In his 2011 ASCD best-seller "Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning," author Mike Schmoker described a fresh approach to K-12 teaching built on three core elements: a focused and coherent curriculum; clear, structured lessons; and purposeful reading and writing, or authentic literacy. Now, in "Leading…

This widely adopted text explores key theories and models that frame reading instruction and research. Readers learn why theory matters in designing and implementing high-quality instruction and research; how to critically evaluate the assumptions and beliefs that guide their own work; and what can be gained by looking at reading through multiple…

There is little agreement among school leaders on what constitutes quality teaching and how best to support teachers in improving lessons, assessments, and classroom instruction. This book will show how principals and other school leaders can "grow" the expertise of teachers to deliver high quality instruction that serves all students well. It…

"The Brain-Targeted Teaching Model for 21st-Century Schools" serves as a bridge between research and practice by providing a cohesive, proven, and usable model of effective instruction. Compatible with other professional development programs, this model shows how to apply relevant research from educational and cognitive neuroscience to classroom…

Explore successful models of intervention. No Child Left Behind has set the high expectation that every child meet grade level expectations. This publication synthesizes the research on intervention programs and best practices related to mathematical instructional pedagogy and differentiation to assist teachers, schools, and school districts in…

Fourth graders around the country face new, high-stakes standardized tests, drawing increased attention to the need for effective literacy instruction in the upper elementary grades. This book goes beyond "political catch phrases" to examine what actually works in the fourth-grade classroom. The book offers a view of the techniques and…

Currently, there is much controversy and confusion over "best practice" issues in teaching reading. This book, written by a "lifelong teacher/learner," is based on the premise that good teaching does not have to mean lots of hours spent planning but instead requires lots of thinking--thinking about what matters to children, what children need to…

Over the last few years, YOUTH SPEAKS after-school poetry workshops have helped turn hundreds of student writers into poets. Intended to be a resource for teachers who wish to transform their poetry lessons into a dynamic learning environment, this book focuses on some of the secrets of the success of YOUTH SPEAKS. Utilizing student examples from…

This resource examines the role of the central office in improving instruction and therefore improving student achievement. Mac Iver and Farley-Ripple provide a comprehensive review of the available research (since the 1970s) on the role of the central office in student achievement. First, they review the research chronologically, and then by…

This book offers an analysis and summary of school effectiveness research. The book reviews the history and "state of the art" knowledge in the field, with a look at the international research base; reviews those research practices in terms of design, data collection, and data analysis; and outlines some creative new directions for the…

This book is a collection of profiles of top teachers in Ontario (Canada). The profiles were taken from a Toronto newspaper contest to nominate "Teacher of the Year"; more than 10,000 submissions have been made since 1986. The Teacher of the Year Award was begun to reverse the current trend of low public and institutional esteem for…

This report is intended to remind those involved in the teaching and learning enterprise that the business of education is complex and involves an intricate interplay among individuals, organizations, and diverse life situations. The report focuses specifically on teachers and the perspectives they bring to the discourse on education. The book…

This book profiles 12 writing centers that function effectively on their college and university campuses. Following an introduction that provides an overview and suggests ways the book can be used, the centers are examined in detail in the following chapters: (1) "A Multiservice Writing Lab in a Multiversity: The Purdue University Writing…

This book presents Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI), a research-supported framework for integrating curriculum with instruction and fostering long-term engagement in reading. According to the book, CORI is a practical model that helps K-6 teachers plan integrated units of instruction based on their own interests and strengths as well as…

This book provides teaching models, classroom organization schemes, and management practices that can quickly improve a teacher's capacity to reach unmotivated and disengaged students. Examples are drawn from elementary, middle, and secondary schools. After Chapter 1 (Part I) introduces the problem and describes the characteristics of at-risk…