Learn the principles of comprehensive professional development and motivate elementary school teachers to be more effective in the classroom! In Building Effective Professional Development in Elementary School, Judy Johnson presents a career-long and comprehensive approach to professional development that gives teachers the support they need to improve instruction and raise the levels of student achievement. Her book not only explains how to create and lead a successful PD program; it also offers practical advice for establishing a school culture that will encourage teachers to collaborate and self-motivate in an effort to improve instruction. Other topics include: Training to deepen content knowledge and expand the teaching repertoire; Identifying high-performing educators and helping them build upon their strengths; Using teaching demonstrations to enliven and diversify classroom practice; Creating an effective mentorship program that brings out the best in faculty members, regardless of experience level; Resolving problems with recruitment, dealing with disgruntled teachers, assessing teaching quality, and overcoming other obstacles preventing implementation of a comprehensive professional development program; And more!

Synthesizing a range of studies on morphological processing from the past 30 years, this edited collection presents the current state of knowledge on morphological processing and defines classroom practices to help students conceptualise the role of morphology in reading, spelling, and vocabulary development. Research has increasingly indicated the importance of morphological tasks in relation to reading, spelling, and vocabulary acquisition in the classroom. Chapter authors present the theoretical considerations guiding morphological processing research to date, address the use of morphology with reference to different populations of learners, and propose effective and innovative instructional strategies for integrating morphology in the classroom.

The book presents 18 games and develops the concepts of game analysis and winning strategies. Students are encouraged to play these mathematical games together, collect data developed through their play, and analyze the data to develop a winning strategy. The book provides the basis for a six- to eight-week unit on mathematical games. Each chapter also functions as a self-contained and independent exploration so that selected chapters may be used as supplementary classroom investigations or as independent projects. The book includes both familiar games (such as Quadrangles and Nim) and many others that will be new and exciting to most readers. Through the exploration of mathematical games, 'The Play's the Thing' introduces teachers and students to the fun of play and to the mathematics behind the fun.

Here is an antidote to the stifling academic grind brought on by accountability testing. It demonstrates how mastery of skills can be a joy rather than a chore and describes in detail a highly successful program of structured skill-mastery centers that engage students independently while the teacher works closely with a small group. This system of managing the classroom helps the teacher provide materials that match the many achievement levels of children in the classroom. Typically in use for 60-90 minutes in a school day, up to four days a week, the system works well with the whole language or the guided practice approaches to reading. The program, developed by Carolyn Lawrence, is being used successfully throughout 63 elementary schools in one Florida school district. Many of the schools are nationally recognized for their achievement in test scores. The ideas in this book are simple, clear, and ready to use to bring back excitement, freedom, and smiles to children in their classroom life. Students are eager to get to the skill practice work in the mastery centers, largely because they get to use a variety of manipulative materials matched to their levels. These materials are inexpensive, readily available and described in the book. This book will be of interest to professors of education, superintendents, curriculum and instruction educators, principals, teachers, and parents.

The Chinese language is now used by a quarter of the world's population and is increasingly popular as a second language. Teaching Chinese Literacy in the Early Years comprehensively investigates the psychology, pedagogy and practice involved in teaching Chinese literacy to young children. This text not only explores the psycholinguistic and neuropsychological processing involved in learning Chinese literacy but also introduces useful teaching methods and effective practices relevant for teaching within early years and primary education. Key issues explored within this text include: The Psycholinguistics of Chinese Literacy Neuropsychological Understanding of Chinese Literacy The pedagogy of teaching Chinese as a first language The Pedagogy of Teaching Chinese as a second language Teaching Chinese literacy in early childhood settings Assessing Chinese Literacy Attainment in the Early Years With the addition of two reliable Chinese literacy scales, Teaching Chinese Literacy in the Early Years is an essential text for any student, lecturer or professional teacher who is interested in learning and teaching Chinese literacy.

