Books in Focus on education series

Find out how Math Workshops engage students and increase learning. This practical book from bestselling author Dr. Nicki Newton explains why Math Workshops are effective and gives you step-by-step instructions for implementing and managing your own workshop. You’ll find out how to... create a math-rich environment; use anchor charts effectively; manage the workshop; begin a workshop with activities; lead whole-group mini-lessons; make workstations meaningful and engaging; create guided math groups; implement "the Share" effectively; and ensure balanced assessments. Each chapter offers a variety of charts and tools that you can use in the classroom immediately, as well as reflection questions and key points. The book also features a handy Quick-Start Guide to help you as you implement your own workshop.

This user-friendly book is a key resource for teachers and administrators to ensure their school’s success in implementing and maintaining a dual language program. Authors Gayle Westerberg and Leslie Davison share their own experiences leading a dual language school, the obstacles they overcame, and the best practices they learned along the way. The book is filled with step-by-step instructions and strategies you can try immediately, as well as inspirational stories from educators in urban and rural dual language programs across the country. Topics include: Choosing a model for your dual language program and involving all stakeholders in the transition process; Marketing your program effectively to recruit students and staff, including international teachers; Implementing a standards-based instructional framework focused on direct vocabulary instruction, extensive reading, and using language in context; Setting proficiency targets and using internal and external assessments to track students’ progress; Incorporating technology for a more interactive and engaging language-learning experience. You’ll also learn how to effectively transition your program through different grade levels and build a collaborative school culture for a strong, long-lasting K–12 dual language program. Additional resources are available on the authors’ website, www.duallanguageinstruction.com.

This publication is designed for pupils at Key Stage 3. Teachers will be particularly interested in the use of original source materials which are included as an integral part of the text, and which compliment and illustrate the narrative of the growth of Belfast in the 19th century. They are accompanied by questions and activities suitable for pupils of all abilities in years 1-3 of the secondary school. The learning activities are designed to ensure that pupils encounter a number of historical skills, in addition to the basic comprehension of the topic. These include an appropriate understanding of concepts such as industrialisation, urbanization, continuity and change, and skills such as empathy and analysis. The broad topic of Victorian Belfast has been arranged so that the story of Belfast in the 19th century can be taught as a study in development.

The first years of school are transitional years. The child will initially approach learning in the form of play and then transition to a more academic approach. As you move through the Focus On series, the instruction will begin with familiar play methods of learning and become more structured as your student masters each concept. Statistics have shown that a child will succeed at mathematics if they gain mastery of each concept before attempting to learn subsequent concepts. The focus on series of lessons bring a laser focus to each subject area, ensuring each necessary skill is fully developed before the student moves onto the next skill in the series. Continuity is critical to educational success. By ensuring your student gains a comprehensive understanding of each skill before transitioning to the next skill, you lay the groundwork for lifelong academic success.