Skinner For The Classroom

An autobiography fo B.F. Skinner, including a selection of his papers.

Critical Pedagogy addresses the shortcomings of mainstream educational theory and practice and promotes the humanization of teacher and student. Where Critical Pedagogy is often treated as a discourse of academics in universities, this book explores the applications of Critical Pedagogy to actual classroom situations. Written in a straight-forward, concise, and lucid form by an American high school teacher, drawing examples from literature, film, and, above all, the everyday classroom, this book is meant to provoke thought in teachers, students and education activists as we transform our classrooms into democratic sites. From grading to testing, from content area disciplines to curriculum planning and instruction, from the social construction of knowledge to embodied cognition, this book takes the theories behind Critical Pedagogy and illustrates them at work in common classroom environments.

On Parent's Day, in 1952, B. F. Skinner visited his daughter's fourth grade math class. As he watched the lesson, he became increasingly uncomfortable. Almost every principle of effective teaching that he had studied for more than 20 years was being violated in that classroom. Yet it was a typical class. The teacher showed how to solve the day's problems, then gave the students a worksheet to do. Some children began to work readily while others shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, or raised their hands for help. The teacher went from desk to desk, giving help and feedback. Skinner knew what was needed. Each student should be given a problem tailored precisely to his or her skill level, not to the class average, and every answer needed to be assessed immediately to determine the next step. The task was clearly impossible for one teacher. That afternoon, Skinner set to work on a teaching machine. Today's computers have made the mechanical machine obsolete, but the principles of how to design instruction in steps that lead from a basic level to competent performance are as valid today as they were in the 20th century. This book brings together Skinner's writings on education during the years he was most involved in improving education.

This text offers practical information and vicarious practice for both beginning as well as veteran teachers to become more knowledgeable, skilled, and effective in their work. Through study, application of what has been studied, and the analysis and evaluation of the end result of this application, teachers who care to improve can improve. And, teachers who are already successful in their teaching can be even more successful. Effective teachers are active learners themselves. This text therefore provides a specific context and focus for this active learning in the areas of student motivation and classroom management which are considered critical for best practice in teaching in classrooms today. The book reviews appropriate strategies when responding to specific types of student misbehavior and also discusses zero tolerance policies, expulsion, teaching special students, addressing diversity, violence, school uniforms, and drug abuse as related to management and motivation. It is highlighted with supporting case study examples, question and activity sections by chapter, and a helpful glossary. Also provided is an overview of ten popular models for classroom management with the theorists associated with their development. By reading this book, teachers will get their students to achieve at high levels in demonstrating what they have learned through the application of the most important, intertwined areas of motivation and classroom management.

Classroom management is critical to successful teaching, but many K-12 teachers struggle with it. This indispensable guide distills the best classroom management science into easy-to-implement strategies teachers can use to promote a productive and safe learning environment. Chapters provide evidence-based guidelines for implementing classwide prevention strategies, token economies, group contingencies, and self-management interventions. Procedures for evaluating intervention effectiveness and individualizing interventions are described. Reproducible tools include 9 forms and 21 quick-reference "coach cards" that distill the key steps of each strategy. The large-size format and lay-flat binding facilitate photocopying; purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by T. Chris Riley-Tillman.

Children in today's world are inundated with information about who to be, what to do and how to live. But what if there was a way to teach children how to manage priorities, focus on goals and be a positive influence on the world around them? The Leader in Meis that programme. It's based on a hugely successful initiative carried out at the A.B. Combs Elementary School in North Carolina. To hear the parents of A. B Combs talk about the school is to be amazed. In 1999, the school debuted a programme that taught The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleto a pilot group of students. The parents reported an incredible change in their children, who blossomed under the programme. By the end of the following year the average end-of-grade scores had leapt from 84 to 94. This book will launch the message onto a much larger platform. Stephen R. Covey takes the 7 Habits, that have already changed the lives of millions of people, and shows how children can use them as they develop. Those habits -- be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek to understand and then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw -- are critical skills to learn at a young age and bring incredible results, proving that it's never too early to teach someone how to live well.

Inquiring in the Classroom provides a practical and accessible guide to planning, carrying out and presenting successful classroom inquiry for teachers working towards a Masters-level qualification in education. The contributors provide a clear and concise roadmap drawing on case studies throughout and bringing educational theory to life by closely linking it to classroom practice. They also provide tried and tested advice on writing and presenting at Masters-level. Topics covered include: - Teaching, Learning and Assessment - Subject Knowledge and Curriculum Development - Children's Development and Behaviour - Inclusion - Leadership and Management - Collaborative Working Through a clear emphasis on the practical implications of educational inquiry, the book brings together key elements of continuing professional development (CPD) and Masters-level learning. The contributors draw on their experience of teaching and supporting Masters-level inquiry to provide practical suggestions for how teachers can support each other in classroom inquiries and develop the skills necessary to transform practice and raise engagement and attainment for all pupils.