Parenting can seem overwhelming. Most parents want what is best for their children, but few have the time, energy, or background knowledge to take a deep dive into an ocean of scientific studies every time a decision has to be made. This book translates educational research, from Piaget to the latest neuroscience article, into actionable strategies for parents. The book is a "guerilla guide" in the sense that some recommendations may seem counterintuitive, radical, or contrary to popular practice. However, these strategies for home and school are supported by research and years of practical experience. What's a Parent to Do? is written for parents who want to know what to do, what not to do, and why.

Most language learners find learning a language stressful and frustrating. However, the problem may not be with the language, but the approach to it. Optimal Language Learning describes the effective, idiosyncratic approaches of five highly gifted language learners, discerns patterns among their stories of success, and describes implications for language learning for anyone who would like to master a new language.

Teaching Challenging Texts shows how to increase reading comprehension and enhance student engagement, even with the most challenging texts. Every chapter features ready-to-use, research-based lessons, replete with explicit instructions, handouts, Common Core correlations, and assessments. "Exploring the Future" features fiction by George Orwell, Suzanne Collins, and William Golding; nonfiction by Philip Zimbardo, Stephen Pinker, Abraham Lincoln, Jared Diamond, Dan Ariely, and Ray Kurzweil; images from several films, an old television commercial; and classical and contemporary music. "Understanding the Power of One" features fiction by Victor Hugo and Lori Halse Anderson; nonfiction by Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, and Edith Hamilton; a young adult book on archaeology, an animated film from Walt Disney, and an episode from Saturday Night Live. An extensive list of free resources and correlations to the Common Core allow teachers to "teach on the cheap." Teaching Difficult Texts brims with "relevant and robust" lessons for a new generation.

Misinformation and propaganda abound about the quality of teacher preparation in the United States. The Teachers We Need vs. the Teachers We Have reveals exactly how American teachers are taught, describes the wide disparities in the preparation of teachers across states, depicts how market-driven teacher preparation waters down the quality of teachers, and explains how teacher preparation in America compares with preparation for other careers in the United States and with teacher preparation programs in other countries.

Privatization of America's Public Institutions describes the transformation of the military, K-12 public schools, public universities and colleges, and prisons into enterprises focused on generating profits for a select few. In many cases, privatization has limited accessibility, promoted segregation, fueled declining standards, increased costs, and reduced quality.

Privatization of America's Public Institutions describes the transformation of the military, K-12 public schools, public universities and colleges, and prisons into enterprises focused on generating profits for a select few. In many cases, privatization has limited accessibility, promoted segregation, fueled declining standards, increased costs, and reduced quality.

Parenting can seem overwhelming. Most parents want what is best for their children, but few have the time, energy, or background knowledge to take a deep dive into an ocean of scientific studies every time a decision has to be made. This book translates educational research, from Piaget to the latest neuroscience article, into actionable strategies for parents. The book is a "guerilla guide" in the sense that some recommendations may seem counterintuitive, radical, or contrary to popular practice. However, these strategies for home and school are supported by research and years of practical experience. What's a Parent to Do? is written for parents who want to know what to do, what not to do, and why.

Most language learners find learning a language stressful and frustrating. However, the problem may not be with the language, but the approach to it. Optimal Language Learning describes the effective, idiosyncratic approaches of five highly gifted language learners, discerns patterns among their stories of success, and describes implications for language learning for anyone who would like to master a new language.

Teaching Challenging Texts shows how to increase reading comprehension and enhance student engagement, even with the most challenging texts. Every chapter features ready-to-use, research-based lessons, replete with explicit instructions, handouts, Common Core correlations, and assessments. "Exploring the Future" features fiction by George Orwell, Suzanne Collins, and William Golding; nonfiction by Philip Zimbardo, Stephen Pinker, Abraham Lincoln, Jared Diamond, Dan Ariely, and Ray Kurzweil; images from several films, an old television commercial; and classical and contemporary music. "Understanding the Power of One" features fiction by Victor Hugo and Lori Halse Anderson; nonfiction by Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, and Edith Hamilton; a young adult book on archaeology, an animated film from Walt Disney, and an episode from Saturday Night Live. An extensive list of free resources and correlations to the Common Core allow teachers to "teach on the cheap." Teaching Difficult Texts brims with "relevant and robust" lessons for a new generation.

Misinformation and propaganda abound about the quality of teacher preparation in the United States. The Teachers We Need vs. the Teachers We Have reveals exactly how American teachers are taught, describes the wide disparities in the preparation of teachers across states, depicts how market-driven teacher preparation waters down the quality of teachers, and explains how teacher preparation in America compares with preparation for other careers in the United States and with teacher preparation programs in other countries.