Literacy and Democracy in South African Primary Schools presents findings based on two research projects conducted in South African primary schools during the same time frame. Working from the South African Foundation Phase curriculum that was introduced in 2009, the first project focused on the introduction of leadership qualities and the election of classroom representatives in 3rd grade classes in four elementary schools. The other introduced process-based writing to teachers and researched the process and products of children's stories. The book describes research experiences from the field, provides a brief overview of the history of the South African education system, and looks ahead to the future transformation of global educational systems.

Early childhood education in Western society has come under increasing scrutiny by governments that see early education as an important factor in economic growth and development. Thus, social traditions in the field are increasingly giving way to an intensified focus on marketization and regulation, but with a corresponding diminishing concern for ethics and social participation. Drawing on the work of contemporary French philosopher Paul Ricoeur, Sandy Farquhar analyzes the problematic way in which we become who we are and the discourse that surrounds that learning. The book explores the ethical basis of identity formation in early childhood education and seeks fresh alternatives to commonly accepted perspectives on social policy, education, and the nature of our 'selves.' Farquhar uses Aotearoa New Zealand bicultural curriculum and policy context as examples for developing the theme of curriculum as a contest of ideas and a powerful form of resistance. Promoting the importance of narrative in understanding identity formation, the book elaborates on contemporary themes of difference, ethics, and social justice, calling for a revitalized sense of liberalism and social democracy.

Building Kids' Citizenship Through Community Engagement offers a compelling, empirically-based argument for giving young people opportunities to grow through productive involvement with their local community. Drawing on John Dewey's pragmatic frame of experience and concepts of bildung that inform educational practice in Europe, the book speaks directly to teachers and parents who are looking for a way to support young people in their efforts to become confident, self-directed citizens. Throughout, the book offers a paradigm for growth that counters the limits of narrow visions of schooling and equally thin out-of-school learning opportunities which serve to limit young people's potential. In framing the argument, veteran educator Bob Coulter draws on more than 30 years of experience that includes extensive work with youth as a classroom teacher and in a variety of other community-based efforts, as well as 18 years of work as a mentor to teachers and parents. Key themes running through Building Kids' Citizenship Through Community Engagement include a cogent argument in support of young people assuming an active, age-appropriate role as citizens, as well as a modern updating of Dewey's concept of experience that is suitable for a technological age. These theoretical ideas are made tangible through specific recommendations for productive uses of digital technology and a critical review of several frameworks that have proven useful for designing and evaluating the quality of kids' community-based learning experiences.

This book provides an answer to one of the key questions of our time: namely, what constitutes a good education. Presenting a 'four-dimensional' model, it directly considers the essential elements a good education should include. Through forging this framework and outlaying its origins, implications and practice, the book explains how a good contemporary education can be defined and implemented. From the premise that such educational essentials are neither the preserve of the elite nor a minimum standard, White's exploration keeps the child at the heart of the discussion, focusing on every pupil's worth, identity, interactions and development. The author offers a detailed and rigorous perspective reflecting on extensive professional experience, starting with a consideration of the current educational climate and progressing through the book's three parts: looking for a good education creating a model of good education applications, implications and implementation of the model. A Good Education recognises the transformative power of education and reflects on the importance of human factors: teachers' provision for their pupils and students' ability to flourish. This book is addressed to those actively engaged in or concerned about educational provision: graduates entering teaching, school leaders, policy-makers and parents. It also speaks more broadly to all those who know that a good education really matters.

Digital Tools for Knowledge Construction in the Elementary Grades was written for teachers who wish to gain a better understanding of how to integrate technology into their classrooms from a student-centered perspective. When done so, students must take more control of, and therefore more responsibility for, their learning. This book is divided into two sections. Part I provides a foundation and rational for student-centered learning, instructional strategies for technology integration, and using this approach to help teachers assess their students in meeting academic standards. Part II includes foundational technology information and appropriate use of digital tools for communication, collaboration, research, publishing, and even games for learning. This text provides methods and examples of technology integration that supports students' achievement of national academic standards by using today's digital tools for communication, collaboration, research and publishing. When students learn how to become knowledgeable global digital citizens they gain the requisite skills for tomorrow's creative thinkers, problem solvers, and decision makers.

