One of the most immediate challenges in K–12 schools lies in implementing powerful pedagogy which emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally engages students. The challenge is compounded in urban schools where higher proportions of underprepared minority students are in classrooms with teachers who find it difficult to not only create bonds but also in packaging pedagogy in relevant, interesting, and meaningful ways. Though many teachers can temporarily tap students’ interests or episodically engage students in a portion of a lesson, the ability to create and sustain an engaging educational practice remains largely elusive. This book supplies the missing threads through establishing a framework for student engagement, which has been cited as the number one factor impacting achievement. It is an easy read, written a highly conversational tone with a strong research basis. You will explore a 7 step process for emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally engaging students with a wealth of specific strategies, techniques, and tools which create an engaging educational experience. Utilizing cornerstones of professional learning communities, suggestions are offered for utilizing action research, collaborative inquiry, journal study, and shared practice to integrate ideas into practice.

This timely volume reveals in great detail how educators closed the “performance gap” for low-income students by linking expectations and results. Drawing heavily on the words and experiences of students, teachers, and parents, this book describes how students who traditionally had not succeeded academically in school began to do so. Effort and Excellence in Urban Classrooms demonstrates just how this was done by including: In-depth descriptions of classrooms and schools where students began succeeding when educators assumed the responsibility for their successData-based discussion of teachers’ views on parental involvement in schools and parents’ views of teachers’ and schools’ actions on behalf of studentsIdentification of the kinds of support that schools and districts must provide if educators are to be successfulAn unrelenting emphasis on how educators enabled students to be motivated and to produce high-quality work “At last, a book that helps us see and feel what a ‘no excuses’ approach to teaching is like in urban classrooms! This close look at teachers and students in high-poverty settings gives new meaning to ‘all children can learn.’ A must read for those who are serious about closing the achievement gap.” —Michael S. Knapp, Center for the Study of Teaching & Policy, University of Washington

A seven-step plan for really engaging our urban students Every day, thousands of students sit in our city classrooms, emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally disengaged. Teachers have their success stories; still, the ability to create and sustain an engaging practice remains elusive. This important book offers new hope. Drawing on his more than twenty years of experience working with high-poverty, urban, minority students, Jelani Jabari delivers Seven cohesive steps for planning, delivering, and reflecting on captivating learning experiences Techniques for gathering critical information about your students to forge deeper connections Strategies to transform students' perceived "deficits" into instructional assets An emphasis on teaching methods and classroom culture, not simply standards and accountability The INSPIRE process will take you beyond discrete, isolated techniques to develop a comprehensive approach to building students' personal and academic success. You'll quickly discover that there's no better guide to implementing real and lasting change in our toughest classrooms.

A guide offering seven comprehensive steps to create instruction and a classroom culture that engages students intellectually, emotionally, and behaviourally

The forward-thinking techniques you need to manage today’s diverse classrooms A well-managed classroom is a successful one. But as cultural diversity increases in schools, old classroom management strategies are growing ineffective—or even counterproductive. In a comprehensive, practical guide, Laura E. Pinto details why today’s classrooms are best managed by valuing culturally responsive engagement and what teachers must do for their classrooms to flourish in this new reality. Drawing from extensive research, Pinto outlines action steps for teachers to critically reflect on their management style, then implement changes to supercharge the learning experience for students of all cultural backgrounds. The book includes: Keys to developing the cultural fluency necessary to prepare students from all backgrounds for success Exercises for teachers to reflect deeply on how they manage their classrooms and to identify areas for improvement 45 easy strategies—including many that support the Common Core—for boosting engagement and cultural responsiveness in the classroom Readable and compelling, From Discipline to Culturally Responsive Engagement is essential for any educator ready to adapt to the changing face of classrooms. "The book creates a type of neural pathway between classroom management and the nature of relationship-building that is grounded by culturally responsive practice. Incorporating the relationship and significance of the common core only adds to the development of teacher capacity and efficacy development." —Deborah Childs-Bowen, Chief Learning Officer Alliance for Leadership in Education, Atlanta, GA

Dispel discipline problems with new classroom management techniques! Behavioral problems often occur when students are bored or unmotivated. This newly revised edition from education expert, Marcia L. Tate, helps you detour students around misbehavior. Tate provides updated research, new vignettes, the latest classroom management, and Common Core-aligned techniques that will help: • Establish a relationship with students that supports deep learning • Deliver brain-compatible lessons • Work with students who have attention deficit disorder and chronic behavior problems • Promote student concentration and memory with classroom arrangement, light, color, and music Implement the crucial elements for lasting motivation and engagement with this essential guide!