[TexTeacher]

I want to read a good book the last few weeks before we get back to school. I would like it to be something about instruction, but want it to be fairly easy to read. I was looking at Classroom Instruction that Works by Robert Marzano. Does anyone have an opinion on that book or have a suggestion for another?

[ashleymarie81]

Strategies That Work by Stephanie Harvey was my favorite book that I read this summer. I really feel like I have the direction I need in order to explicitly teach my students how to interact and comprehend text. The book provides tons of helpful information and is very easy to read.

My second favorite is Practice With Purpose by Debbie Diller. I think this book is about to change my whole classroom dynamic now with the implementation of work stations.

Ashley



ps...Get the 2nd edition of Strategies That Work.

[ConnieWI]

I agree with Ashley. I read Strategies That Work and Practice with Purpose: Literacy Work Stations for Grades 3-6...learned so much from both. I also enjoyed Growing Readers by Kathy Collins.

[TexTeacher]

Thanks for those suggestions. I looked them up and it looks like the focus on language arts?? I teach math, so I need something more general.

[Terri in NC]

Before you decide to buy the book, look on the Stenhouse website. You can read the WHOLE book there.

[Nataliz]

I read Marzano's book as part of a school book study last year. It is filled with research. It is very "numbers" oriented. There are lots of statistics to back up what he says. Others at our school had a difficult time because of the numbers. I would assume that as a math teacher, this probably wouldn't be an issue for you. It is filled with strategies to help students make meaning of what they are learning. There is also an interesting chapter regarding the research on homework.

I also really liked Eric Jensen's Teaching with the Brain in Mind. I had tons of ah-ha moments while reading, both for my classroom and my own children. It also contains tons of research to back it up, but seems to be a bit more accessible than Marzano's book. I read it this summer. It's more on how to prime the brain for learning and understanding brain research and how it can be applied to the classroom.

[Mammett]

Here one about testing - since we all have to do so much now.

A Teacher's Guide to Standardized Reading Tests by Lucy Calkins, Kate Montgomery, and Donna Santman.

It talks about teaching tests as a genre through out the year. The point is not to slam the students with something new and keep the stress down.

It has some really good pointers.

Enjoy the rest of your summer

[traci.k]

What Great Teachers Do Differently: Fourteen Things That Matter Most
by Todd Whitaker

[Learn4Life]

Thanks for the Stenhouse website suggestion. How long does the whole book stay there for reading?

[stretchberry]

Learn4Life's Message:
Thanks for the Stenhouse website suggestion. How long does the whole book stay there for reading?

I just download and save them to my computer, so I can read them and refer back to them whenever. I do buy the ones that I really like and use a lot.

[stretchberry]

You can download Marzano's What Works in Classroom Instruction from this site.

t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/professional_development/strategies/

Here the link. (It's a pdf document with 178 pages--almost 3 MB.)

http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/professio...What_Works.pdf

Stenhouse has a book called The Power of Our Words: Teaching Language That Helps Children Learn that you can download and read. Here's the link to the description and chapters.

http://www.stenhouse.com/productcart...idProduct=9062

This one's not free but is an excellent, light read.
32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching
(Amazon)

[TexTeacher]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to look into the free site as well as some of the others mentioned.

[Teach4]

I would recommend About Teaching Mathematics by Marilyn Burns. Good info. about how to teach various concepts along with tons of activities/games. Very good!

[craftygal]

Teaching Outside the Box - How to Grab Your Students by Their Brains by LouAnne Johnson

Same author that inspired the movie Dangerous Minds

[TeachAbroad]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to check into these books at my local library. Has anyone read: Teach like your hair's on fire by Esquith? I just checked it out because I've seen it around. I'll start it soon.