Artists have always had a role in imagining a more socially just, inclusive world-many have devoted their lives to realizing this possibility. In a culture ever more embedded in performance and the visual, examining the role of arts in multicultural teaching for social justice is a timely focus. In Activist Art in Social Justice Pedagogy approaches to using activist art to teach a multicultural curriculum are examined and critiqued. Examples of activist artists and their strategies illustrate how study of and engagement in activist art processes glocally-connecting local and global issues-can deepen critical literacy and commitment to social justice. This book is relevant to those (1) interested in teaching more about artist/activist social movements around the globe, (2) preparing pre-service teachers to teach for social justice, (3) concerned about learning how to engage diverse learners through the arts, (4) teaching courses related to arts-based multicultural education, critical literacy, and culturally relevant teaching. As we think more broadly we address the question "why does a 'social justice through the arts in education' approach make sense"; describe examples of preservice teacher assignments examining artists' roles in activist movements, promoting multicultural understanding and social justice; and share approaches to and examples of using the arts in the United States and abroad to deepen multicultural comprehension and teaching for social justice.

This book provides an answer to one of the key questions of our time: namely, what constitutes a good education. Presenting a 'four-dimensional' model, it directly considers the essential elements a good education should include. Through forging this framework and outlaying its origins, implications and practice, the book explains how a good contemporary education can be defined and implemented. From the premise that such educational essentials are neither the preserve of the elite nor a minimum standard, White's exploration keeps the child at the heart of the discussion, focusing on every pupil's worth, identity, interactions and development. The author offers a detailed and rigorous perspective reflecting on extensive professional experience, starting with a consideration of the current educational climate and progressing through the book's three parts: looking for a good education creating a model of good education applications, implications and implementation of the model. A Good Education recognises the transformative power of education and reflects on the importance of human factors: teachers' provision for their pupils and students' ability to flourish. This book is addressed to those actively engaged in or concerned about educational provision: graduates entering teaching, school leaders, policy-makers and parents. It also speaks more broadly to all those who know that a good education really matters.

The Use of Children's Literature in Teaching reveals the impact of politics, professional guidelines and restrictive measurements of literacy on the emerging identities of young teachers. It places renewed emphasis on the importance of creative teaching with children's literature for the empowerment of teacher agency to enhance the learning of their students. Framing the debate alongside the issue of teacher autonomy, Simpson describes results from a two-year study, which brings together information from interviews, surveys, document analysis and digital stories from Australia, Canada, the UK and the US to assess the role of children's literature in pre-service teacher education. Through cross-cultural comparison, this research captures the different levels of connection between politics, education systems, higher education and pre-service teachers. It exposes how politics, narrow views of professionalism and program structures in teacher education may adversely affect the development of pre-service teachers. This book presents a strong case that reading and responding critically to literary texts leads to better educational outcomes than basic decoding and low-level comprehension training. As such, this book will be of great interest to researchers and scholars working in the areas of teacher education and literacy and primary education. It should also be essential reading for teacher educators and policymakers.

Teaching Character and Virtue in Schools addresses the contemporary issues of quantification and measurement in educational settings. The authors draw on the research of the Jubilee Centre at the University of Birmingham in order to investigate the concern that the conventional wisdom, sound judgement and professional discretion of teachers is being diminished and control mistakenly given over to administrators, policymakers and inspectors which in turn is negatively effecting pupils' character development. The books calls for subject competence to be complemented by practical wisdom and good character in teaching staff. It posits that the constituent virtues of good character can be learned and taught, that education is an intrinsically moral enterprise and that character education should be intentional, organised and reflective. The book draws on the Jubilee Centre's expertise in support of its claims and successfully integrates the fields of educational studies, psychology, sociology, philosophy and theology in its examination of contemporary educational practices and their wider effect on society as a whole. It offers sample lessons as well as a framework for character education in schools. The book encourages the view that character education is about helping students grasp what is ethically important and how to act for the right reasons so that they can become more autonomous and reflective individuals within the framework of a democratic society. Particularly interested readers will be educational leaders, teachers, those undertaking research in the field of education as well as policy analysts with a keen interest in developing the character and good sense of learners today.

