BOOKS WE LOVE AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Art of Inquiry: Questioning Strategies for K-6 Classroom

By Nancy Lee Cecil and Jeanne Pfeifer

Asking questions is one of the most essential functions of teaching. In this book, the authors Nancy Lee Cecil and Jeanne Pfeifer show teachers how to develop both their own questioning skills and those of their students. The authors explain how to model provocative, open-ended questions, and provide many useful teacher- and student-directed questioning strategies. WEBSITE +

Clarity in the Classroom: Using Formative Assessment for Building Learning-Focused Relationships

By Michael Absolum edited by James Gray and Meagan Mutchmor

Author, Michael Absolum, shows how building a learning-focused relationship between teacher and student helps make assessment for learning principles work effectively. He does this by breaking down the bigger ideas of assessment into smaller parts that make it easy for educators to understand. WEBSITE +

Creating Independent Student Learners Series: Practical Guides to Assessment for Learning

By Pauline Clarke, Thompson Owens, and Ruth Sutton

Creating Independent Student Learners is a series that guides N-9 teachers and administrators in applying best principles of assessment for learning. Based on a three-year project, the books provide a written mentorship and show how assessment for learning principles can help teachers improve their daily lessons. WEBSITE+

It’s All About Thinking: Collaborating to Support ALL Learners (English, Social Studies and Humanities edition)

By Faye Brownlie and Leyton Schnellert

How can we help students develop the thinking skills they need to be successful learners? How does this relate to deep learning of important concepts? How can we engage and support diverse learners in inclusive classrooms where they develop understanding and thinking skills? In this book, Faye and Leyton explore these questions and offer classroom examples to help busy teachers develop communities where all students learn. WEBSITE+

It’s All About Thinking: Collaborating to Support ALL Learners (Math and Science edition)

By Faye Brownlie, Leyton Schnellert, and Carole Fullerton

In this second volume of It’s All About Thinking, the authors focus their expertise on the disciplines of mathematics and science, translating principles into practices that help other educators with their students. Faye, Leyton and Carole offer classroom examples to help busy teachers develop communities where all students learn. WEBSITE+

It’s All About Thinking: Creating Pathways for Learners in the Middle Years

By Leyton Schnellert, Linda Watson, and Nicole Widdess

In this third volume of It’s All About Thinking, the authors focus their expertise on teaching and learning in the middle years, translating principles into practices and exploring important questions. These three experienced educators offer a welcoming and “can-do” approach to the big ideas in middle years education today. WEBSITE+

Rethinking Letter Grades

By Kathleen Gregory & Caren Cameron

In Rethinking Letter Grades, the authors offer a practical five-step process for arriving at letter grades that moves away from collecting a string of marks and calculating a grade. They examine a wide variety of assessment tools (rating scales, scoring keys, rubrics, test scores, observation records, discussion notes, symbols, portfolio collections, and more) and match the student evidence with a description of achievement. This approach acknowledges the complexity of assessment and focuses on showing students the learning that underlies the letter grade. WEBSITE+

Teaching to Diversity

By Jennifer Katz

In her book Teaching to Diversity, Dr. Jennifer Katz synthesizes the research on inclusive educational practice, outlines her three-block model of universal design for learning (UDL) — developing compassionate learning communities, collaborating on inclusive instructional best practices, and modifying educational systems and structures —all focused on the support of diverse learners through the successful implementation of UDL. WEBSITE+

Voices of Experience Series

By Colleen Politano, Joy Paquin, Caren Cameron, and Kathleen Gregory

The Voices of Experience series is a collection of great activities to Start Up, Spark Up, and Wrap up the school year. The authors’ best ideas for the classroom are presented in two 3-book-sets—one set for the early-years teachers and one set for the middle-years teachers. WEBSITE+