modified 11/18/2019
“Common Core in the Content Areas” not only makes a convincing case that content-area teachers can be “literacy teachers” when it serves their purposes, says reviewer Sarah Goodis-Orenstein, it also provides “a bunch of teaching and planning tools” and collaborative learning tasks.
