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Discipline with Dignity for Challenging Youth 

by Allen N. Mendler



Book Description
This book presents dozens of strategies gathered from successful schools and great teachers, explaining not only what to do, but also why you need to do it. It includes basic principles and goals that are at the foundation of all effective discipline strategies. It also presents 21 drug-free strategies that have effectively helped students with ADHD improve their ability to focus.

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Just in Time: Powerful Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior

by Allen N. Mendler



Book Description
Just in Time provides busy educators with practical, easy-to-use strategies for preventing and responding to misbehavior in ways that preserve dignity and promote positive behavior. If you work with challenging students, this book is required reading. Turn to Just in Time for tips on
� Welcoming students
� Establishing effective rules and consequences
� Promoting responsibility and problem-solving methods
� Motivating students
� Handling tough moments and difficult situations
� Helping students handle tough moments and difficult situations

Just in Time also includes answers to frequently asked questions on classroom behavior. The proven and innovative strategies in this book have been developed, shared, and tested by educators throughout North America.

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Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement in High-Performing Schools

by Alan M. Blankstein

Buy direct from publisher at premium price:
http://www.hopefoundation.org/main.php?p=7



Book Description
"Failure Is Not an Option is a deeply passionate call to arms, combined with the wherewithal to take systematic, continuous, and effective action. A must read for all those interested in reform because it is simultaneously inspiring and practical."
From the Foreword by Michael Fullan, Dean
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

"This is a practical, well formatted book that is intellectually solid, emotionally inspiring, and practically accessible."
Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Lynch School of Education, Boston College

"Both inspirational and eminently practical, Failure Is Not an Option can serve as a handbook for both strategic planning and classroom-by-classroom reworking. Any administrator who truly wishes to change his or her school can use this book as a manual from which to design every aspect of the change process."
Robert W. Cole, Educational writer and consultant
Louisville, KY

"This book speaks to the spark of caring, generosity, and greatness in every child and provides caring adults with ideas and tools to unleash this potential. It leaves no part of the child behind, and leaves no adult on the sidelines."
Maurice J. Elias, Professor of Psychology
Rutgers University, New Jersey

The powerful new guide to creating successful and sustainable professional learning communities!

Building on a foundation that identifies courageous school leadership and the professional learning community as the center of effective school reform, this powerful new book by Alan M. Blankstein offers six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools:

1. Common mission, vision, values, and goals

2. Systems for prevention and intervention

3. Collaborative teaming for teaching and learning

4. Data driven decision making and continuous improvement

5. Active engagement from family and community

6. Building sustainable leadership capacity

Covering theory into practice, applications that include case studies and vignettes, and techniques for addressing difficult issues, the book also provides valuable dual perspectives on the critical issues: how implementation looks when it�s done right as well as when things go wrong. Failure Is Not an Option is sure to be the state-of-the-art resource that school leaders reach for when, in Michael Fullan�s words, they need "practical applications to perplexing problems."

Review
From the Foreword by Michael Fullan : "Failure Is Not an Option is a deeply passionate call to arms, combined with the wherewithal to take systematic, continuous, and effective action. A must read for all those interested in reform because it is simultaneously inspiring and practical."
Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education : "It puts students first as a moral issue and then examines all the systems and processes that need to be in place to help them. The six principles are excellently articulated, the key literature is identified, and the book is full of strategic and usable implications. This is a practical, well formatted book that is intellectually solid, emotionally inspiring, and practically accessible."
 

Robert W. Cole, Educational writer and consultant : "Both inspirational and eminently practical, Failure Is Not an Option can serve as a handbook for both strategic planning and classroom-by-classroom reworking. Any administrator who truly wishes to change his or her school can use this book as a manual from which to design every aspect of the change process."
Maurice J. Elias, Professor of Psychology : "This book speaks to the spark of caring, generosity, and greatness in every child and provides caring adults with ideas and tools to unleash this potential. It leaves no part of the child behind, and leaves no adult on the sidelines."
Midwest Book Review, October 2004 : "Failure is Not An Option is an impressive introduction to enhancing student performance which directly addresses transforming theory into practice and illustrating diverse applications with case studies and vignettes."

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Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Positive Approach to Behavior Management

by Randall S. Ph.D. Sprick



Book Description
Discipline and lack of motivation are two of the most vexing problems facing teachers today. Discipline in the Secondary Classroom, Second Edition gives high school teachers step-by-step guidance for designing a behavior management plan that will help prevent misbehavior and increase student motivation. The book is a hands-on resource that contains easy-to-implement strategies distilled from a research-based approach that is proactive, instructional, positive, and effective.