Now in its second edition, Teaching Primary English is a bestselling, comprehensive, evidence-informed guide designed to support and inspire teaching and learning in the primary school. Written in a clear and accessible way, it draws on the very latest research and theory to describe and exemplify a full and rich English curriculum. It offers those on teacher training courses, as well as qualified teachers who are looking to develop their practice, invaluable subject knowledge and guidance for effective, enjoyable classroom practice. Throughout there is an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Advice and ideas are supported by explicit examples of good teaching linked to video clips filmed in real schools, reflective activities, observational tasks and online resources. Each chapter includes suggestions for great children’s literature, considers assessment throughout and offers support in planning for inclusion and special educational needs. New and expanded areas for this edition include: Multimodal texts Increased coverage of Early Years Dialogic learning and oracy Comprehensive companion website with revised and additional resources A new section on digital literacies Reading for pleasure Teaching grammar in context Critical literacy With a focus on connecting all modes of English, the global and the local, and home and school experience, this detailed, uplifting book, includes inspiring case studies throughout and will support you in developing a curious, critical approach to teaching and learning English. Additional content can be found on the fantastic supporting website. Features include: Video clips from within the classroom to demonstrate English teaching techniques Audio resources, including an interactive quiz, to check understanding and provide real-life examples and case studies Downloadable resources to support teaching and incorporate into lesson plans.

Many pre-service teachers admit to feeling unsure about the mathematics they will have to teach in primary school. Others find it difficult to know how to apply the theories of teaching and learning they study in other courses to the teaching of mathematics. This book begins by outlining some of the key considerations of effective mathematics teaching and learning. These include understanding student motivation, classroom management, overcoming maths anxiety and developing a positive learning environment. The authors also introduce the curriculum and assessment processes, and explore the use of ICT in the maths classroom. Part B outlines in a straightforward and accessible style the mathematical content knowledge required of a primary teacher. The content extends beyond the primary level to Year 9 of the Australian Curriculum as, while primary teachers may not have to teach this content, knowing it is a key part of being a strong teacher and will assist pre-service teachers to meet the requirements of the LANTITE (the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students). Featuring graphics and worked examples and using clear and friendly language throughout, this is the essential introduction for students wishing to begin teaching primary mathematics with confidence and enthusiasm. 'The writing style is clean and uncomplicated; exactly what my maths education students need. The blend of theories, curriculum, planning, assessment and mathematical content knowledge strikes the balance that is missing in many texts.' -- Dr Geoff Hilton, University of Queensland

This book provides a deeper understanding of the phone-based composing practices of youth and their implications for literacy learning. In the United States, smartphone use among teens is nearly universal, yet many youth who are avid digital composers still struggle with formal schooled literacy. The widespread and rapid embrace of smartphones by youth from all income levels has had a substantial impact on the way that young people approach the act of composing, yet to date, little to no work has explored digital photography and text curation through popular apps like Twitter and Instagram and their impact on literacy, including formal schooled literacy. As more schools are moving to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) models and lifting classroom bans on cellphones, classroom teachers need information about the affordances of phones for formal literacy learning, which this book provides. This book will also be of interest to those in courses in the fields of education, new literacies, cultural studies/youth culture, literacy studies, communication arts, and anthropology of education/social sciences. This book could be used in a course on online/Internet ethnography. It could also be used in a more general research methods course to illustrate the combination of online and offline data collection. Outside of research methods courses, it could be used in courses on literacies, digital literacies, youth culture, popular culture and media, or mobile learning.

