Discover practical strategies to foster meaningful connections with parents and families. Parental engagement today changes the future of education for the students and parents of tomorrow. In Building Parent Capacity in High Poverty Schools, the educational leader known as "the woman who makes schools work for the poor" shares insightful strategies and personal stories to guide educators in fostering meaningful connections with parents. Leveraging her wealth of experience in education, Dr. Anderson underlines the vital role of family engagement and the integration of comprehensive support structures centered around families. Underscoring the importance of nurturing parent capacity and cultivating authentic relationships with parents and community stakeholders, the book enables learning communities where parents are active participants in their child's educational journey. Additional features include: Definitions of parent capacity, involvement, and engagement Learned and Lived" stories highlighting school districts successfully supporting families and students In Action" sections demonstrating the application of tools and strategies in different contexts A discussion of the significance of school funding and resource management By moving from rhetoric to reality, from jargon to clarity, and from bake sales to budget considerations, this strikingly practical book offers tools, methods, and ideas that school leaders and educators can use to engage parents, build their capacity, and ultimately create a future of hope for generations to come.
Academic and Emotional Supports for Struggling Learners
Disrupt the painful cycle of academic challenges and emotional distress When students struggle with learning, it can be stressful for both them and their teachers. Struggling learners are more likely to experience low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues-challenges that, combined with highly stressful learning experiences, can tip students into a trauma response that makes learning even harder. Overcoming the School Trauma Cycle explores the science behind how learning occurs in the brain, how it can be disrupted, and-most importantly-how to overcome the painful cycle of academic challenges and emotional distress. Inside, you'll find: What the latest research tells us about how mental health issues can disrupt the learning process How academic and mental health challenges can fuel each other Manageable, whole-class practices and targeted supports to meet struggling learners' academic and emotional needs Opportunities to self-assess and reflect Many schools have increased their focus on trauma-informed teaching and social-emotional learning, but these approaches are too often pitted against academic rigor when they are really two sides of the same coin. To improve outcomes for all students, we must address their social-emotional needs alongside their academic ones. In Overcoming the School Trauma Cycle, you'll discover empowering practices to help all students learn and thrive.
Every child has a right to make sense of math, and to use math to make sense of their worlds. Despite their gifts, students with disabilities are often viewed from a deficit standpoint in mathematics classrooms. These students are often conceptualized as needing to be fixed or remediated. Rethinking Disability and Mathematics argues that mathematics should be a transformative space for these students, a place where they can discover their power and potential and be appreciated for their many strengths. Author Rachel Lambert introduces Universal Design for Learning for Math (UDL Math), a way to design math classrooms that empowers disabled and neurodiverse students to engage in mathematics in ways that lead to meaningful and joyful math learning. The book showcases how UDL Math can open up mathematics classrooms so that they provide access to meaningful understanding and an identity as a math learner to a wider range of students. Weaved throughout the book are the voices of neurodiverse learners telling their own stories of math learning. Through stories of real teachers recognizing the barriers in their own math classrooms and redesigning to increase access, the book: Reframes students with disabilities from a deficit to an asset perspective, paving the way for trusting their mathematical thinking Offers equitable math instruction for all learners, including those with disabilities, neurodiverse students, and/or multilingual learners Applies UDL to the math classroom, providing practical tips and techniques to support students' cognitive, affective, and strategic development Immerses readers in math classrooms where all students are engaged in meaningful mathematics, from special education day classes to inclusive general education classrooms, from grades K-8. Integrates research on mathematical learning including critical math content such as developing number sense and place value, fluency with math facts and operations, and understanding fractions and algebraic thinking. Explores critical issues such as writing IEP goals in math This book is designed for all math educators, both those trained as general education teachers and those trained as special education teachers. The UDL Math approach is adapted to work for all learners because everyone varies in how they perceive the world and in how they approach mathematical problem solving. When we rethink mathematics to include multiple ways of being a math learner, we make math accessible and engaging for a wider group of learners.
Adopt a strengths-based, justice-centered approach to teaching multilinguals Offering educators a path to pedagogical justice for multilingual learners, Overhauling Learning for Multilingual Students outlines a comprehensive alternative model for instruction and assessment. With an emphasis on engaging multilingual learners in authentic communication and promoting student agency and creativity, this book is an urgent call-to-action for educators at all levels to value and leverage the many assets that multilingual students bring to every classroom. The book outlines six dimensions of pedagogical justice and offers practical strategies to implement a learner-centered approach that will help all students thrive. Additional features include: An assets-based framework designed to help multilingual learners learn and grow Guidance for shifting instructional strategies away from remediation and test preparation toward an engaging, justice-centered approach Activities to to help students collaboratively build up unique and important ideas (claims and concepts) across disciplines Written by scholar, practitioner, and best-selling author, Jeff Zwiers, Overhauling Learning for Multilingual Students supports educators to de-think and rethink traditional one-size-fits-all approaches to teaching and assessing multilingual learners.
