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ASCD Talks With an Author
Go beyond reading—ASCD is pleased to introduce a new series of talks with authors of ASCD books.
In these talks, the authors expand on the most provocative aspects of their books and share insights about their work. Whether or not you've read the books in question, you will find these talks informative, thought-provoking, and helpful.
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 A talk with Bob Sullo, January 16, 2008, conducted by Rick Allen, ASCD project manager and staff writer
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Activating the Desire to Learn
by Bob Sullo
"External control may lead to compliance, but it never inspires you to do your best," writes Bob Sullo in Activating the Desire to Learn. In fact, the research shows that students are less disruptive and do better academically in schools that cultivate students' internal motivation—their desire to learn "from the inside out." Sullo covers everything you need to know to change the dynamics of learning in your classroom or school, from a comprehensive overview of internal motivation research to integrating the principles of internal motivation with standards-based instruction. Case studies at the elementary, middle, and high school levels illustrate what the culture of achievement looks like in real schools.
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  A talk with Carrie Rothstein-Fisch and Elise Trumbull, January 17, 2008, conducted by Leah Lakins, ASCD associate editor
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Managing Diverse Classrooms: How to Build on Students’ Cultural Strengths
by Carrie Rothstein-Fisch and Elise Trumbull
In Managing Diverse Classrooms, Carrie Rothstein-Fisch and Elise Trumbull present a simple framework for understanding cultural differences. They compare the "individualistic" culture that prevails in American education with the "collectivistic" culture that characterizes most of the world's population, including many of the Latino immigrant students in U.S. classrooms. At the heart of the book are teacher-developed strategies that capitalize on the cultural values that these students and their families bring to the classroom.
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  A talk with Nancy J. Mooney and Ann T. Mausbach, January 4, 2008, conducted by Leah Lakins, ASCD associate editor
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Align the Design: A Blueprint for School Improvement
by Nancy J. Mooney and Ann T. Mausbach
In Align the Design: A Blueprint for School Improvement, Nancy Mooney and Ann Mausbach emphasize the importance of coordinating essential school improvement processes to increase staff capacity, improve student achievement, and develop effective schools.
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  A talk with Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, July 9, 2007, conducted by Leah Lakins, ASCD associate editor
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Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment Techniques for Your Classroom
by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey
In Checking for Understanding, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey show how to increase students' understanding with the help of creative formative assessments. When used regularly, these types of assessments enable every teacher to determine what students know, what they need to know, and what type of instructional interventions are effective. Fisher and Frey explore a variety of engaging activities that can build understanding, including interactive writing, portfolios, multimedia presentations, audience response systems, interactive hand signals, public performances, and much more.
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 A talk with Robert J. Marzano, July 5, 2007, conducted by Laura Varlas, ASCD project manager and staff writer
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The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction
by Robert J. Marzano
Classroom instructional strategies should be based on sound science and research, but knowing when to use them, and with whom, is more of an art. In The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction, author Robert J. Marzano presents a model for ensuring quality teaching that balances the necessity of research-based data with the equally vital need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of individual students.
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 A talk with Judith L. Irvin, May 7, 2007, conducted by Rick Allen, ASCD project manager and staff writer
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Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy: An Implementation Guide for School Leaders
by Judith L. Irvin, Julie Meltzer, and Melinda Dukes
Too many educators assume that the reading, writing, speaking, and thinking skills students develop in elementary school are sufficient for the sophisticated learning tasks they face in middle and high school. The result? Disappointing test scores, high dropout rates, and students unprepared for higher education, citizenship, and the world of work. Coauthor Judith Irvin outlines some of the key action steps secondary school leaders can take to implement a literacy action plan to improve students' literacy and learning, including supporting teachers to improve literacy instruction, using data to make curricular decisions, and building capacity for shared leadership.
