Clear, updated guidelines for increasing academic performance and providing educational equity for all students!Confronting gaps in school achievement requires a systematic examination of the entire school system and a comprehensive problem-solving approach. Written for school leaders, this completely revised and expanded edition outlines 50 detailed, researched-based strategies for developing high-performing schools.Emphasizing the provision of equal educational opportunities for all learners, this book is organized around six critical standards: Teach a well-crafted, focused, valid, and clear curriculum Align assessments, programs, and instructional resources with curriculum Promote student equality and equity Focus on mastery learning and effective teaching strategies Provide resources for establishing curriculum expectations, monitoring, and accountability Institute effective district and school planning, staff development, and resource allocation to create a quality learning environmentWith field-tested best practices and an expanded bibliography and research base, this hands-on guide provides school leaders with strategies that give all learners the opportunity to succeed.

After the Crisis is the companion book to Preparing for Disaster: What Every Early Childhood Director Needs to Know. When a crisis shakes a child's life, it is often up to teachers to recognize and identify signs that the child is suffering from continuing stress, and to help parents make appropriate decisions regarding next steps. Although most teachers cannot provide therapy to children under traumatic stress, they already have the tools they need to help children cope. The literature-based activities in After the Crisis help children who have been through a trauma. With activities and exercises that can be used in conjunction with 50 children's books, teachers can use the discussion starters, writing activities, and art activities in After the Crisis to promote children's ability to cope and heal.

Now that most states have adopted the new Common Core State Standards, the next major challenge is to simplify and implement them by 2014.Readers will find: A system for creating local standards from the CCSS Methods for connecting the common, formative assessments to quarterly instructional objectives Ways to scaffold learning expectations Examples taken from districts where CCSS is currently implemented Helpful charts and graphs plus access to Internet-based software for mapping the CCSS to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This book explains how to facilitate learning for all students while taking advantage of the new culture, technology and norms of today's learning environment. By Joe Crawford

By: Thomas Guskey and Lee Ann JungStandards, assessments, grading, and reporting provide the foundation for nearly every initiative in modern education reform. But what do these terms actually mean—and what changes in each area will bring about the improvements teachers and school leaders want to see? The authors collect the essential questions that stymie educators, and give each one a short, simple, jargon-free response. Perfect for new teacher induction or professional learning on Common Core Standards initiatives, this book offers: a vocabulary and frame of reference to share with other educators; an understanding of effective implementation in standards, assessments, grading, and reporting; and specific ideas for purposeful action. Organized in a unique, accessible Q&A format, this easy-to-use guide gives educators the common ground they need for successful improvement efforts. 

Using Classroom Assessment to Maximize Student Learning   (Second Edition )By: Lorna M. EarlHigh-stakes tests and end-of-year assessments dominate educational planning and curriculum. Formative assessments have proven to have the most impact on day-to-day learning.  Using assessment to spark learning can unlock a powerful educational tool, and Assessment as Learning can show you how. Using clear explanations this book illustrates how formative assessment can be used to understand student beliefs, inform classroom instruction, and encourage student reflection. Fully revised, this second edition features: discussion of the complex nature of learning; ways to use formative assessment in a variety of contexts; real-life examples and case studies of assessment in action; sample rubrics and lesson plans for easy implementation; and insights into common classroom dilemmas along with viable solutions.

Strategies to Overcome Risk and AdversityBy: Gabe SimonOne of the hazards we face in our focus on test preparation and results-driven schooling is neglecting the needs of our most disenfranchised students. This book was written to help counter this trend and offer new hope. The author suggests that if we forge strong relationships and provide scaffolded supports, then we may just make school the transformative experience it should be.The author provides classroom practitioners, support team specialists, and all levels of schools leaders with numerous strategies for helping students rebound from risk. Discover how creating the will to change—combined with the dedication of caring, supportive adults—can support students in reaching their full potential and close the achievement gap once and for all.

