This book is designed to be a valuable resource for all educators who seek to gain a better understanding of learning disabilities, effective classroom practices, and meeting the instructional, emotional, and social needs of struggling students. Educators will benefit from the extensive research provided in the book and they will gain a thorough understanding of the importance of creating, supporting, and maintaining valuable interventions and how to do so effectively.

Ask teachers why they have pursued a career in education and they are likely to mention a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of children or suggest that teaching was a calling not just a job. Research shows that in addition to these reasons, teachers also indicated that they joined the academic ranks to share a deep interest in a particular subject area, to work with students of different backgrounds and abilities, or to engage students in creative ways. For these reasons, and many more, Guardians of the Next Generation: Igniting the Passion for High Quality Teaching, addresses the very heart of what helps teachers to make learning meaningful to children.

Educators, parents, and those who work with middle school students in various settings will find this book to be a valuable addition to their library. Early adolescence is a time of tremendous change with the potential for positive development in the academic, social, and emotional domains; yet, often this age group struggles to adjust to the transition of middle school and the tasks that are required to be successful there. The authors -- both of whom are seasoned educators and administrators -- cover a variety of topics germane to positive development. These include social and emotional development, current research on the adolescent brain, and the academic challenges of entering middle school. There are also chapters on contemporary issues such as bullying, social media, and inclusive leadership. Parents will find suggestions for how to support their middle school child, and educators will discover a wealth of best practices to incorporate into their interactions with early adolescents and their families.

The world of special education can sometimes feel like a confusing place to novice teachers and families; however, The Special Education Toolbox: Supporting Exceptional Teachers, Students and Families is a primer that everyone can use to become an expert in their own right. Beginning with a brief walk through special education history and including the basics of assessment and IEP writing, this book considers student success from a variety of perspectives to include the role of the paraprofessional, the home-school connection, and transition planning to name just a few. The Special Education Toolbox will easily be one of the most used books on the shelf in any office, classroom, or home.

Sounding the Alarm in the Schoolhouse: Safety, Security, and Student Well-Being was written as a resource guide for educational and mental health professionals and policymakers, as well as families and communities seeking to develop programming to reduce school violence and promote safe, engaging, and effective schools. This book explores the growing crisis in school safety and security through the lens of the roles that mental health and student and community well-being play in creating environments that are resistant to violent and antisocial behavior. The book gives practical information and research on school, classroom or community applications, the latest trends and issues in the field, and best practices for promoting student health and well-being. It also covers violence prevention measures and protocols to follow in crisis intervention situations. Issues of culture, gender and society are specifically addressed.

From Floundering to Fluent: Reaching and Teaching Struggling Readers was written for educational practitioners and specialists, particularly classroom teachers and school administrators, as well as family and community members who are firmly committed to the reading development and academic success of all students, but particularly those who struggle with the act of reading. This book primarily focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of the kinds of difficulties that can attend the reading process, especially for at-risk readers and those with reading disabilities.

With the continued rise in the diagnosis of autism for school-aged students, particularly in the United States, the need for tailoring our instructional practices and programs for this population is at a pivotal point. Embracing and Educating the Autistic Child: Valuing Those Who Color Outside the Lines, takes a look at the extensive research pertaining to the unique learning needs and characteristics of the autistic student. The authors provide valuable insights into how educators, school leaders, parents, community members and college professors can turn the tide to academic success for this population of students.

Designed to be a valuable resource, this book provides educators, administrators, practitioners, and families with a clear understanding of how to meet the instructional, emotional, and social needs of students with learning disabilities. Readers will benefit from the extensive research provided and will gain an appreciation for the importance of collaboration, creating safe and supportive learning environments, as well as effectively implementing interventions.

This book is designed to be a valuable resource for all educators who seek to gain a better understanding of writing development, effective writing teaching practices, and meeting the instructional needs of struggling writers. Educators of all levels and career stages will then benefit from the extensive research provided in the book; and through its pages they will gain a thorough understanding of how to go about the process of developing proficient writers in their classrooms.

The Soul of the Schoolhouse: Cultivating Student Engagement's primary focus is to help readers understand the many, diverse factors that make up engaged learning and students' motivation to learn. The authors acknowledge the importance of cognitive aspects of education and the techniques that skilled educators use to enhance the learning process; such information is contained in chapters on motivation and models of thinking about how to engage those in our schools. This tome also reflects the essential and interrelated nature of emotional, social, spiritual, and relational elements of engagement in the learning process. As such, chapters of this book cover such topics as educational leadership for engaged learning, school-community connections, co-curricular activities, models of curriculum design, and school law and policies that bolster student learning, as well.

Captivating Classrooms explores the specific role that student engagement plays in education, it argues that there are myriad factors that undergird meaningful student learning and participation-such as motivation, exciting teaching strategies, reinventing literacy instruction, and authentic assessment. This book is an extremely valuable handbook for school leaders, teachers, and support staff, as well as for parents of PK-12 students, aspiring educators, and higher education faculty who prepare pre-service teachers and administrators. This is a must-read for those who are committed to helping all students find their purpose and passion in education.

Superintendents, central office administrators, principals, school board members and students in the field of education will find this book to be useful in guiding their own professional development and practice. The authors cover a variety of useful topics in special education, ranging from finances, how to systematically monitor the assignment of paraprofessionals, and transportation, to legal considerations and methods of promoting parent engagement. Co-editors Bittel and Young invited seasoned educators and professionals to share their expertise in a wide range of important subjects that collectively promote an understanding of how to transform special education programs and service delivery in public school settings. Chapter topics were intentionally selected to address the common special education program challenges facing school superintendents; and the focus throughout this book was on providing practical suggestions to improve actual practice. As such, current and aspiring educational leaders and policy-makers who are interested in learning more about how to successfully tackle some of the more complex challenges in special education while find this book to be an invaluable resource.

This book was written as a resource guide for educational and mental health professionals and policymakers, as well as families and communities seeking to develop programming to reduce school violence and promote safe, engaging, and effective schools. This book explores the growing crisis in school safety and security through the lens of the roles that mental health and student and community well-being play in creating environments that are resistant to violent and antisocial behavior. The book gives practical information and research on school, classroom or community applications, the latest trends and issues in the field, and best practices for promoting student health and well-being. It also covers violence prevention measures and protocols to follow in crisis intervention situations. Issues of culture, gender and society are specifically addressed.

The Burden of Being a Boy: Bolstering Educational Achievement and Emotional Well-Being in Young Males is written for everyone who has a stake in the health and well-being of contemporary American boys and adolescents—parents, educators, counselors, educational administrators, student services personnel, higher education faculty, and students studying education and psychology. Mainly though, this is a book for those who are committed to seeing all boys grow and thrive while avoiding what has been termed as toxic male culture in this, and other, countries. While this book largely focuses on understanding the roles that schooling and upbringing play on boys’ development, it explores this complex topic with a clear belief that there are myriad factors that influence each boy’s developmental trajectory and that there are many ways to promote healthy, prosocial development among all young men.