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  A talk with Barbara Kohm and Beverly Nance, April 6, 2007, conducted by Leah Lakins, ASCD associate editor
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Principals Who Learn: Asking the Right Questions, Seeking the Best Solutions
by Barbara Kohm and Beverly Nance
In Principals Who Learn, Barbara Kohm and Beverly Nance explain how the "little things" in a school can end up meaning a lot, and how principals who constantly learn on the job can reduce the risk of being blindsided by unspoken grievances and hidden agendas. Learn why every school needs structures and cultural norms that encourage people to speak directly to one another about issues that are important to them. This book explores lots of practical ways to keep on top of the human relationships and dynamics at work in your school.
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 A talk with Donna Ogle, January 29, 2007, conducted by Eric Gill, ASCD project manager and writer
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Building Literacy in Social Studies: Strategies for Improving Comprehension and Critical Thinking
by Donna Ogle, Ron Klemp, and Bill McBride
Preparing students to be informed, literate citizens is one of the primary functions of public schools. But how can students become engaged citizens if they can't read, let alone understand, their social studies texts? Building Literacy in Social Studies addresses this question by presenting the techniques that teachers can use to engage students and build the skills they need to become successful readers, critical thinkers, and active citizens. By making literacy strategies a vital part of their content-area instruction, teachers not only help students better understand their schoolwork but also open students' eyes to the power that informed and engaged people have to change the world.
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 A talk with Katy Ridnouer, December 15, 2006, conducted by Katie Martin, ASCD associate editor
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Managing Your Classroom with Heart: A Guide for Nurturing Adolescent Learners
by Katy Ridnouer
Reaching distracted, disconnected, and sometimes defiant adolescents can be a challenge for even the most dedicated teacher. Author Katy Ridnouer explains how to set high expectations for middle and high school students, recognize what they need, and connect with them through feelings and emotion. Learn why showing students that you care doesn't mean giving up control, and discover classroom practices that allow your humanity to be an avenue to better teaching, improved learning, and greater professional fulfillment.
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 A talk with James H. Stronge, January 17, 2007, conducted by Scott Willis, director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development
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Qualities of Effective Teachers, 2nd Edition
by James H. Stronge
What makes great teachers special? In Qualities of Effective Teachers, James Stronge synthesizes research to identify specific teacher behaviors that contribute to student achievement. Stronge focuses on factors that teachers can control: their own preparation, personality, and practices. This second edition includes new tips and tools for engaging high-ability students and students placed at risk. This book can help educators develop better teachers and improve the quality of learning for all students.
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 A talk with Thomas Armstrong, November 29, 2006, conducted by Nancy Modrak, director of ASCD Publishing
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The Best Schools: How Human Development Research Should Inform Educational Practice
by Thomas Armstrong
Educators, politicians, parents, and even students are consumed with speaking the language of academic achievement. Yet something is missing in the current focus on accountability, standardized testing, and adequate yearly progress. If schools continue to focus the conversation on rigor and accountability and ignore more human elements of education, many students may miss out on opportunities to discover the richness of individual exploration that schools can foster. In The Best Schools, Armstrong urges educators to leave narrow definitions of learning behind and return to the great thinkers of the past 100 years—Montessori, Piaget, Freud, Steiner, Erikson, Dewey, Elkind, Gardner—and to the language of human development and the whole child.
*Access the author's Web site at www.thomasarmstrong.com
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 A talk with Judy Willis, August 16, 2006, conducted by Deborah Siegel, ASCD associate editor
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Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher
by Judy Willis
Author Judy Willis, a neurologist and classroom teacher, combs through brain research and pulls out the most relevant information to classroom teaching. Find out how to enhance your students' memory and test-taking abilities, and discover ways to captivate and hold students' attention and encourage their participation and progress.
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A talk with Jane Hill and Kathleen Flynn, September 1, 2006, conducted by Carolyn Pool, ASCD acquisitions editor
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Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners
by Jane Hill and Kathleen Flynn
How do teachers ensure English language learners (ELLs) succeed in school? How can teachers effectively apply research-based instructional strategies for many ELLs included in mainstream classes? Nine strategies of the best-selling ASCD book, Classroom Instruction That Works, act as a framework to show teachers how to use methods, such as setting objectives, using visuals, and prompting with cues and questions, in lessons with students who have various levels of English language skills. The authors are consultants with the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL).
