An inside look at America's most controversial charter schools, and the moral and political questions around public education and school choice. The promise of public education is excellence for all. But that promise has seldom been kept for low-income children of color in America. In How the Other Half Learns, teacher and education journalist Robert Pondiscio focuses on Success Academy, the network of controversial charter schools in New York City founded by Eva Moskowitz, who has created something unprecedented in American education: a way for large numbers of engaged and ambitious low-income families of color to get an education for their children that equals and even exceeds what wealthy families take for granted. Her results are astonishing, her methods unorthodox. Decades of well-intended efforts to improve our schools and close the "achievement gap" have set equity and excellence at war with each other: If you are wealthy, with the means to pay private school tuition or move to an affluent community, you can get your child into an excellent school. But if you are poor and black or brown, you have to settle for "equity" and a lecture--about fairness. About the need to be patient. And about how school choice for you only damages public schools for everyone else. Thousands of parents have chosen Success Academy, and thousands more sit on waiting lists to get in. But Moskowitz herself admits Success Academy "is not for everyone," and this raises uncomfortable questions we'd rather not ask, let alone answer: What if the price of giving a first-rate education to children least likely to receive it means acknowledging that you can't do it for everyone? What if some problems are just too hard for schools alone to solve?

This second edition of a teacher favorite features a fresh, easy-to-use layout including color coding by grade level, more support for student engagement in academics, greater emphasis on the effective use of teacher language, and a dedicated chapter on the all-important first day of school.

“Whether you are new to the profession or in need of a reminder why you entered it in the first place, Stories is a collection of vivid, heartfelt, eye-opening recollections” -Tamera Cruz, educator “This book is a gift ... not just for educators, but for everyone!” -Kenyon and Taccara Martin, co-authors (Soul-Ties Personal Growth Collection) After 23 years as a teacher, coach and counselor, California educator John Smeby offers us Stories from the Classroom. Set in a city emerging from bankruptcy and still recovering from a 2015 terrorist attack. John uncovers a more human, compassionate side of San Bernardino that many might miss. In this down-to-earth, sometimes heartbreaking and often humorous collection of stories, he recounts both the struggles and victories he found inside the classrooms and hallways of Cajon High School and beyond. Whether you are (or have ever been) an educator, student or parent, Smeby’s journey will resonate with unflinching honesty. The anecdotes and stories he shares offer a unique look inside our educational system, both public and private. A teacher will often see a student seated at a desk. In Stories, John challenges us to look beyond the student, and recognize the human being within. “I would like to thank you not as a student to a teacher but as a friend to a friend. I will forget little by little my high school experience, but I promise I will never forget what you have taught me “–Juan Andrade, former student

"Every teacher keeps two or three books for constant reference while planning units and designing lessons—this is one of those books! The Active Classroom Field Book provides field-tested strategies for engaging students in learning disguised as fun!" —Jennifer Sinsel, Gifted Facilitator Wichita Public Schools, KS "This book is packed with ideas on how to let the students do the learning while the teacher guides them. The included real-life vignettes bring even more clarity to each concept, allowing the reader to experience the vitality each will bring to the classroom." —William Richard Hall, Jr., Principal Longan Elementary School, Henrico, VA Discover what really works in the classroom through success stories from educators like you! The best classrooms are dynamic environments that actively engage students in learning. In this exciting new resource, best-selling author and educational consultant Ron Nash shares the stories of practicing teachers who have successfully implemented active teaching methods in their classrooms. Expanding on the strategies in The Active Classroom, Nash uses educator stories and classroom vignettes to pinpoint how active techniques are working in schools across the country. This resource includes: Chapters on student-to-student conversations, classroom process, student movement, feedback, and continuous improvement through reflection Vignettes that set the stage for each chapter Lesson plan segments and anecdotes from teachers in Grades K–12 and college settings Ideal as a companion to The Active Classroom or on its own, The Active Classroom Field Book is the ultimate resource to help teachers transform students into active participants in their own learning.

The 21 stories told in this collection are about successful classroom teaching in South Australian primary schools and show the invaluable role that teachers play in developing sound theory. Each story has been selected from the English Language Curriculum Services Newsletter (ELCS) or its successor English Language Arts Newsletter (ELAN), which have been published over the last 9 years by the Education Department of South Australia. The book is divided into three sections entitled "Setting Up Children for Success,""Learning from Children," and "Supporting Student Independence," and the stories they contain reflect the multiple roles that teachers play in the development of children. The teachers whose stories are included have been particularly open to all they learn from children, testing out their hunches and responding to what they observe children doing. Their stories are a testament to the complexity, challenge, and satisfaction of teaching. (MG)

"The next time you want to integrate engineering practices into your classes, consider this book your own personal idea-starter. The 13 units in Creating Engineering Design Challenges provide innovative ways to make science and math relevant to middle and high school students through challenge-based learning and the engineering design process. Content areas include biology, chemistry, physical science, Earth science, and environmental science. Topics range from developing a recipe for cement to implementing geocaching to calculating accurate aim with slingshots and water balloons. You can be sure the units are classroom-ready because they were contributed by the same teachers who developed, used, and revised them. The teachers were participants in the Cincinnati Engineering Enhanced Math and Science program, a project funded by the National Science Foundation. They provide detailed accounts of their units as well as lesson plans and handouts. The book also offers guidance on fostering professional development to support and grow your school's engineering education practice. Creating Engineering Design Challenges can help you change your classroom environment, empower students, and move toward a more student-centered classroom culture that leads to deeper learning"--