What Really Works in Elementary Education

Wendy W. Murawski, Ph.D., MBA, MEd, EdS, is the Executive Director and Eisner Endowed Chair for the Center for Teaching and Learning at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she is also a Full Professor in the Department of Special Education and the Director of SIMPACT Immersive Learning. Dr. Murawski is the national Past President of the Teacher Education Division (TED) of CEC and an internationally known speaker and author, presenting in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Her research focuses on co-teaching and inclusive practices nationally and internationally. She has published extensively around inclusive education, co-teaching, collaboration, and Universal Design for Learning, to include 18 books and numerous chapters, blogs, and peer-reviewed articles. She is the CEO of 2TeachÒ Global (www.2TeachLLC.com), an educational consulting company dedicated to promoting inclusive education around the world. In her personal life, Wendy enjoys traveling with her husband, learning languages, reading, drinking merlot, seeing movies, going to Book Club, visiting her college-bound son Kiernan, and pretending she is going to work out. Kathy Lynn Scott, PhD, is the Center Administrative Analyst for the Center for Teaching and Learning at California State University, Northridge. Kathy was trained as an old school darkroom photographer, but she fell in love with all things to do with education. After conducting research on art education and adult education in England and coordinating research on learning disabilities in New Jersey, Kathy jumped from coast to coast, finding a new home with the CTL where she gets to do a little bit of everything related to education. When not acting as the “glue” for the CTL (as Wendy calls her), she’s happiest just relaxing at home, learning to cook new dishes, watching Jeopardy!, and shouting out the (not always correct) answers.

"This book is full of information on best-practices and resources such as lesson plan templates, checklists, websites and apps that can be straightforwardly applied in a classroom. Feasible and innovative instructional strategies are presented in an organized, concise fashion. Particularly useful are the at –a-glance listings of the DO′s and DON’Ts for teaching, which identifies actions that the authors frequently observed that act as obstacles for teaching success, as well as those actions that maximize the chance of elementary teachers making a positive impact on elementary school students and the summary of different teaching approaches. The comprehensive amount of resources included ensures that the book is applicable for prospective teachers as well as practicing teachers. Both audiences will appreciate the insight and classrooms experiences shared by the expert educators. The book cites key research and includes the impact of educational trends and developments, such as the Common Core, throughout. A major strength of this book is that it addresses the diversity of modern day classrooms; the wide range of student skills and personalities. The strategies presented are creative and applicable to copious classroom situations and content areas. The book will be very useful as a reference guide as presents a variety of strategies and expert knowledge in different kinds of instruction. Chapters such as "Arts Integration What Really Works in Science in the Elementary Classroom" will prompt instructors towards positive innovation in their classrooms. This book would serve as a valuable text in teaching methods courses to inform prospective teachers about teaching as it covers new and contemporary as well as more teaching time-tested and concepts with clear, step-by-step explanations."

• Foreword - Rebecca MieliwockiAbout the EditorsAbout the ContributorsIntroduction - Wendy Murawski and Kathy ScottSection I: What Really Works in Content1. Making Math Meaningful - Nancy O′Rode2. Rewarding Reading Practices - Renee Ziolkowska3. Teaching Writing Right - Kathleen Dudden Rowlands4. Successful Social Studies - Joyce H. Burstein and Greg Knotts5. Stellar STE(A)M Strategies - Erica Rood6. Awe-Inspiring Arts Inegration - Mary Wolf, Anne Fontaine-Lewis, and Beth ThompsonSection II: What Really Works in Instruction7. Tuning in With Technology - Lisa A. Dieker, Lauren Delisio, and Caitlyn A. Bukaty8. Perfectly Positive Behavior - Brittany Hott, Laura Isbell, and Jennifer Walker9. Classy Classroom Management - Luisa Palomo Hare and Wendy W. Murawski10. Cool Cooperative Learning - Scott Mandel11. Unique Universal Design for Learning - Tamarah M. Ashton12. Incredible Inclusion - Amy Hanreddy and Erin Studer13. Creative Co-Teaching - Wendy W. Murawski14. Amazing Assessment - Brooke BlanksSection III: What Really Works With Special Populations15. Great Gifted Education - Claire E. Hughes16. Engaging English Language Learners - Shartriya Collier17. Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorders - Emily Iland18. Developing Deaf Education - Flavia Fleischer, Will Garrow, and Rachel Friedman Narr19. Superb Social Skill Instruction - Michelle Dean20. Fantastic Family Collaboration - Susan AuerbachIndex