Short description:

Based on the observations of more than 200 instructors, this hands-on text presents finely honed strategies to help teachers create an environment for better teaching and learning.

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Long description:

Avoid classroom problems with this exciting new resource!

When teachers experience problems in the classroom they reactively look for solutions. Often the solutions to the problems merely address obvious, apparent symptoms, overlooking the root causes of classroom problems. In 44 Smart Strategies for Avoiding Classroom Mistakes, Orange provides insight into underlying causes of common classroom problems such as hurt feelings, power struggles, boring instruction, and low motivation. Rather than explain how to solve problems after they have occurred, Orange offers preventative, proactive strategies to help educators avoid the mistakes associated with classroom problems.
 
This book is a theoretically sound, fresh approach to classroom success. Based on the observations of more than 200 instructors, this dynamic, hands-on text presents finely honed strategies for creating flexible lesson plans, maintaining enjoyable classrooms that run like well-oiled machines, tips for motivating students, managing paperwork effectively, and much more to help teachers create an environment that is conducive to better teaching and learning.

44 Smart Strategies for Avoiding Classroom Mistakes includes:

• Practical methods to plan for foreseen and unforeseen classroom circumstances
• Tips to inspire and motivate your students
• Useful techniques for maximizing students' strengths and minimizing their weaknesses
• Advice on how to project a professional image
• Steps for developing exciting, energetic instruction

Featuring expert advice from state Teachers of the Year, enlightening vignettes, activities and observations, this terrific resource will help you create the best classroom possible.

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Table of Contents:

Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Section 1: Expect the Unexpected
Smart Strategy 1: Those Who Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail
Smart Strategy 2: Develop Your Academic Sixth Sense
Section 2: The Organized Classroom
Smart Strategy 3: Create the Well-Oiled Machine That Runs on Its Own
Smart Strategy 4: Harness the Paper Tiger
Smart Strategy 5: Design Soul-Stirring Learning Environments
Smart Strategy 6: Creative Minds Can Be Tidy
Section 3: Become a Friend of the Family
Smart Strategy 7: Seek Parents as Partners
Smart Strategy 8: Promote Parent Involvement Through Active Interaction
Smart Stragegy 9: Use a Sandwich Cookie Model of Parent Conferencing
Smart Strategy 10: Make House Calls
Section 4: Raise Your Nurturance Index a Notch or Two
Smart Strategy 11: Love the Unlovable Child
Smart Strategy 12: Seek to Understand All of Your Children
Smart Strategy 13: Consider Special Ethnicity and Cultural Issues
Smart Strategy 14: Respect and Celebrate Student Differences
Smart Strategy 15: Avoid Academic Trauma
Smart Strategy 16: Empower the Disempowered
Smart Strategy 17: Practice Saying Yes Whenever Possible
Section 5: Balance Your Personal Assets and Liabilities
Smart Strategy 18: Develop Strategies to Maximize Your Strengths and Minimize Your Weaknesses
Smart Strategy 19: Shelve Your Emotional Baggage
Smart Strategy 20: Use All of Your Talents
Section 6: Teach With a Slow Hand and a Gentle Touch
Smart Strategy 21: Model and Expect Good Behavior From All Children
Smart Strategy 22: Courtesy Is Contagious
Smart Strategy 23: Make Punishment a Last Resort
Smart Strategy 24: Be a Gentle Critic
Smart Strategy 25: Treat Children the Way You Treat Adults
Smart Strategy 26: Be a Promoter of Positive Behavior
Smart Strategy 27: Use Logical Appeal as a Discipline Strategy
Smart Strategy 28: Catch Bees With Honey Not Vinegar
Section 7: Be an Edutainer: Educator + Entertainer
Smart Strategy 29: Put Some Pep in Your Academic Step
Smart Strategy 30: Pump Up the Volume of Student Participation
Smart Strategy 31: Be Passionate About Pedagogy
Smart Strategy 32: Strut Your Stuff
Section 8: Do a Three-Step to an Instructional Beat
Smart Strategy 33: Conduct Your Own Diagnostic Clinic: Ascertain and Assess Student Skills and Weaknesses
Smart Strategy 34: Prescribe an Effective Personalized Action Plan
Smart Strategy 35: Promote Implementation of the Plan and Self-Regulated Learning
Section 9: Seek to Inspire and Motivate
Smart Strategy 36: Start With Yourself: Self-Motivate
Smart Strategy 37: Showcase Each Child's Talents: Tap Into Multiple Intelligences
Smart Strategy 38: Rewrite an Ineffective Classroom Script
Smart Strategy 39: Avoid Burnout: Rekindle the Joy of Teaching
Smart Strategy 40: Teach Children to Love Learning
Smart Strategy 41: Move Your Class to Action Through Discovery and Inquiry
Smart Strategy 42: Take Your Children to Water and Make Them Want to Drink
Section 10: Do a Professional Makeover
Smart Strategy 43: Project a Professional Image: Avoid the Blue Jeans and Sneakers Trap
Smart Strategy 44: Perfect Your Teacher Voice and Educator Countenance: Develop a Get-Down-to-Business Demeanor
References
Index

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