Vicky Giouroukakis

Although there are thousands of media sources that relate the trials and tribulations of immigrants coming to this country to pursue the American dream, there are few that document the experiences of children of immigrants who typically straddle two worlds: the world of their parents and the country in which they are born. Growing Up in an Immigrant Household: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants is a collection of essays that aims to give a voice to descendants of immigrants (individuals born in the United States to immigrant parents or grandparents) by sharing their stories of what it was like growing up in an immigrant household and community and how these experiences influenced the development of their identity. The contributing authors, from all walks of life, come together to tell their intriguing and poignant stories of adversity, good times, and lessons learned from being raised by immigrant parents and grandparents.

This book goes back to the basics of teaching and presents information that all beginning teachers need to know about teaching diverse learners. It is designed to help you, the new teacher, understand what it means to be an effective teacher and how to become one. The authors discuss how to create a safe, caring, nurturing learning environment that validates differences. They present techniques for being a strong classroom manager and promoting engagement to prevent discipline issues. The authors also pose the questions all teachers need to ask, which are: ""What is the big picture of my curriculum?"" ""What do students need to know and be able to do by the time they leave your classroom?"" ""What matters in teaching?""Several main instructional approaches are provided to give you a choice of pedagogical practices to use depending on your philosophy of teaching and what approach works when, where, with whom, and for what purpose. The Molloy Lesson Plan Format provides a curricular framework that you can use to plan lessons that address everything but the kitchen sink. In addition to the major parts of any curriculum - instructional objective tied to standards, assessment, and developmental procedures - it also requires teachers to think about differentiation for all learners, adaptations for diverse populations, instructional and learning strategies, and enrichment opportunities. The book also presents ways to be professionally responsible by collaborating with other teachers, getting parents involved, enhancing the home-school communication, and becoming an active member of professional organizations. Though this book is intended for new teachers, seasoned teachers who need a refresher in the basics of teaching and learning may benefit from the information presented here as well. The authors invite the reader into the world of teaching to learn about and reflect on what it means to plan and deliver best practices for diverse learners.

As a teacher, what you want most is for your students to learn: to immerse themselves in rich and challenging content and leave your classroom better prepared for school and life. In English language arts and humanities, this includes developing the multifaceted reading, writing, thinking, and communication skills that constitute next generation literacy, including the ability to:Read complex text independently. Develop strong content knowledge through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Tailor communication in response to different audiences, tasks, purposes, and disciplines. Comprehend text as well as critique it. Value evidence in arguments they read, hear, or develop. Use technology strategically and capably. Understand perspectives and cultures that differ from their own. But as a teacher, you also know how much is riding on THOSE TESTS: achievement tests from the national assessment consortia, the SAT and ACT, and independent state assessments. Is it possible to help students succeed on mandated tests without sacrificing your values, your creativity, and their education? Yes, it is possible. This book shows you how. This not a test-prep book. It is not about ""drill and kill"" practices that narrow learning so that students will pass an exam. Instead, authors Maureen Connolly and Vicky Giouroukakis present a lesson planning approach for the secondary classroom that generates test success as a byproduct of comprehensive literacy learning. After a comparative analysis of how current ELA assessments measure literacy, they model a backward design-based process for using these test items as a tool to create engaging and effective instruction. With 6 sample lessons, 42 instructional techniques, and tips for differentiation, this practical resource will empower you to help the students you love become capable, literate individuals who are also well-prepared to ace high-stakes tests.