Product Description
Meet the ever-growing organizational demands of today’s changing world with the variety of tools, digital and otherwise, available to you as a teacher.In this book, organization guru Frank Buck shows you how to take expert advantage of the specific electronic and paper-based resources that will help you manage your time and stay on course as a teacher of the 21st century.Buck offers practical, easy-to-read strategies for organizing your surroundings, increasing productivity, and reducing stress. Teachers will leave this book with a feeling of greater control of the day plus a renewed sense of pride in their profession.IN THIS BOOK...Organizing Digitally Organizing with Paper E-mail and other e-timesavers Handling multiple projects Handling the paper blizzard ... Read more

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''I know of nobody who does the 'long view' of educational reform better than Larry Cuban, and this text exemplifies this more than ever. For those genuinely interested in sustainable rather than superficial reform, this is required reading.''

-- Ciaran Sugrue, University of Cambridge, UK


Larry Cuban's How Teachers Taught has been widely acclaimed as a pathbreaking text on the history and evolution of classroom teaching. Now Cuban brings his great experience as a classroom teacher, superintendent, and researcher to this highly anticipated follow-up to his groundbreaking work. Focusing on three diverse school districts (Arlington, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Oakland, California), Hugging the Middle offers an incisive portrayal of how teachers teach now. It is a revealing look at a range of current, workable pedagogical options educators are using to engage students while satisfying parents and policymakers -- options that succeed by creating hybrid practices that combine both teacher-centered approaches (e.g., mostly direct instruction, textbooks, lectures) with student-centered ones (e.g., team projects on real-world problems, independent learning, small-groupwork).


A state-of-the-profession assessment in this era of top-down educational policy, Hugging the Middle:

* Brings Larry Cuban's years of experience and keen historian's eye to an analysis of teaching today.

* Looks at teachers' continuing adaptations to standards-based education reform and the No Child Left Behind Act.

* Compares classroom practices in a cross-section of U.S. urban schools.

* Gauges the impact of technology (or lack thereof) in the contemporary classroom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Understanding pedagogic change in an era of high stakes testing
Larry Cuban has been a keen observer of education for a long time, and he has been able to articulate the trends that have influenced what happens in classrooms. In his latest book (Hugging the Middle ) he draws attention to the pressures exerted on classroom teachers as a result of high-stakes testing.

Cuban's innovative contribution to pedagogic research was to articulate a model that saw either ends of a continuum marked as either student-centred or teacher-centred pedagogy. He argues that teachers hug the pedagogic middle ground when they mix elements of both student and teacher-centred pedagogies. The problem arises when poor test results elicit a move to more conservative mix of teacher-centred pedagogies.

Of real concern is the perception that students from lower socio-economic groups require more teacher-centred direct instruction than their middle-class counterparts.

You will love this book. It is an easy read and it provides an understandable model to help work out what is happening in classrooms around the world. This book has been chosen as the first book for our School Leaders' Reading Group in 2009.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read...
Research with heart. Rosenholtz shares quality research on what makes elementary schools effective. (I believe that the work can be used for other levels.) In a very readable style, Rosenholtz describes what separates ineffective and effective schools. It is the definition of teaching that is crucial, followed by what a staff does because of that definition. In a nutshell, the level of collegiality among teachers is vital to a school's success. The book balances research with explanation that has a lovely tone of caring and sincerity. I believe it to be an important, relevant book.
--Jack Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage ... Read more

Product Description

You Have To Go To School has always been filled with the pearls of wit and wisdom you need to develop rapport with students and manage everyday school problems. And now, in its updated edition, it offers preservice, new, and experienced teachers even more!

New features include:

• More than 50 new tips!
• A new chapter on safety – both your own and that of your students
• A broader focus that includes all teachers, not just novices

This timeless collection of ideas and strategies will serve as a "mentor-in-a-book" that teachers can refer to and benefit from throughout their careers.

Customer Reviews (10)

Great for new teachers.
This book is full of great, practical ideas.However, since I've been teaching for eleven years, I didn't find a lot of new ideas.I think this book would be terrific for a new teacher to read, though.It has a lot of tips that I would have liked to learn through a book rather than through trial and error.