This book provides an analytical exploration of the condition of teachers working in expanding school systems across the world, with a particular focus on the lives of women teachers in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing from award-winning research, it looks beyond the official portrayals of teachers' lives in order to better understand the reality of the contexts in which teachers live and work. Positioning Amartya Sen's capability approach at the heart of the study, each chapter considers documentary evidence alongside ethnographic research from rural, remote and under-resourced schools in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Sudan. Interweaving rich narratives from teachers in a variety of contexts, the book proposes a concept of professional capability and examines female teachers' agency to pursue and achieve this in their classrooms. This key examination challenges existing notions of 'quality education' and reveals insights into the broader purpose of schooling for rural communities. Quality Teaching and the Capability Approach will be of value to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in education, particularly those concerned with gender, development and teaching, as well as educationalists and policy makers concerned with education and development.

This book investigates the effects of social and political change on the provision of primary education in post-communist and post-war contexts. Focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the author considers educational developments in post-communist countries of central and Eastern Europe, the effects of the civil conflict that occurred 1992-95 and the consequences of the peace settlement. In order to present a picture of the development of primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the importance of political ideology on education provision, chapters discuss instances of the impact of external political influences, educational provision being drawn from neighbouring countries, and illustrate how the political war is continuing. Political and Social Influences on the Education of Children provides insights into lessons learned for education in countries with a changing political state and considers what the future might hold for primary education provision in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Political and Social Influences on the Education of Childrenis key reading for researchers, scholars and postgraduate students interested in educational developments in post-communist countries and education in areas of conflict. This book will also appeal to those interested in the political and social history of the region.

Drama as a process-centred form is a popular and valued methodology used to develop thinking and learning in children, while theatre provides a greater focus on the element of performance. In recent years, offering drama and theatre as a shared experience is increasingly used to engage children and to facilitate learning in a drama classroom. Using drama and theatre as a central component with children, this book is an amalgamation of theory, research and practice from across the globe offering insights into differing educational contexts. Chapters provide an exploration of the methodologies and techniques used to improve drama in the curriculum, and highlight the beneficial impact drama has in a variety of classrooms, enriching learning and communication. Contributions from 17 authors, ranging from teachers in schools or universities, to researchers and drama practitioners, examine a variety of perspectives related to drama and children in an attempt to bridge gaps and move ahead collectively as educators, practitioners and researchers in drama and theatre. Divided into two parts, Part I reflects on the use of drama in its varied forms with children, while Part II focuses on projects and experiments with children using theatre in order to draw links between drama, theatre and pedagogy. Drama and Theatre with Children will be key reading for researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of drama education, theatre education, curriculum studies and child development. The book will also be of interest to drama practitioners, school teachers and teacher training leaders.

Published in 1975, Margaret Mathieson has drawn on her experience both in schools and in the training of English teachers to relate the discussions and writings of the previous two centuries to the debate, probably livelier than ever before, among English practitioners about the role of their subject. Of all subjects 'English' can be the most stimulating and also the most problematic. In order to assess the continual discussion and controversy about English, its nature, purpose and place in the curriculum, an understanding of its development as a subject and its entry into the teaching timetable is invaluable. For over a hundred and fifty years educators have been making different claims for English as a subject in school and higher education. This book contains a careful, clear examination of the conflicting views of these 'preachers of culture' on the four main activities within English - literature, creativity, discrimination and classroom discussion. These preachers were, in Matthew Arnold's words, to have 'a hard time of it' as English struggled to establish itself; at every stage of the subject's growth urgent demands have been made for teachers with exceptional qualities to undertake the heavy responsibilities of English in the classroom, and it can be seen from this study that an over-abundance of advice often contributed to the dilemmas and tensions among the teachers themselves and between English and other subjects. The final section of the book is concerned less with making recommendations than with drawing conclusions from the evidence of the past. It shows that generations of writers on English teaching, from Culture and Anarchy to Stepney Words, provide vital insights into the state of the subject today.

