Building on their 2001 edition of Dealing with Difficult Parents, Todd Whitaker and Douglas J. Fiore offer a valuable resource for professional development, says reviewer Holly Foley, especially when addressing difficult relationships between home and school.
Co-teaching Reflections / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/09/2016 · Last modified 11/14/2019
The general educator’s perspective is critical as special educators strive to strike a balance and co-teach effectively. Elizabeth Stein queried two co-teaching general ed teachers and asked them to choose a color that represented their co-teaching experience.
The restorative practices advocated by authors Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey invite teachers “to switch their energies from rules to relationships, and provide meaningful instruction,” writes reviewer and instructional coach Glenda Moyer.
Thematic text sets that tap into the social worlds and narrative driven lives of adolescents can spark “unstoppable learning,” say literacy educators Katie and Chris Cunningham, who share several text-set examples and a 10-step process for building your own.
Adam Sáenz and Jeremy Dew link relationship building to its impact on fulfilling our calling as educators. The authors invite readers to reflect on how they connect and set boundaries to best use energy. Well worth the read, says Laura Von Staden.
Future of History / Writing in Social Studies
by Jody & Shara · Published 04/19/2016 · Last modified 11/25/2019
Today’s history students need to include evaluation, analysis, and synthesis in writing assignments, going well beyond the traditional reporting of facts. Shara Peters and Jody Passanisi share their methods for helping students improve their writing skills.
Involving parents and families in a partnership with schools has a positive impact on students. What can principals do to ensure the partnership is sustained, vibrant and diverse? Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn suggest strategies to build connections.
Learning Personalized is a resource that does not shy away from wading into the messiness that is true learning. Educators can deeply explore the book, one chunk at a time, to create learning experiences that appeal to all types of students.
Evernote is a 21st century day planner. In Part 4 of his productivity series for school leaders, organization consultant and former principal Frank Buck singles out Evernote as a must-have for collecting school and home information in an easily accessible way.
Student Motivation / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 03/01/2016 · Last modified 11/25/2019
What instructional decisions and teaching techniques work best to move students beyond mere compliance to active and engaged learning? Elizabeth Stein shares some favorites, including regular movement, an inviting environment, and plenty of voice and choice.