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 A talk with Alfie Kohn, August 17, 2006, conducted by Genny Ostertag, ASCD acquisitions editor
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Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community, 10th Anniversary Edition
by Alfie Kohn
Beyond Discipline has earned the status of an education classic—a vital alternative to all the traditional classroom management manuals that consist of techniques for imposing control. For this 10th anniversary edition, author Alfie Kohn adds a new afterword that expands on the book's central themes and responds to questions from readers. Packed with stories from real classrooms around the country, seasoned with humor, and grounded in a vision as practical as it is optimistic, Beyond Discipline shows how students are most likely to flourish in schools that have moved toward collaborative problem solving—and beyond discipline.
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 A talk with Mike Schmoker, August 7, 2006, conducted by Scott Willis, director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development
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Results Now
by Mike Schmoker
What would make a good school even better and great schools the norm? Author Mike Schmoker answers that question and describes a sure route to immensely better schools in any community. Using research evidence, case studies, and anecdotes from all kinds of schools, this book identifies the most pervasive obstacles to school improvement—such as teacher isolation—and explains how to overcome them. Schmoker provides practical guidance on how educators can exceed expectations and close achievement gaps.
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 A talk with Gary Marx, March 9, 2006, conducted by Ernesto Yermoli, ASCD associate editor
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Future-Focused Leadership: Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow's Realities
by Gary Marx
In this insightful and informative guide, Gary Marx presents principles, tools, and techniques to help educators steer their schools and school systems confidently into the future and prepare the next generation of leaders for life in the 21st century. Successful leadership requires us to keep abreast of current worldwide trends and anticipate those just around the corner; combining stimulating ideas and practical suggestions, the book will ensure that students are fully prepared today to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
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 A talk with Thomas R. Hoerr, February 2, 2006, conducted by Genny Ostertag, ASCD associate editor
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The Art of School Leadership
by Thomas R. Hoerr
Here's a book that goes beyond dry statistics and data to focus on what it's really like to run a school. Using examples from his nearly 30 years of leadership experience, author Thomas Hoerr explains effective ways to lead students, faculty, and parents in a productive and accountable school. Learn successful strategies—from managing meetings to assisting struggling teachers, from supporting collegiality to valuing diversity—that every experienced and aspiring principal should know.
*Read the author's column The Principal Connection/Failing Wisely in Educational Leadership.
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 A talk with John G. Gabriel, December 20, 2005, conducted by Scott Willis, director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development
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How to Thrive as a Teacher Leader
by John G. Gabriel
Many teachers aspire to leadership that extends beyond the four walls of the classroom. Nevertheless, professional literature provides scant guidance regarding how to be an effective teacher leader. This book aims to fill that gap. Author John Gabriel, a successful teacher leader himself, provides concrete advice on how to find success in roles such as department chair, peer coach, faculty representative, and Web page curator. Whether you are already a teacher leader, or aspire to leadership, this insightful book will help you cope with the daily challenges and thrive on the rewards of leadership.
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 A talk with Steve Gardiner, November 29, 2005, conducted by Scott Willis, director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development
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Building Student Literacy Through Sustained Silent Reading
by Steve Gardiner
This book offers a powerful strategy for teachers who want to improve their students' reading ability: Let students choose what they read and give them time to read it. Author Steve Gardiner demonstrates convincingly that giving students 15 minutes of uninterrupted reading time each day can help them achieve greater success in school and develop lifelong reading habits. This simple and inexpensive program also gives students a valuable gift: the joy of reading.
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 A talk with Allison Zmuda, October 19, 2005, conducted by Scott Willis, director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development
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Transforming Schools: Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement
by Allison Zmuda, Robert Kuklis, and Everett Kline
Whether your school improvement effort is just starting out or well under way, this book sheds light on how to ensure your plans lead to continuous improvement that gets all staff members involved. Using a fictional school setting with representative characters, the authors reveal essential principles of continuous improvement, systems thinking, collective accountability, and the change process.
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