Great for Beginning Teachers!
This short book is easy to read and full of quick tips for beginning teachers.Each tip is just a short paragraph, which makes it easy to search for just what you want later.It's a perfect guide for someone who is transitioning into teaching, just coming out of college, or is teaching for the first time.(This would not be appropriate for teachers who've taught a year or two.)The book is geared toward the middle school and high school age - but could be adapted for younger students (some elementary examples are given).I highly recommend this book - especially if you need classroom management information fast!!
Lewis Henry

So practical
This book has many practical reminders for a teacher. I just flip through it at the beginning of each year to refresh myself on some of the little things I might not always be able to focus on in the hustle and bustle of teaching. Love it!

I have had this book for 4 years and still use it
During my second year of teaching the author of this book came to talk to the new hires at the district I had just moved too.She was amazing and she signed and donated 2 copies to the door prizes.Being the second person whose name was called I of course choose this book.It was full of wonderful ideas!When my friend began teaching the following year in high school (I teach elementary) I bought her a copy as well, she said she loves it.It is great for all age levels!

nice gift for new teachers
This book is full of helpful ideas. I purchased it as a gift for a new teacher, who loves it. As a veteran teacher, I did not find the advice especially original, but I also know that many of the strategies in this book are things I learned by experience and not in teacher education classes. This would be an excellent book for student teachers and first-year teachers; they will feel more prepared to deal with the day-to-day challenges of teaching. ... Read more

Product Description
Featuring a diverse and distinguished group of scholars, this volume provides a much-needed, research-based analysis of nonsupervisory, school-based, instructional leadership. Frequently referred to as teacher leaders, specialists, or coaches, these new positions have the potential to provide teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary for continued instructional improvement and, ultimately, enhanced student learning. This authoritative collection presents both qualitative and quantitative evidence on the enactment, design, conditions, constraints, and successes of this type of instructional leadership. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fine Read
As a former teacher and now as an educational researcher, I believe that teacher leadership is a critical mechanism to improving the quality of teaching and learning in our nation's schools.This book describes the topic comprehensively and is sure to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in initiating and sustaining instructional improvement. ... Read more

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This text brings together theoretical and empirical explorations of the subject department and addresses how these divisions affect the experiences of teachers and students in our schools. ... Read more

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This text shows how to involve interested parents in all aspects of their children's schooling. Issues covered include why parents are important to schools, and the relationship between homework and school learning. ... Read more

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More than 150 innovative devices and techniques to help teachers save time. Full page forms, checklists and reproducibles cover classroom discipline, communicating with parents, keeping records, and interacting with students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Must Have
This is a good addition to any teacher library.It gives a lot of good ideas and examples of templates you can use to manage your time more efficient and spend more time teaching.

Outdated
I was expecting more from this book, especially after reading the reviews.I found it to be outdated and not all that useful.There is a lot available for free on the Internet in the way of forms and such that are easier to use than the reproducibles in this book.If you are looking primarily for the "ready-to-use" aspect of it, I don't think this book is helpful anymore.It needs to be updated.

Very helpful to this new teacher
I used this book during my first semester as a teacher. The ideas were helpful and aligned with the expectations I had to meet as a part of my first year state evaluation program. I would recommend this book to other new teachers - get it far enough ahead of your first assignment to have everything copied, planned, and ready to go.

This book is genius--it's THE ANSWER to classrm management.
As a teacher this is the most valuable book I own. The title is misleading, though, because this book is not just about time management, but is THE ANSWER to classroom management--100%.This book is worth its weight in gold to me.All the college textbooks and classroom management books I have read cannot hold a candle to this book.This book is making my life as a teacher SO MUCH EASIER and so much LESS STRESSFUL. ... Read more

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The authors present teachers’ own observations and reflections on leadership to demonstrate how teacher leaders can help close the achievement gap.

Customer Reviews (1)

Textbook
This is a textbook for a Master's level program. It is a useful resource fornew teachers. ... Read more

Product Description
Building on extensive evidence that school-based teacher learning communities improve student outcomes, this book lays out an agenda to develop and sustain collaborative professional cultures. McLaughlin and Talbert—foremost scholars of school change and teaching contexts—provide an inside look at the processes, resources, and system strategies that are necessary to build vibrant school-based teacher learning communities.