Discipline in the Secondary Classroom, Second Edition is filled with forms, samples, and evaluation tools that will help teachers continually fine-tune their management plan to reach more students. Both new and seasoned teachers will find this book invaluable for designing a management plan that prevents problems, motivates students, and teaches them to behave responsibly. The book also equips the teacher with techniques for responding to misbehavior in a calm and consistent manner.

Review
"With its practical and proactive strategies for motivating reluctant students, preventing potential classroom disruptions, and managing challenging adolescent behavior, Discipline in the Secondary Classroom is an invaluable tool for both beginning and �seasoned� high school teachers."
�Carolyn Novelly, resource teacher and behavior coach, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Florida
"Discipline in the Secondary Classroom offers educators practical and purposeful strategies that work in every learning environment. Effective application of the skills and methods in this book will lead to student academic and behavioral success."
�Sharon Collins, principal, Interlake High School, Bellevue, Washington

"The �Crowning Jewel� for all high schools from Randy Sprick, the premier expert on Safe and Civil Schools. A practical, hands-on, and easily integrated approach to safer classrooms, schools and high performing students."
�Teri Harper, teacher, Tates Creek High School, Lexington, Kentucky

"Secondary school staff interested in learning how to use more of their classroom time for genuine instruction and less time reacting to discipline problems will find the information and ideas in this book invaluable. This is an absolute must for trainers of secondary staff as well."
�Laura Matson, program specialist, Learning Support Services, Franklin Pierce School District, Tacoma, Washington

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One-Minute Discipline : Classroom Management Strategies That Work

by Arnie Bianco
 



Book Description
For classroom teachers at all levels, here is a unique collection of practical, proven-effective techniques and ready-to-use tools for managing classroom behavior and creating the positive environment that students and teachers need to promote learning. Each classroom-tested strategy is presented in a simple-to-use format for quick reference that shows: What the technique or idea is, Why you need it, and How to make it work. Plus, the techniques are complemented by support ideas, time-saving reproducible forms, lively illustrations, and interesting, reproducible quote about teaching.

For easy to use, its all printed in a big, 8-1/2" x 11" lay-flat format for easy photocopying and its organized into 10 sections: PHILOSOPHY provides a philosophical framework for the strategies presented in the book, such as "The Three Cs of Teaching." KNOW YOU "CLIENTS" features activities and surveys, including "Icebreaker: Backpack Introductions" and the "student Survey," to help you learn about your students and their needs. HOME AND SCHOOL gives you support ideas and reproducible forms for improving the home school connection, such as "Newsletters" and "Parent Homework Letter."

THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL offers tops and ready-to-use tools for getting the school year off to a positive start, including "Classroom Rules Checklist" and "Classroom Welcome Sign." VOCABULARY presents effective techniques for modifying student behavior, such as "Grandmas Law," which motivates students with a payoff ("desert") for completing a task. TECHNIQUE, STRATEGIES, AND GOOD IDEAS is packed with easy-to-use ideas, including "Noise Level Control" and "One-Minute Correction," for solving discipline problems.

TEACHING SKILLS provides practical procedures that enhance your teaching and decrease disruptive behavior, such as "Transition Time" to reduce the time spent between activities and a "Teacher Self-Assessment" to help you evaluate and improve your teaching techniques. GREAT "LITTLE GEMS" offers a variety of helpful discipline and teaching strategies. For example, "Token Economies" shows you how to use a pint system to reward good behavior.

SURVIVAL SKILLS gives you invaluable ideas for conserving energy and relieving stress, such as "Crisis Management" and the "24-Hour Rule" for handling difficult situations. FORMS features time-saving, reproducible forms, including "Substitute Teacher Form," "Office Discipline Ticket," and "Student/Teacher/Parent Action Contract." In short, One-Minute Discipline is a practical guide providing effective, easy-to-implement approaches to the many classroom management and discipline challenges that teaches face every day.

