Educators know that problem-based learning answers that perennial student question: ""When will I ever use this in real life?"" Faced with a meaty problem to solve, students finally ""get"" why they need to learn the content and are energized to do so. But here's the exciting part: problem-based learning doesn't require weeks of study or an end-of-year project. In this book, Brian Pete and Robin Fogarty show how you can use problem-based learning as a daily approach to helping students learn authentic and relevant content and skills. They explain how to engage students in each of the seven steps in the problem-based learning model, so students learn how to develop good questions, launch their inquiry, gather information, organize their information, create evidence, present their findings, and assess their learning. Using practical examples, they also describe how to help students master these seven important thinking skills: develop, analyze, reason, understand, solve, apply, and evaluate. To put all this in context, the authors offer seven ""PBL in a Nutshell"" lessons that can easily be incorporated in a single classroom period. Depth of thinking and ease of implementation this is problem-based learning at its best.

'Brain Pete and Robin Fogarty's From Staff Room to Classroom II shows again their obvious expertise and familiarity with what works for campus planning and training. It truly gives new meaning to the words 'staff development' and provides a clear, concise manner to make it happen. The multiple strategies and methods accommodate ALL styles of presentation, regardless of content area or years of experience. This will revamp how we do training in our district' - Amber Teamann, Title I Technology Facilitator, Garland ISD, TX Through their extensive experience conducting professional development sessions with educators nationally and internationally, Brian M. Pete and Robin J. Fogarty have acquired a vast compendium of effective presentation and facilitation strategies. Now, in their companion to From Staff Room to Classroom, the authors present 144 strategies for leading staff development workshops, professional learning communities, and staff meetings. These proven, easy-to-use activities are organized into four "morphological grids," with columns corresponding to the three principles for successful presentations: - Openers: Capture the audience's attention-Tell them what you are going to do! - Meat of the Matter: Captivate with the information-Do it! - Closers: Close with keepers-Tell them what you did! Using different strategies from each column of a morphological grid, presenters can create a different presentation format every time. Ideas can be arranged or rearranged according to personal preference, group needs, or as a random creative act. Designed for staff developers, school leaders, and professional learning community facilitators, From Staff Room to Classroom II makes planning creative and winning presentations effortless.

Make instructional decisions that optimize learning!

Presenting a unique collection of twelve brain principles, the authors illustrate how the brain learns best and demonstrate how teachers can enhance students' learning potential. Conversational and user friendly, this resource describes how the brain stores and recalls information, guiding teachers in making everyday decisions about academic content and the emotional well-being of their students. Twelve Brain Principles That Make the Difference will show you how: Challenge engages the brainThe brain processes parts and wholes simultaneouslyEach brain is uniqueThe search for meaning is innate

Discover basic strategies that promote student achievement in low-performing classrooms!

This invaluable research-based guidebook illustrates how quality teaching can overcome the impact of low socioeconomic conditions and improve student performance dramatically. The authors present instructional techniques that require students to speak with skill, write with clarity and purpose, read with a critical eye, and listen with active engagement. Using six practical strategies, educators can overcome the odds and guide learners to success by: Setting high expectations for all studentsMaking differentiation part of everything they doChallenging students to think criticallyInsisting on results-oriented goals