Offering a compelling, straightforward blueprint for action, this book:
* Takes a comprehensive look at the problem of improving the quality of teaching across the United States, based on evidence and examples from the authorsÂ’ nearly two decades of research.
* Demonstrates how and why school-based teacher learning communities are bottom-line requirements for improved instruction.
* Outlines the resources and supports needed to build and sustain a long-term school-based teacher professional community.
* Discusses the nature of high-quality professional development to support learning and changes in teaching.
* Details the roles and responsibilities of policymakers at all levels of the school system. ... Read more

Product Description
A study of teachers' work in urban schools in a period of intense school reform, as teachers and schools coped with an ever-larger and diverse student body. This text raises questions about the actual effect of school reform on teaching, curriculum, employment policy and school administration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Diversity,Behavior Issues,Struggles: Teacher's Role
In this book, Rousmaniere argues that education reform during the early twentieth century was challenging and inadequate.According to claims made by the boards of education in the 1920's, education was expected "to open up the occupation to a diverse group of talented young people," yet young teachers entering the profession were not given the support needed. The shifting educational reform placed high demands on teachers without sufficient support and "control over their resources and time."Teachers were expected to execute the roles of guidance counselor and teacher. "A broad and unwieldy curriculum demanded that teachers do more than simply teach class."Also, Rousmaniere states that teaching is an isolated working environment and teachers are "alienated from one another."The working conditions place teachers in overcrowded school rooms with little communication with individuals other than students.A continuous discrepancy between teachers and administrators left little room for improvement.Finally, teachers must learn to acclimatize to working conditions "by alternately accommodating to, adapting to, and resisting certain aspects of their work, surreptitiously claiming some control over their job."

The reflections of Rousmaniere show us that a number of methods have changed since the 1920's, yet a number have stayed the same.

An Educational Eye Opener
I read this book for a graduate level college education course. This book was very easy to read and had my attention to the very end. I found this book to be very insightful and an affirming presentation of the process of educational reform. Rousmaniere described the lives and work of teachers during the third decade of the twentieth century in clear detail. As an aspiring teacher, I was able to understand some of the ways the call for reform affected administrators, teachers, students, and the community in the 1920's, most of which are still prevalent in education today. In addition, Rousmanieres' prevalent themes such as work conditions, isolation, stress, and unfavorable physical conditions due to 1920s reforms are still readily apparent in many schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings today. In light of these reoccurring themes that seem to haunt educational progress, I found this book relevant to what I can expect to see and face as a future educator.

A Glance at Our Past--and Our Future
_City Teachers_ offers the reader unique insight into a much neglected story-the story of teachers in urban schools (most notably New York City) in the 1920s, a period of great reform in public education.The exigence of a study of urban schools of the 1920s in the 21st century is made most obvious by its Summer 1999 review in the _Harvard Educational Review_.Here, Dr. Kathleen Murphey of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, states that "readers will be led to reflect on the enduring dimensions of teachers' work...in the reform-minded present" (p. 205, 69:2).Like Dr. Murphey, I reflected on the ways the call for reform affects administrators, teachers, students, and the community even today.The prevalent themes of the emergence of intensification of work, isolation, stress, and unfavorable physical conditions due to 1920s reforms are still readily apparent in many schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
Rousmaniere's balanced use of primary and secondary added not only credibility but also a personal touch to her work.While Dr. Murphey criticizes that Rousmaniere's work "remains unconnected to the story of collective organizing that followed in the 1930s and later" (p. 210), I feel this book, offers an accurate (and complete) representation of urban school teaching at this time and encourages the reader to draw the connections between this era and others.As a pre-service teacher, I found this book extremely thought-provoking about the ways in which reform will shape my workplace and work experiences throughout my career.

A Glance at the Past and at Our Future
City Teachers offers the reader unique insight into a much neglected story-the story of teachers in urban schools (most notably New York City) in the 1920s, a period of great reform in public education.The exigence of a study of urban schools of the 1920s in the 21st century is made most obvious by its Summer 1999 review in the Harvard Educational Review.Here, Dr. Kathleen Murphey of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, states that "readers will be led to reflect on the enduring dimensions of teachers' work...in the reform-minded present" (p. 205, 69:2).Like Dr. Murphey, I reflected on the ways the call for reform affects administrators, teachers, students, and the community even today.The prevalent themes of the emergence of intensification of work, isolation, stress, and unfavorable physical conditions due to 1920s reforms are still readily apparent in many schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
Rousmaniere's balanced use of primary and secondary added not only credibility but also a personal touch to her work.While Dr. Murphey criticizes that Rousmaniere's work "remains unconnected to the story of collective organizing that followed in the 1930s and later" (p. 210), I feel this book, offers an accurate (and complete) representation of urban school teaching at this time and encourages the reader to draw the connections between this era and others.As a pre-service teacher, I found this book extremely thought-provoking about the ways in which reform will shape my workplace and work experiences throughout my career. ... Read more

Product Description
What helps great public school teachers persevere - in spite of everything? Sonia Nieto, a teacher educator, takes a close look at what can be learned from veteran teachers who not only continue to teach but also manage to remain enthusiastic about it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Diverse collection of stories and advice for teachers
As a student obtaining my certification, I had naively hoped for a bullet point list of what exactly keeps teachers going in spite of everything, but knew that it would be unlikely.

