MCPS and The Priddy Library  

Featuring a wealth of reflection activities and connections to standards, this concise, easy-to-read teaching methods text equips students with the content knowledge and skills they need to become effective K–8 teachers. The book maximizes instructional flexibility, reflects current educational issues, highlights recent research, and models best pedagogical practices. Current and realistic examples, a section in each chapter on using technology in the classroom, and material on differentiating instruction for diverse learners-including students with special needs and English language learners-make this a must-have resource for any K–8 teacher.

Results from numerous surveys indicate that many students do not feel safe in school. This condition exacts an academic as well as a psychological toll because, as the authors remind us, children must feel safe in order to learn. The authors of Preventing Bullying and School Violence contend that inadequate attention has been given to the role of mental health professionals in preventing bullying and school violence. They propose a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, one that draws upon the skills of the educational, health care, and mental health communities in identifying risk, choosing appropriate interventions, and implementing targeted wellness programs. The authors see bullying as a process, not a problem originating with a single troubled person. Accordingly, they believe that bullying behaviors can be effectively addressed only by targeting the broader social context -- the coercive power and group dynamics that breed and maintain bullying and violent behavior in the school setting. The book is designed to help clinicians, school counselors, and administrators create a safe climate for their students and to respond thoughtfully, but swiftly, when threats arise. The authors offer many practical guidelines for achieving these goals, addressing #149; The critical importance of establishing a strong connection between the family, the school, and the community in creating a healthy academic environment#149; Strategies for working effectively with the complex social bureaucracies that often characterize the entities (such as school boards and governmental agencies) that intervene in cases involving violent children, with an emphasis on developing skills in managing both small and large groups#149; Ways to define and recognize at-risk children who require special attention as a result of having mental illness and/or learning disability#149; Innovative community interventions, such as therapeutic mentoring and home-based therapy, in addition to information on local, state, and federal programs designed to support antiviolence programs in the schools#149; Techniques for promoting wellness among the student population -- not just physical wellness, but also the positive attitudes and coping skills that are the hallmarks of mental health. Preventing Bullying and School Violence aims to empower mental health professionals to work confidently and effectively in educational settings to reduce the distress, enhance the psychological well-being, and secure the safety of all schoolchildren.

The field of gifted education is characterized by a confusing array of perspectives concerning such fundamental issues as definition, philosophy, curriculum, social and emotional development, and underserved populations. The mission of this book is to provide a coherent framework that instructors and service providers can use in planning effective programs, providing appropriate counseling services, and evaluating programs for the gifted. Most sections are organized around fundamental issues confronting the field and follow a common structure: an introductory chapter that provides historical and theoretical background and organizing questions followed by several point-of-view chapters written by experts that provide varied perspectives on the topic at hand. Distinguishing Features Comprehensive Coverage– The book’s forty-five manageable-length chapters cover the full range of topics that must be considered in planning programs and services for gifted students both within and outside of school. Coherent Structure– Section introductions provide background information and organizing questions to guide chapter authors who provide varying views of the issue at hand. The emphasis is not on the "right way" or the "wrong way" (except when clearly documented bad practice is discussed), but on how best practice stems from well-informed and logical decision-making. Decision Making Focus– The book’s introductory chapter addresses the need for a clearly developed and consistently applied set of values to guide decision making. Likewise, each section introduction includes a decision making framework regarding some aspect of educating, counseling, or parenting gifted students. This book is appropriate for introductory level courses in gifted education or courses in program development and planning. It is also suitable for school personnel responsible for making program planning decisions in the area of gifted education and for academic libraries with holdings in this area.

With the Common Core State Standards adopted by the vast majority of U.S. states, educators face the challenge of translating the standards into successful, positive change within schools. Written for school leaders, this practical guide offers a blueprint for implementing and exceeding the new standards using precisely targeted professional development.

Thiscomprehensive text outlines and overviews the measurement, assessment, and intervention of behavior challenges commonly found in classroom environments.   The revised sixth edition ofBehavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachersoutlines both school-wide and individual strategies for positive behavior supports — while also focusing on how educators can develop unique behavior management strategies for individual students. This comprehensive text emphasizes functional techniques, real-world classrooms, and practical information — all while covering the legal aspects of behavioral management, assessment strategies, strategies for special populations and diverse populations, age-related behavioral concerns, and the three-tier response-to-intervention approach. Pedagogical features include classroom connections, reflections, discussion questions, and end-of-chapter references.

What rights should students expect to exercise in public schools? Should bible study meetings be allowed during free periods? Should students be allowed to wear t-shirts that exhort taking drugs or committing violent acts? Should students be required to participate in drug testing? In this concisely argued book, Bryan Warnick examines how student rights in three areas—free speech, privacy, and religious expression—have been addressed in policy, ethics, and the law. Starting with the "Tinker" decision, a landmark 1969 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which declared that students in public schools had constitutional rights that must be understood "in light of special characteristics of the school environment," Warnick develops an education criterion that schools can use when facing difficult questions of student rights. Both probing and practical, Warnick explains how student rights can be properly understood and protected.