Identify the warning signs of cyberbullying and prevent inappropriate behaviors!Cyberbullying is the intentional and repeated act of causing harm to others through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. The authors help educators understand the potential consequences of this deliberate behavior and present strategies for effective identification, prevention, and response.Focusing on the way technology can facilitate or magnify bullying behavior, this comprehensive resource offers information, guidelines, and resources to give students the protection they need. Written by leading experts, this groundbreaking book offers the voices of youth affected by or involved in real cyberbullying incidents and includes: Illustrations of what cyberbullying looks like Tips for identifying cyberbullies or targets "Breakout boxes" highlighting hundreds of anti-cyberbullying strategies A review of current research and legal rulings Strategies for responsible social networking Follow-up reflection questions in each chapter Guidelines for working with parents and law enforcementBullying Beyond the Schoolyard helps educators confront technology-based aggression and ensure the safe and responsible use of computers and the Internet.

By Walter B. Roberts, Jr.Today's bullies and victims are far more complex than traditional labels of "thug" and "wimp." Educators cannot continue to rely upon traditional methods to break the cycle of bullying. This book challenges educators to work effectively with bullies as well as victims, and gives them the tools to do it.Part One offers concrete information to help educators understand and recognize the range of students at risk for victimization and aggression. Part Two provides counselors, administrators, and teachers with a four-point intervention plan that covers:Surveying students to prevent school violenceSafeguarding victimsDetermining when-and how- to contact parentsHandling female bullying and cyberbullyingCounseling for immediate and long-term support, and more!With an annotated resource list of recommended books and videos, this invaluable resource will inspire and equip educators to prevent next week's crisis today.

The elementary years are a critical opportunity to help students of all backgrounds meet the demands of the Common Core Standards. In this realistic book, the authors show how to help every K-5 student, including English Learners, students with disabilities, speakers of nonstandard English, and other struggling learners meet the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (ELA). This resource: Familiarizes readers with each of the Common Core's 32 ELA anchor standards Outlines the specific skills that students need to master each standard Presents a wealth of flexible teaching strategies and instructional tools aligned to each anchor standard Includes guidance on collaboration and co-teaching for student success By Maria G. Dove and Andrea Honigsfeld

The Common Core State Standards Edition - Third Edition The Common Core State Standards offer a shared language that ensures consistency and accountability, while also giving you the flexibility to design a curriculum that's right for your students. In this new edition of her classic text, Drake applies the essential principles of standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment to today's unique challenges.Focusing on multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches, she provides guidance on: Unpacking the Common Core State Standards Planning assessment tasks Designing instructional strategies Developing daily activities Helping students connect essential questions to enduring understandingsIncluded are new examples of exemplary programs, discussion questions, a sample completed interdisciplinary curriculum and activity suggestions for building your own standards-based integrated curriculum.By Susan M. Drake

The ultimate guide to handling problem behavior "in the heat of the moment"!When disruptive behavior occurs, your first response can determine the outcome of the situation and how quickly it is resolved. This practical resource offers teachers approaches for immediately defusing disruptive situations, avoiding escalation, and correcting behaviors.An expert in behavior management, Geoff Colvin introduces seven key behavioral principles and offers specific, research-based strategies for handling disruptions. This resource features: Strategies that target specific behaviors, including off-task behavior, rule violations, disrespect, agitation, noncompliance, and threats and intimidation Common classroom scenarios and solutions for K–12 general and special education teachers Checklists and action plans for applying the strategies while maintaining the flow of instructionDefusing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom helps teachers respond in a way that immediately corrects the misbehavior and smoothly returns the class to learning.

One Tool Doesn't Fit All  (Second Edition)By: Carolyn Chapman and Rita KingIn this second edition, the authors provide research-based and practical formative assessment tools, strategies, and activities that simplify the process of identifying students' strengths and needs. There is a new chapter on ways to engage learners in self-assessment; more tools for assessing before, during, and after learning; and approaches to help students take ownership of their own learning. Included are surveys, checklists, questionnaires, assignments, graphic organizers, portfolio work samples, rubrics, and more. The final chapter pulls it all together and shows how to integrate formative assessment to improve student achievement.