If not now, when? Anchored in the tenets of justice, repair, and belonging, Equity Now is a comprehensive guide for educators that emphasizes the urgent need for immediate action to dismantle systemic barriers in education. Aimed at K-12 professionals at all levels of the education system, the book urges us to move beyond individual efforts by applying an equity lens to our policies and practices. Through honest, sustained, and critical dialogues in "brave spaces," educators can address disparities and create equity-centered school communities. Equity Now proposes a solutions-oriented approach to fostering welcoming, affirming, responsive, and rigorous learning environments. Author Tyrone C. Howard, one of the leading authorities on issues related to racial inequality in our schools, provides An equity framework grounded in justice, repair, and belonging A clear vision of equity-focused leadership Essential practices, strategies, and resources for classroom teachers Suggestion for engaging parents, families and caregivers in schools Recommendations for engaging data in an equity based way Reflection questions and additional resources at the close of each chapter This book is a must-read for educators, administrators, and policymakers who are committed to creating conditions in which our children can reach their highest potential.
Building upon the blockbuster success of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Peter Liljedahl has joined forces with co-author Maegan Giroux to bring the Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) framework to life in this new book, Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K-5.
A Research-Based Approach Grounded in Honesty, Transparency, Accuracy, and Equity
Let evidence and integrity guide your grading practice If you want to ask a polarizing question in education, ask someone their thoughts on grading. Few topics have elicited more interest or opinions, even though grading practices have remained relatively unchanged for years. But opinions are not evidence. The time has come to get it right with a fresh approach grounded in research and the principles of integrity. Grading with Integrity introduces a measured approach to grading reform based on honesty, transparency, accuracy, and equity with recommendations backed by clear and trustworthy evidence. Addressing the many "whys'' involved, this thoughtfully organized book addresses central questions related to grading and reporting student learning, covering: An historical overview of grading and reporting practices A discussion of standards-based and competency-based grading Recommendations for reporting non academic learning goals separately from academic achievement, to accurately reflect students' performance Suggestions for reporting growth and improvement, using specific assessments and other reporting tools An infallible argument for grading with integrity This book is a must-read for K-12 classroom teachers and administrators who are looking to implement better and more defensible grading and reporting policies and practices. Let evidence and integrity be your guide to enhancing students' best interests and learning success.
Find the right strategies and tools to support students who experience trauma Studies show that 46-75% of children experience trauma, often resulting in challenging behavior, depression, and anxiety as well as long-term physical and mental health issues. Today's educators, counselors, and clinicians need the right strategies to help. Written by experts with years of experience working with children and teens exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Trauma-Informed Practices for the Classroom and Beyond describes the most effective tools available and walks you through how to implement them with compassion and fidelity. Inside, you'll find Detailed and easy-to-implement interventions that alleviate the effects of trauma, including mindfulness, journaling, restorative justice, and more Trauma-informed practices to use with all students, regardless of their age or the duration or frequency of their trauma exposure Ways educators can prepare their classrooms and schools to support students who experience ACEs This how-to guide and its companion website with discussion points, recommended videos, and additional resources equips you with evidence-based techniques and instructions to support children and teens with ACEs and enhances your practice to better serve the students who need our help most.
Foster Trust, Accountability and Engagement in Your Teams Creating strong, cohesive teams is an art, and How Teams Work: A Playbook for Distributing Leadership is the essential guide for school leaders looking to master this craft. This interactive playbook doesn't just advise but actively equips leaders with the tools they need to foster trust, accountability, and engagement in their teams. School leaders today face a critical mandate: to empower, engage, and work in concert with their teams to foster a positive and productive school environment. How Teams Work doesn't offer mere platitudes-it offers practical strategies and tools, with concept maps, learning intentions, team challenges, reflection prompts and more. Information is organized into six modules exploring: The foundational role leaders play in team dynamics Strategies to bring together and mobilize effective leadership teams Methods to forge and maintain team unity and collaboration How to build and maintain trust and respect within teams Practical tools for maximizing team productivity and decision-making Guidelines on reflective leadership to assess and improve team performance How Teams Work isn't only a resource; it's a roadmap to sustainable success, illuminating the path to nurturing leadership at every level. In an age where the turnover of educators is high and the need for sustained, collective school improvement efforts is urgent, leveraging the power of teams isn't just advantageous-it's essential.