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Classroom Management: Sound Theory and Effective Practice, Third Edition

by Robert T. Tauber



Book Description
Educators need a balance between discipline theory and its practice in the classroom. This is especially important in today's education climate, with its increased demands for teacher accountability. Tauber has designed his book for both those who are new to teaching and those who are already seasoned teachers but who have had little, if any, course work in discipline. The book presents several sound frameworks that readers can use to evaluate the six tried-and-true discipline models (Dobson, Canters, Jones, Dreikurs, Glasser, and Gordon) that follow. All of these models work. Teachers need to select, learn, and implement a discipline model that best reflects how they feel the students should be treated. This book can help.

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Best Practices for High School Classrooms: What Award-Winning Secondary Teachers Do

by Randi Stone

Book description
"For those seeking practical activities that have been tested in actual high school classrooms, Stone�s book is just what the teacher ordered. Written in conversational style by "award-winning teachers" this book does what the Internet and discipline-specific teachers� organizations fail to do: it consolidates 'exemplary teaching practices' on diverse topics from various academic fields into one easy-to-read resource."
 

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Connecting with students

By Allen N. Mendler
 

 

 

 

Book Description:
How many teachers take the time to connect with students on a personal level? How do you find the time, anyway? Teachers who manage to transcend the normal student-teacher relationships can benefit everyone in school--particularly the �challenging� students � and, along the way, prevent school violence, support school safety, improve school climate, and promote learning. In a time of an increasingly rigid �zero tolerance� of the slightest hint of violence, which results in automatic suspension or expulsion, Allen N. Mendler calls for a more caring, flexible approach to school safety.

Connecting with Students outlines dozens of positive strategies for bridging the gap between teacher and student through personal, academic, and social connections. Easily tailored to any learning environment, the activities and guidelines provide you with the tools you need in the classroom, from the "H & H" greeting to the "2 x 10" method, as well as the "4H," "think-aloud," and "paradoxical" strategies.

As both teachers and administrators alter their own attitudes and behavior, they learn to listen to students and accommodate their needs. The end result will be lasting relationships that can foster deeper understanding and growth for educators and students alike. In this book, you will discover ways to stay optimistic and persistent and see your students as having something to teach you.

Review:
�A vital element of successful classroom instruction is the establishment of rapport between the teacher and the students. This is a key to effective classroom discipline and the creation of a good learning environment. In Connecting With Students, educator Allen Mendler outlines dozens of positive, effective strategies for engendering good teacher student relations through personal, academic, and social connections that apply at any level, preschool through university. Connecting With Students is strongly recommended reading for anyone aspiring to enter the teaching profession or currently working in a public or private school setting, as well as being an indispensable, invaluable addition to academic and teacher training reference collections and reading lists. �
 

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If you don't feed the teachers they eat the students: Guide to success for administrators and teachers
By Neila A. Connors

Book review:
�This book was definitely not only my style of philosophy but also writing. For a quick read for an aspiring administrator it was great. Could be a pick-me-up for an experienced administrator. Simplistic but great. I have shared excerpts with staff and students.

Fashioned literally as a menu for administrative success, Neila Connors� If you Don�t Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students, is a straight talking street smart triumph that is a must for the library of every school administrator. It offers many clever and strategic yet practical suggestions that can be implemented immediately by administrators at all levels. In the savory first chapter entitled, �Whetting your Appetite�the Menu Please� Connors promises a book steeped in practical experience and not research, a promise she keeps throughout. Nevertheless, it should come as no surprise that many of her suggestions parallel current educational research, especially with regard to building relationships with staff members and effecting positive changes in organizations.

Connors organizes the eight-chapter book to mirror the cooking and eating of a fine meal. From Chapter 3��Creating the Ambiance�Preparing to Dine� to Chapter 8��The Check, Please!� Connors� clever design is sure to ring true with those who enjoy both their meals and their reading material presented in tidy scrumptious portions. For example Chapter 4 discusses �Passing the P�s�, which, instead of asking for round green vegetables, provides a list of important attributes of successful administrators, all of which begin with the letter �P�. The chapter goes on to describe each item in detail, but articulating these thoughts by a listing of �P� words is convenient and, dare I say, tasteful.

Connors really gets cooking in the third chapter, where she sets the tone for the remainder of the book by articulating what seems to be her core belief. �The quality of employees will be directly proportional to the quality of life you maintain for them,� is the quote from Charles E. Bryan that begins the chapter, which Connors follows it up with passionate and detailed suggestions about how to set up and maintain a quality environment in a school. Along with trumpeting administrators� needs for a belief in yourself, your potential, and your ability, she describes the obstacles that often get in the way. Most comical is her discussion of the attributes of the �Climate Controllers� who exist in every school. Her descriptions of Climate Busters, Climate Manipulators, Climate Cruisers, and Climate Improvers, are sure to bring smiles to the faces of even the most jaded administrators. Ending the chapter is a list of ten strategies that contribute to a healthy and happy climate, a list that could easily go on a poster or in a picture frame and remain on an administrator�s desk for the remainder of her career.

