Developing Skills Amongst Students

"Peer supports really work: They help all students learn, make the most of teacher and paraprofessional time, and foster important social connections among students. This is the concise, practical guide every middle and high school needs to implement peer support strategies - including cooperative learning and peer tutoring - to benefit students with moderate to severe disabilities and their peers." "Filled with photocopiable planning, implementation, and evaluation tools, this must-have guide will help educators and paraprofessionals create schools where all students - with and without disabilities - achieve academic and social success."--BOOK JACKET.

During the last several decades, self-regulation of learning has permeated all areas of learning and development, including teaching preparation programs. Self-regulatory competences are essential for successful academic achievement and performance. This book is written for teacher candidates to believe that if they heard a call to teach, they can see in each paragraph of this book that they can do it. Teacher candidates reading this book will find themselves vicariously portrayed in the journey of the four teacher candidates described in this book. They can empathize with their struggles but will also find assurance that through self-regulation their own journeys and dreams could have great outcomes. This book is also written for teacher educators in teaching education programs so that they would realize that by transforming their curriculum in light of new findings on self-regulation, they could facilitate the training process of teacher candidates under their supervision and that self-regulation of learning and teaching matters for teacher candidates. Drawing on a rich body of research and theory on self-regulation of learning, Bembenutty, White, and Vélez present compelling case studies indicating that the capability of teacher candidates to self-regulate their attainment of educational goals depends on their exposure to self-regulated teacher educators, especially as they model, scaffold, and mentor in classroom settings. This important text gives numerous examples of how teacher educators can become role models and agents for self-regulatory change, and it will be an invaluable resource for courses in education, psychology, and human development. Barry J. Zimmerman, Professor Emeritus Graduate Center, The City University of New York In an effective blend of theory and case histories, Bembenutty, White, and Vélez provide valuable information and advice for prospective teachers and teacher educators. Their focus on help seeking is critical given the array of resources available to overcome early difficulties especially for teachers with significant challenges. Also important is helping them understand the role of delay of gratification in the face of expanding sources of distraction. Stuart A. Karabenick, Research Professor University of Michigan This book builds a really strong case for the importance of self-regulation in teacher education. Moreover, it tells a fascinating story of educational success against the odds, made possible by personal stamina as well as contextual support. Both teacher students and teacher educators around the world will find this book a wonderful inspiration. Ivar Bråten, Professor University of Oslo, Norway This is a practical book which provides a compelling narrative with page after page on teacher self-regulatory functioning. I recommend this book for teacher preparation programs, and I will definitely share it with many of my students and colleagues. Anastasia Kitsantas, Professor George Mason University

Learning strategies for critical thinking are a vital part of today’s curriculum as students have few additional opportunities to learn these skills outside of school environments. Therefore, it is essential that educators be given practical strategies for improving their critical thinking skills as well as methods to effectively provide critical thinking skills to their students. The Research Anthology on Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Students is a vital reference source that helps to shift and advance the debate on how critical thinking should be taught and offers insights into the significance of critical thinking and its effective integration as a cornerstone of the educational system. Highlighting a range of topics such as discourse analysis, skill assessment and measurement, and critical analysis techniques, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for teachers/instructors, instructional designers, curriculum developers, education professionals, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and academicians.

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Mapped to the CIPD Level 7 Advanced module of the same name, Developing Skills for Business Leadership focuses on three core areas for successful professional development and practice: managing yourself and others, transferable managerial skills and postgraduate study skills. Each skill is covered both conceptually and practically by a subject area expert to help all readers analyze and critically evaluate, manage more effectively, make sound and justifiable decisions and lead and influence others. Covering key concepts such as developing your professional identity, effective management of interpersonal relationships at work, people management and interpreting financial information, this fully updated 2nd edition of Developing Skills for Business Leadership is ideal for all postgraduate business students taking a module in professional development, career development or management skills. Integrating IT skills into each chapter, it includes a new chapter on reflecting and coaching, updated references to the CIPD's HR Profession Map, additional coverage of stress, health and wellbeing and an enhanced international dimension throughout the text. Online supporting resources include an instructor's manual and lecture slides as well as additional case studies, and sample assignments, checklists and exam guides lecturers can use in their teaching.

Emerging technologies are becoming more prevalent in global classrooms. Traditional literacy pedagogies are shifting toward game-based pedagogy, addressing 21st century learners. Therefore, within this context there remains a need to study strategies to engage learners in meaning-making with some element of virtual design. Technology supports the universal design learning framework because it can increase the access to meaningful engagement in learning and reduce barriers. The Handbook of Research on Acquiring 21st Century Literacy Skills Through Game-Based Learning provides theoretical frameworks and empirical research findings in digital technology and multimodal ways of acquiring literacy skills in the 21st century. This book gains a better understanding of how technology can support leaner frameworks and highlights research on discovering new pedagogical boundaries by focusing on ways that the youth learn from digital sources such as video games. Covering topics such as elementary literacy learning, indigenous games, and student-worker training, this book is an essential resource for educators in K-12 and higher education, school administrators, academicians, pre-service teachers, game developers, researchers, and libraries.