Captivating Classrooms

Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse educational roles for more than 30 years, serving as a principal, special education director, graduate professor, graduate program director, graduate dean, and longtime superintendent of schools. He was named the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year; and he completed a distinguished Fulbright program focused on the Japanese educational system through the collegiate level. Dr. Young has written numerous books on various topics in education and psychology.Dr. Christine N. Michael is a more than 40-year educational veteran with a variety of professional experiences. She holds degrees from Brown University, Rhode Island College, Union Institute and University, and the University of Connecticut, where she earned a PhD in education, human development, and family relations. Her previous work has included middle and high school teaching, higher education administration, college teaching, and educational consulting. She has also been involved with Head Start, Upward Bound, national non-profits Foundation for Excellent Schools and College for Every Student, and the federal Trio programs and has published widely on topics in education and psychology.Jennifer A. Smolinski received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. She then earned a Masters of Arts in Psychology and Counseling as well as a Masters of Higher Education Student Affairs from Salem State University before completing a Juris Doctor of Law from Massachusetts School of Law. Attorney Smolinski is currently an EdD in Educational Leadership and Supervision candidate at American International College, where she is focusing her research on special education and laws to protect students with disabilities in the classroom.

Captivating classrooms: Student Engagement at the Heart of School Improvement 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. While 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. The book is an excellent addition to the field of education in that it emphasizes the roles that teachers, parents, staff and students themselves must play in creating a stimulating and engaging classroom environment.

• AcknowledgementPrefaceMore than Motivation: Finding Points of Passion for all LearnersStudent Leadership: An Invitation for Peers to Join the DiscussionMentoring Practices that Maximize Involvement: Making Marginalized Students MainstreamReinventing Reading: Making Literacy Instruction Come AliveInstructional Practices that Make the Difference: Engaging Students in the ClassroomEnsuring all Students Receive Support: A Spotlight on Special Education, At-Risk and ELL ProgramsReferencesAbout the Authors