This practical book outlines how you can challenge students to grapple with complex problems and engage more meaningfully with information across the content areas, rather than rely solely on rote memorization and standardized testing to measure academic success. Author John Barell shares vignettes from effective middle and high school teachers around the country, analyzes what works and what doesn't when encouraging students to dig deeper, and offers practical strategies that you can try in your own classroom. Topics include: Guiding students to hone their skills in abstract reasoning, inquiry, creative problem solving, and critical thinking; Designing your lessons and units for authentic achievement, to prepare students for success in their future careers and academic pursuits; Using rigorous benchmark assessments to analyze students' progress in meaningful ways; and Encouraging students to set learning goals and drive their own achievement. Aligned with the Common Core and other standards, this book will help you teach students to become inquisitive, engaged citizens who wonder about the universe, stretch their imaginations, and solve problems by asking, What If?

This practical book outlines how you can challenge students to grapple with complex problems and engage more meaningfully with information across the content areas, rather than rely solely on rote memorization and standardized testing to measure academic success. Author John Barell shares vignettes from effective middle and high school teachers around the country, analyzes what works and what doesn't when encouraging students to dig deeper, and offers practical strategies that you can try in your own classroom. Topics include: Guiding students to hone their skills in abstract reasoning, inquiry, creative problem solving, and critical thinking; Designing your lessons and units for authentic achievement, to prepare students for success in their future careers and academic pursuits; Using rigorous benchmark assessments to analyze students' progress in meaningful ways; and Encouraging students to set learning goals and drive their own achievement. Aligned with the Common Core and other standards, this book will help you teach students to become inquisitive, engaged citizens who wonder about the universe, stretch their imaginations, and solve problems by asking, What If?

One vast ocean--the Pacific--and two ships that should have been able to avoid each other during a furious midnight storm. The resulting maximum hazard--being in extremis--leads to a tragic encounter naval personnel strive to avoid at all costs, one with fatal consequences. Officer of the Deck Lt. Stephen Wheatley is held responsible and faces a heated and contentious court martial during which he almost attacks the prosecuting attorney physically. Unfortunately, the court finds him responsible and he pays the dreaded price. Subsequently, he must search for redemption to regain his personal and professional bearing. This search and rescue operation leads to another sea adventure that could prove fatal. "You'll all be killed " yells Stephen's new girl friend from the pier in San Francisco before they set sail for a firing zone in the Pacific.