Barbara R. Blackburn

Raise the level of rigor in your school and dramatically improve student learning with the tools in this book! In Rigor in Your School: A Toolkit for Leaders, Second Edition, each illuminating exercise is tailored to leaders looking to spread the word on rigor and beat the obstacles to achieving school-wide improvement. In this new edition, the authors answer more questions about common obstacles faced by principals, explore how technology can support rigor in your school, and provide additional information on collaborative tools for building a culture that supports rigor for all. The tools in this book help you: Assess where you are now Evaluate and adjust curriculum Design an advocacy plan Ensure accountability with parents Use your school's schedule to increase rigor And more! For both new and experienced leaders, you’ll find this easy-to-use toolkit full of practical templates and strategies to implement immediately. Many tools are available as free eResources from our website, www.routledge.com/ 9781138665293.

Raise the level of rigor in your school and dramatically improve student learning with the tools in this book! In Rigor in Your School: A Toolkit for Leaders, Second Edition, each illuminating exercise is tailored to leaders looking to spread the word on rigor and beat the obstacles to achieving school-wide improvement. In this new edition, the authors answer more questions about common obstacles faced by principals, explore how technology can support rigor in your school, and provide additional information on collaborative tools for building a culture that supports rigor for all. The tools in this book help you: Assess where you are now Evaluate and adjust curriculum Design an advocacy plan Ensure accountability with parents Use your school's schedule to increase rigor And more! For both new and experienced leaders, you’ll find this easy-to-use toolkit full of practical templates and strategies to implement immediately. Many tools are available as free eResources from our website, www.routledge.com/ 9781138665293.

Learn how to assess students in a way that truly impacts learning. In Rigor and Assessment in the Classroom, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn provides a broad range of practical strategies for increasing the rigor and usefulness of your formative and summative assessments. You’ll discover how to… Create an environment where students are expected to learn at high levels; Evaluate and check student learning in a way that ensures growth; Strengthen the validity and reliability of your assessments; Plan assessments in conjunction with planning the instruction; Differentiate assessments to increase the rigor for all students; Enhance the effectiveness of your grading system and feedback; Use performance-based assessment to enhance rigor; and Design clear, reader-friendly rubrics and scoring guides. Each chapter includes ready-to-use tools, examples across the subject areas, and "Think About It" questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read. Many of the tools are also offered as free eResources at www.routledge.com/9781138936140, so you can easily print and distribute them for classroom use.

Learn how to assess students in a way that truly impacts learning. In Rigor and Assessment in the Classroom, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn provides a broad range of practical strategies for increasing the rigor and usefulness of your formative and summative assessments. You’ll discover how to… Create an environment where students are expected to learn at high levels; Evaluate and check student learning in a way that ensures growth; Strengthen the validity and reliability of your assessments; Plan assessments in conjunction with planning the instruction; Differentiate assessments to increase the rigor for all students; Enhance the effectiveness of your grading system and feedback; Use performance-based assessment to enhance rigor; and Design clear, reader-friendly rubrics and scoring guides. Each chapter includes ready-to-use tools, examples across the subject areas, and "Think About It" questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read. Many of the tools are also offered as free eResources at www.routledge.com/9781138936140, so you can easily print and distribute them for classroom use.

The second edition of The Principalship from A to Z provides a set of tools that can be used immediately to improve your leadership practice. Organized into 26 chapters—one for each letter of the alphabet—this book covers the most important and prevalent issues and skills for leaders in today’s schools, including matters of limited funding, juggling social media, teacher evaluation, student achievement, school safety, and collaborating with parents. This accessible guide offers specific strategies that will help you navigate the complexity of your job and help you to become a more effective principal. Topics new to this updated edition include: A renewed focus on student learning as the first priority of a principal and updated strategies for becoming a powerful instructional coach Information about restorative justice practices and other disciplinary approaches Timely new chapters on motivating teachers and students, using social media, and handling limited resources Updated resources at the end of each chapterFor both new and experienced leaders, you’ll find this book to be full of practical templates and strategies to implement immediately. Many tools are available as free eResources from our website, www.routledge.com/9781138899568.

The second edition of The Principalship from A to Z provides a set of tools that can be used immediately to improve your leadership practice. Organized into 26 chapters—one for each letter of the alphabet—this book covers the most important and prevalent issues and skills for leaders in today’s schools, including matters of limited funding, juggling social media, teacher evaluation, student achievement, school safety, and collaborating with parents. This accessible guide offers specific strategies that will help you navigate the complexity of your job and help you to become a more effective principal. Topics new to this updated edition include: A renewed focus on student learning as the first priority of a principal and updated strategies for becoming a powerful instructional coach Information about restorative justice practices and other disciplinary approaches Timely new chapters on motivating teachers and students, using social media, and handling limited resources Updated resources at the end of each chapterFor both new and experienced leaders, you’ll find this book to be full of practical templates and strategies to implement immediately. Many tools are available as free eResources from our website, www.routledge.com/9781138899568.

Learn the most effective ways to promote student learning. This second edition of bestselling author Barbara Blackburn’s Classroom Instruction from A to Z covers a broad range of key instructional strategies to help you create more meaningful, engaging learning experiences for your students. Each chapter from A to Z offers guidance on a specific aspect of classroom instruction, such as planning strong lessons; assessing student learning; creating more successful homework assignments; differentiating instruction; and scaffolding students for success. Throughout the book, you’ll find practical strategies and tools that you can implement immediately, no matter what subject area or grade level you teach. Topics new to this updated edition include: Exploring blended learning techniques such as flipped classrooms; Strategies for implementing social emotional learning and mindfulness; Understanding diverse learners and accommodating all students; Teaching academic vocabulary in deeper ways; and Integrating subjects and promoting writing across the curriculum. With twenty-six chapters each devoted to a different aspect of instruction, this book has something to offer both new and experienced looking to improve student learning. Additionally, classroom-ready tools are available as free eResources from our website, http://www.routledge.com/9781138935952.