Time to Talk provides a powerful and accessible resource for practitioners working to improve children's language and communication skills. Showcasing effective approaches in schools and settings across the country from the early years through primary and secondary education, it summarises research on what helps children and young people develop good communication skills, and highlights the importance of key factors: a place to talk, a reason to talk and support for talk. This timely second edition has been fully updated to reflect Pupil Premium, curriculum, assessment and special needs reforms, and can be used by individual practitioners as well as supporting a whole-school or setting approach to spoken language. It includes: whole-class approaches to developing all children and young people's speaking and listening skills; 'catch-up' strategies for those with limited language; ways of differentiating the curriculum for those with difficulties; ways in which settings and schools can develop an effective partnership with specialists to help children with more severe needs; models schools can use to commission their own speech and language therapy services; examples of good practice in supporting parents/carers to develop their children's language skills; and answers to practitioners' most frequently asked questions about speech and language. Now in full-colour, this practical and engaging book is for all who are concerned about how to help children and young people with limited language and communication skills - school leaders, teachers, early-years practitioners, and the speech and language therapists they work with.

The aim of this book is to explore how teachers, students and parents can be given more of a say in the education system - in how schools are organised, and in what and how children learn. The book does not promote a specific view of education, but considers the means by which educational purposes and approaches can be conceived, agreed and enacted democratically - a precursor to a flourishing democratic society. Rebuilding Our Schools from the Bottom Up has been written in response to significant changes which have taken place in the education system over the past 30 years. In England at least, these changes have resulted in an increasingly centralised system in which the voices of those who teach, those who learn, and those whose children go to school have been marginalised. The book covers four main areas: Teacher voice: listening to the professionals Student voice: involving students as active participants in their education Parent voice: building a genuine home-school partnership School community voice: developing a shared vision With inspiring examples from around the UK and overseas and a range of resources that can be used by senior leaders, teachers and parents, the book aims to encourage and support transformative change so that schools can meet the needs of the communities they exist to serve.

The aim of this book is to explore how teachers, students and parents can be given more of a say in the education system - in how schools are organised, and in what and how children learn. The book does not promote a specific view of education, but considers the means by which educational purposes and approaches can be conceived, agreed and enacted democratically - a precursor to a flourishing democratic society. Rebuilding Our Schools from the Bottom Up has been written in response to significant changes which have taken place in the education system over the past 30 years. In England at least, these changes have resulted in an increasingly centralised system in which the voices of those who teach, those who learn, and those whose children go to school have been marginalised. The book covers four main areas: Teacher voice: listening to the professionals Student voice: involving students as active participants in their education Parent voice: building a genuine home-school partnership School community voice: developing a shared vision With inspiring examples from around the UK and overseas and a range of resources that can be used by senior leaders, teachers and parents, the book aims to encourage and support transformative change so that schools can meet the needs of the communities they exist to serve.

Teaching English by the Book is about putting great books, wonderful poems and rich texts at the heart of English teaching, transforming children's attitudes to reading and writing and having a positive impact on learning. It offers a practical approach to teaching a text-based curriculum, full of strategies and ideas that are immediately useable in the classroom. Written by James Clements, teacher, researcher, writer, and creator of shakespeareandmore.com, Teaching English by the Book provides effective ideas for enthusing children about literature, poetry and picturebooks. It offers techniques and activities to teach grammar, punctuation and spelling, provides support and guidance on planning lessons and units for meaningful learning, and shows how to bring texts to life through drama and the use of multimedia and film texts. Teaching English by the Book is for all teachers who aspire to use great books to introduce children to ideas beyond their own experience, encounter concepts that have never occurred to them before, to hear and read beautiful language, and experience what it's like to lose themselves in a story, developing a genuine love of English that will stay with them forever.