While this book never claims to be something it is not, the large numbers of lists make it read much more like a reference book than a narrative. For those readers who prefer a cleverly worded vignette to help articulate a point, this book will fall short. However, if you�re interrupted and put the book down, it doesn�t take long to refocus when you start reading again. This may indeed be the book�s most endearing feature for those administrators who try to read this book during the course of a normal school day.

Even those serious readers who sour on its campy organizational theme will certainly agree that Connors� book is filled with enough excellent tidbits to make it reasonably satisfying. In fact, every administrator will find something usable in it that has the potential to make an immediate impact. An appetizing and quick read, this book is probably best used as a reference manual or for an occasional administrative literary snack. If a research article is the entr�e, this is certainly a most satisfying and memorable dessert.

 

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Motivating hard to reach Students (Psychology in the classroom: A series on applied educational psychology)
By Barbara McCombs & James Pope

Book excerpt:
�Teachers recognize that motivation is important for learning and there want to have motivated students. Over the years, they have used a variety of approaches to motivate students with problems similar to those of the students you met in our introductory examples, Sasha and Derrin. Rarely, however, do they receive training on how to motivate students and when training is provided, it usually stresses techniques that do not capitalize on the vast amount of research on motivation and exciting new approaches based on this research. Thus teachers have had to rely on commonsense approaches that are based on their teaching experiences independent study of suggestions from research, intuition, training in particular techniques, consultation with other teachers, or any combination of these approaches �


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Motivating students who don't care: Successful techniques for educators
by Allen Mendler & Randi Moody

Book description:
You can use the proven classroom strategies in Motivating Students Who Don't Care to reawaken motivation in students who aren't prepared, don't care, and won't work. If your ongoing challenge today is finding ways to reconnect with the natural learner that exists in each of us so that your students are reawakened with excitement and enthusiasm, this is the Researched-Based Resource that will provide you with a solution.
 


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Overcoming student failure: Changing motives and incentives for learning
By Martin Covington

Book description:
 Designed to be inspiring as well as practical, the "Psychology in the Classroom" series has a number of user-friendly features to make the books easy to adapt for classroom use. Overcoming Student Failure features classroom strategies to give students an incentive to learn.

Excerpt:
�The first goal is to gain an appreciation for the kinds of implicit rules of achievement that turn school into an ability game. These rules determine how success and failure are defined � for example, whether or not students success by doing better than others. Because grades are the most visible evidence of how well students play the ability game, we start with an analysis of grades and grading policy. Then we introduce a hypothetical classroom in which the ability game has taken rot. Using this case study as a starting point, we discuss the myths and problems associated with schooling that is based on the ability game.�

 

Classroom strategies for interactive learning
 By Doug Buehl

Book description:
With the development of state and national achievement standards in the content areas, it is more important than ever for teachers to develop effective reading behaviors, literacy skills, and study strategies in students that will enable them to tackle increasingly complex materials.

Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning features 45 literacy skill-building strategies for middle school and high school educators that emphasize effective learning in content contexts. Teachers will find innovative ideas for working with diverse classrooms and with students who exhibit a variety of learning needs.

Author Doug Buehl cuts to the heart of the strategies, making each readily usable for teachers outside the reading field. Expanding on the first edition of this book, which included Discussion Web, Frayer Model, K-W-L Plus, and Semantic Feature Analysis, Buehl has added:

  • Questioning the Author
  • History Memory Bubbles
  • Learning Logs
  • Mind Mapping
  • Chapter Tours
  • I-Charts
  • Templates
  • Power Notes

A Strategy Index is included with each strategy, which teachers can use to quickly discern the benefits to their students. Those who want more in-depth treatment of a strategy can consult the resources listed at the end of each strategy description. The book's appendix includes blank strategy forms suitable for use with an overhead projector or for student worksheets.

The activities in this book will help teachers instill in students the skills and desire to read increasingly complex material, and provide explicit instruction in reading comprehension, which will develop students who are active, purposeful, and independent learners.

 

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