This book focuses on basic strategies you can integrate into everyday instruction in every subject area and across grade levels. It shows teachers how to motivate and engage students. The practical examples in this book make it easy for you to apply these strategies in your own classroom. It presents lively stories about how teachers help their students succeed. You'll meet teachers of all types, from preschool to high school, and you'll hear the voices of real students. Companion Study Guide Available

Learn the most effective ways to promote student learning. This second edition of bestselling author Barbara Blackburn’s Classroom Instruction from A to Z covers a broad range of key instructional strategies to help you create more meaningful, engaging learning experiences for your students. Each chapter from A to Z offers guidance on a specific aspect of classroom instruction, such as planning strong lessons; assessing student learning; creating more successful homework assignments; differentiating instruction; and scaffolding students for success. Throughout the book, you’ll find practical strategies and tools that you can implement immediately, no matter what subject area or grade level you teach. Topics new to this updated edition include: Exploring blended learning techniques such as flipped classrooms; Strategies for implementing social emotional learning and mindfulness; Understanding diverse learners and accommodating all students; Teaching academic vocabulary in deeper ways; and Integrating subjects and promoting writing across the curriculum. With twenty-six chapters each devoted to a different aspect of instruction, this book has something to offer both new and experienced looking to improve student learning. Additionally, classroom-ready tools are available as free eResources from our website, http://www.routledge.com/9781138935952.

Bestselling author and noted rigor expert Barbara Blackburn shares the secrets to getting started, maintaining momentum, and reaching your goals. Learn what rigor looks like in the classroom, understand what it means for your students, and get the keys to successful implementation. Learn how to use rigor to raise expectations, provide appropriate support, and meet the Common Core State Standards - whether or not rigor is mandated in your district! This book is filled with practical, use-the-next-day strategies for all grade levels and subject areas. Use the ideas to raise the level of learning for all of your students! Also Available! Correlation Table linking topics in Rigor Made Easy to the Common Core!

Every day, teachers face the challenge of motivating struggling learners. In this must-have book, Barbara R. Blackburn, author of the bestseller Rigor Is Not a Four-Letter Word, shares how you can finally solve this problem and make your classroom a rigorous place where all students want to succeed. You’ll learn practical strategies for...understanding extrinsic and intrinsic motivationbuilding a trusting relationship with studentsusing praise and positive feedback effectivelyempowering students and helping them own their learningmoving students toward a growth mindsetcommunicating high expectations for studentsengaging all students in your lessonsscaffolding so all students will want to improvehelping students be resilient and not fear failure; andcelebrating diverse groups of studentsEach chapter is filled with a variety of examples and tools that you can use immediately. Bonus: Many of the tools are also available as free eResources on our website, www.routledge.com/9781138792432, so you can easily download and print them for classroom use.

Every day, teachers face the challenge of motivating struggling learners. In this must-have book, Barbara R. Blackburn, author of the bestseller Rigor Is Not a Four-Letter Word, shares how you can finally solve this problem and make your classroom a rigorous place where all students want to succeed. You’ll learn practical strategies for...understanding extrinsic and intrinsic motivationbuilding a trusting relationship with studentsusing praise and positive feedback effectivelyempowering students and helping them own their learningmoving students toward a growth mindsetcommunicating high expectations for studentsengaging all students in your lessonsscaffolding so all students will want to improvehelping students be resilient and not fear failure; andcelebrating diverse groups of studentsEach chapter is filled with a variety of examples and tools that you can use immediately. Bonus: Many of the tools are also available as free eResources on our website, www.routledge.com/9781138792432, so you can easily download and print them for classroom use.

Teachers are required to increase the rigor for students, but how? This book by bestselling author and rigor expert Barbara Blackburn has the answer! It is a treasure chest of more than 200 practical and highly-effective tools that can be used across grade levels and subject areas to increase student rigor, leading your students to higher engagement and deeper learning. Topics covered include… Asking higher-level questions Scaffolding to help all students achieve success Differentiating instruction and using modifications Fostering independence through gradual release of responsibility Increasing text difficulty and teaching close reading Setting high expectations Changing students’ views of success Encouraging effort and goal-setting Creating an environment that is conducive to learning Using effective grading policies and assessment tools Working with parents, colleagues, and administrators And much, much more! Rigor in Your Classroom will be your go-to resource throughout the school year, as you continually return to it to try new tools with your students. Bonus: The tools are accompanied by graphic organizers, charts, templates, and reproducibles for easy implementation.

Bestselling author and noted rigor expert Barbara Blackburn shares the secrets to getting started, maintaining momentum, and reaching your goals. Learn what rigor looks like in the classroom, understand what it means for your students, and get the keys to successful implementation. Learn how to use rigor to raise expectations, provide appropriate support, and meet the Common Core State Standards - whether or not rigor is mandated in your district! This book is filled with practical, use-the-next-day strategies for all grade levels and subject areas. Use the ideas to raise the level of learning for all of your students! Also Available! Correlation Table linking topics in Rigor Made Easy to the Common Core!