Classroom Insights from Educational Psychology – serie

"This book helps the practicing educator turn research into seamless classroom practice. The practice exercises can be implemented immediately to help build student success."—Katina Keener, Science/Social Studies Teacher, T. C. Walker Elementary School, Gloucester, VA

Launch young learners on positive pathways through school!

The early school years provide critical opportunities for children to develop foundational skills and positive attitudes toward learning. This book, the first in the Classroom Insights from Educational Psychology series, gives current and prospective PreK–3 teachers valuable insight into how young children feel, think, and learn.

Denise H. Daniels and Patricia K. Clarkson show how current research and theory from educational psychology can be applied to create a child-centered learning environment and to develop best practices for instruction. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of:

How children develop from the early years to middle childhoodThe importance of fostering positive teacher-child, child-child, and caregiver-child relationships Developmentally appropriate classroom practices that foster learningChildren's experiences with technology and outdoor environments

Vignettes and case studies, practice exercises, suggested games, and reflection questions make A Developmental Approach to Educating Young Children a valuable asset in helping teachers design stimulating learning experiences for young children.

 

Connect data and instruction to improve practice

Gathering data and using it to inform instruction is a requirement for many schools, yet educators are not necessarily formally trained in how to do it. This book helps bridge the gap between classroom practice and the principles of educational psychology. Teachers will find cutting-edge advances in research and theory on human learning and teaching in an easily understood and transferable format. The text's integrated model shows teachers, school leaders, and district administrators how to establish a data culture and transform quantitative and qualitative data into actionable knowledge based on:

AssessmentStatisticsInstructional and differentiated psychologyClassroom management

Because nonfiction and young readers are a natural fit!

Common Core or not, providing our youngest readers with a thorough grounding in nonfiction is just good teaching. There’s no better way to ensure our students acquire the background knowledge and vocabulary so essential to their understanding of subjects like science and social studies. Helen Patrick and Panayota Mantzicopoulos have written this book to assist you with this all-important effort.

What makes Engaging Young Children so unique? Above all else it’s realistic. It describes immediately useable strategies for using informational reading and writing to both enrich and expand the curriculum. Taking their lead from the Common Core, the authors provide:

• Criteria for choosing books • Strategies for shared reading and reading aloud • Informational writing activities • Ways to guide parent involvement • Real-life classroom success stories

Read the book, try out some of the strategies, and you’ll quickly see for yourself just how engaging, informative, and formative nonfiction can be.

" I am very grateful to Patrick and Mantzicopoulos for reminding me how essential informational reading and writing are, not only to the development of language arts skills, but to the reintroduction of science and social studies to daily elementary education." —Nina Orellana, Title I Teacher Palm Bay Academy Charter School, Palm Bay, FL "This book is a must have for elementary educators, teachers, and professional faculty.  It illustrates the power of reading while also introducing the whole idea of students and how others interpret success with them." —Robert E. Yager, Professor of Science Education University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Harness the power of motivation to transform the learning experience!   When properly channeled, motivation propels learning forward. Yet teachers across all grade levels and disciplines struggle to recognize and cultivate this dynamic, social force in the classroom. This essential resource proves that all students are motivated to learn, and provides authentic tools to create and sustain a classroom community that is highly engaged. You’ll discover:

Reflection activities that promote student voice and self-efficacy as well as assess existing motivation levels Case studies and best practices based on current motivation theory and research Strategies to design meaningful learning tasks and build positive relationships with students and colleagues

This practical guide, aligned with Race to The Top Initiatives for teacher evaluation and Common Core Standards implementation, shows educators not only how to identify and harness motivation but also to sustain it over time. This is the one resource that will engage you in the thoughtful exploration of motivation and provide you with field-tested strategies that actively involving students, teachers and the whole school.

“The information and reflective exercises presented here allow a faculty to come together, tap into core beliefs, and create a culture of classroom motivation that energizes the entire school.” —Melanie Mares Sainz, Academic Coach Lowndes Middle School, Valdosta, GA

Presenting the psychology behind the best-managed classroomsLike having a hidden camera in other teachers' classrooms, An Interpersonal Approach to Classroom Management engages you from the start by contrasting how two teachers respond differently to common situations. The authors expertly bridge the gap between educational psychology and peer and student-teacher management from the perspectives of student engagement, classroom relationships, and teacher self regulation. Both current and prospective teachers will find helpful tools for engaging difficult students, managing challenging relationships, and handling conflict. Key topics include:Student behavioral, relational, and cognitive engagement in the learning processClassroom structures that contribute to student engagementThe contribution of peer relationships to positive and negative behavior managementStrategies that help children learn to manage their own behaviorConnecting with students who are culturally and linguistically diverseThis practitioner-friendly guide takes you on an enlightening journey that will help you manage by design rather than by default. The results—improved relationships and enhanced learning—will not just make a difference; they will make all the difference.