Teaching in public schools in the United States in these hectic times with high student poverty rates and school underfunding, coupled with gang issues and disrespectful students who don't seem to care about their education, has become even more of a difficult profession over the years.

This is an excellent insight into the world of a diverse group of public school teachers in the focus group "What keeps teachers going in spite of everything". Narratives from these teachers and words of wisdom are spread throughout the book. Nieto does a nice job of synthesizing the experiences and analyzing best practices and how to stay sane and stay a good person, and a good teacher.

I would definitely recommend this book to other aspiring teachers and current teachers. Just don't expect it to have all the answers.

I wish I could give more stars!!!
Sonia Nieto is amazing!!!!! This book is a great book for new educators. It helps remind us why we do what we do. If you ever have the chance to meet Sonia, got for it, she is wonderful!!!!

Very Inspirational for Aspiring Teachers
I am 50 years old and teaching is my second career.I'm a student now, studying middle childhood education.This book was very inspirational!So many of the stories of teachers just rang a chord of truth with me.I was laughing and crying at many of the stories from the different teachers and realizing (as a mother of 4 grown children) that I have FAITH that children can grow to love to learn and that I care deeply about individual students.I read this book for an assignment at school but, after reading, I can recommend it PERSONALLY to any aspiring or new teachers. ... Read more

Product Description

Kids and teachers can build their own science projects based on exhibits from San Francisco's premiere science museum

This revised and updated edition offers instructions for building junior versions, or "snacks," of the famed Exploratorium's exhibits. The snacks, designed by science teachers, can be used as demonstrations, labs, or as student science projects and all 100 projects are easy to build from common materials. The Exploratorium, a renowned hands-on science museum founded by physicist and educator Frank Oppenheimer, is noted for its interactive exhibits that richly illustrate scientific concepts and stimulate learning.

• Offers a step-by-step guide for building dynamic science projects and exhibits
• Includes tips for creating projects made from easy-to-assembly items
• Thoroughly revised and updated, including new "snacks," images, and references

Customer Reviews (1)

Good resource for homeschool labs and unit studies
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is 40 years old this year, and one of the ways they are celebrating is the republication of The Exploratorium Science Snackbook. It was originally published in 1991. This new edition has been updated with new snacks (miniature science exhibits and investigations), illustrations, references and teaching tips. Although it was created for students in grades 5-12, it can be used with all grades with adult supervision.

Part One includes snacks that focus on sight and visual perception. Part Two: electricity, energy and matter; Part Three: light and color. Part Four: Force and Motion; and Part Five: Sound.

Teachers and parents can use the snacks as demonstrations, lessons and labs.Students can use the snacks for science fairs, science lab projects, and to earn science badges.

Each snack includes an introduction, a list of materials needed, instructions how to complete the snack, and an explanation of the science behind it. Photos and illustrations are included to help you visualize the project.

Materials needed for the snacks are not always readily available, so you will need to do some shopping around for some items. This is the only reason I gave it four stars, instead of five. There is a list of science supply resources in the back of the book. One that is not on the list that I would recommend for homeschoolers is Home Science Tools. I recommend that you purchase your science supplies as needed and keep them in a safe place for your whole homeschooling career.

The Exploratorium Science Snackbook is an excellent resource for homeschool science labs, especially for those of you who do unit studies. As you study each different science topic, you can use the snacks in this book as a resource for science labs.

For instance, let's say you were doing a unit on sound. You could have your child research sound on the Internet. Next, assign some nonfiction library books and/or biographies related to sound. Then using the index and the "tuning fork" icon in the Snackbook, select snacks that relate to sound and have your child complete them for lab. For art, have your child illustrate a concept learned from his or her research. Play a sound-identification game. Download and print off worksheets or coloring pages from the Internet related to sound. Many of these can be found freeing by doing a search for "sound" and "worksheet" or "sound" and "coloring page." Finally, have your child write a report or research paper (depending on age level) on the topic. Instant unit study! ... Read more