Workshops That Really Work

"Anyone who reads this book for personal reasons or adopts it for his or her school will soon discover the wealth of information it contains." —Dr. Carol A. Mullen, Editor, The Mentoring and Tutoring Journal "This book is thorough, informative, helpful, collegial, and supportive. A ′must-have′ and great guide for everyone involved in professional development, training, or consulting." —Genny DiTrani, Professional Development Consultant New Jersey Education Association Learn to share your expertise with the wider educational community! As staff development moves from the district office to the school building, more teachers and administrators are being asked to lead workshops. Yet most educators have little or no training in adult learning. In this practical guide, best-selling author and acclaimed presenter Hal Portner leads teachers through the step-by-step process of designing and presenting a successful workshop. Packed with proven strategies and ready-to-use worksheets, this insightful book provides information on learning style preferences, offers guidance to selecting and introducing activities appropriate to those styles, and touches on many of the unsettling issues a first-time presenter may face. Features of the book include: A workshop design planning form Tips for overcoming stage fright and dealing with difficult participants Ready-to-use workshop activities Sample evaluation forms Self-assessment worksheets for every stage in the process Teachers and other educators who are presenting a workshop for the first time will find this an essential resource, while staff developers, trainers, and other seasoned consultants will value this book as a refresher or as a source for new ideas.

Most seminars are useless – it's an open secret in HR circles. Less than 20 percent of what trainees supposedly learn is actually put into practice. Small wonder that training programs regularly fall victim to budget cuts. Summing up 100 years of transfer research, this book demonstrates that transfer success is manageable. The 12 levers of transfer effectiveness® represent the gist of scientific research for HR practitioners. Once familiar with them, you will know what determines transfer success and how to manage it. This book presents a conclusive framework based on a solid scientific foundation, along with more than 50 tools and interventions that HR developers, training providers and trainers can use to maximize the effectiveness of any training course or program. "A must-read for anyone who wants to make sure training investments will pay off." Robert O. Brinkerhoff "This book gives you the findings from a meticulous review of the transfer-of-training literature and turns these findings into practical steps, supported by wise advice on the truths and traps of transfer. After reading this book, you WILL want to make changes to your training courses, and the explanations from the research will give you the credibility you need to enlist others for help along the way." Paul Matthews

In this much anticipated follow-up to their groundbreaking book, Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom, authors Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, together with co-author Katie Cunningham, extend the conversation in Shifting the Balance 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom. This new text is built in mind specifically for grades 3-5 teachers around best practices for the intermediate classroom. Shifting the Balance 3-5 introduces six more shifts across individual chapters that: Zoom in on a common (but not-as helpful-as-we-had-hoped) practice to reconsider Untangle a number of "misunderstandings" that have likely contributed to the use of the common practice Propose a more science-aligned shift to the current practice Provide solid scientific research to support the revised practice Offer a collection of high-leverage, easy-to-implement instructional routines to support the shift to more brain-friendly instruction The authors offer a refreshing approach that is respectful, accessible, and practical - grounded in an earnest commitment to building a bridge between research and classroom practice. As with the first Shifting the Balance, they aim to keep students at the forefront of reading instruction.

This resource will help school leaders and other professional development providers conduct ongoing, structured learning opportunities for mathematics teachers (K–12). The authors present models for professional development and the preparation of PD leaders designed and field-tested as part of two research projects supported by the National Science Foundation. The Problem-Solving Cycle model and the Mathematics Leadership Preparation model focus on topics of primary interest to mathematics teachers—mathematics content, classroom instruction, and student learning. They are intentionally designed so that they can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of participating teachers and schools. Through engaging vignettes, the authors describe the models, summarize key research findings, and share lessons learned. The book also includes detailed examples of workshop activities for both teachers and PD leaders. Book Features: Supports teachers’ learning and teaching of math in line with current reform principles.Develops math teachers’ capacity to foster students’ learning of the CCSSM content and practices.Prepares teacher leaders to facilitate professional development.Illustrates the use of video as part of professional development.Includes examples of workshop activities for teachers and teacher leaders. “This book presents an approach to teacher professional learning that integrates many popular ideas in the field, such as teacher leadership, evidence-based practice, and teacher learning communities. It avoids the superficiality that plagues so many treatments of these themes, offering readers depth, substance, detail, and clarity. This will surely be a valuable resource for educational leaders and professional development specialists seeking research-based ways to assist teachers to engage effectively in ambitious mathematics instruction that enables students to understand mathematics deeply and to use it effectively to solve problems.” —Edward A. Silver, William A. Brownell Collegiate Professor of Education & Professor of Mathematics, University of Michigan “Mathematics Professional Development delivers the details we need but can rarely access. The authors detail a research-based, principled approach to school-based professional development that supports teachers in taking on the continual improvement of their practice.” —Megan Franke, professor, UCLA

Everything You need to Write and Sell Your Work This is the ultimate crash course in writing and publishing! Inside you'll find comprehensive instruction, up-to-date market listings, a CD featuring recorded live webinars with industry professionals, an all-access pass to WritersMarket.com, and more. Writer's Digest University is the perfect resource for you, no matter your experience level. This one-stop resource contains: • Quick and comprehensive answers to common questions including: "How do I write a successful novel?" and "How do I know if self-publishing is right for me?" • Instruction and examples for formatting and submitting fiction, nonfiction, articles, children's writing, scripts, and verse. • Advanced instruction on business-related issues like marketing and publicity, using social media, freelancing for corporations, keeping finances in order, and setting the right price for your work. • A detailed look at what agents want and how to get one that best fits your needs. • Market listings for publishers and agents open to unsolicited work and new writers, contests and awards, and conferences and workshops. • A CD with recordings of 4 popular WD webinars: How Do I Get My Book Published?, How to Land a Literary Agent, How Writers Can Succeed in the Future of Digital Publishing, and Freelance Basics.* • A scratch-off code that gives you a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com and a 20% discount on the WritersDigestUniversity.com course of your choice.* Get started now with everything you need to build a thriving writing career. Whether you're starting from scratch or have a bit of experience, you'll find the tools you need for success. *PLEASE NOTE: CDs and one-year subscription are NOT included with the ebook version of this title.

In this book, a with nearly 40 years' experience in education gives a crisp, clear explanation of what makes schools succeed or fail. He shows how a parent, administrator, or concerned observer can easily measure the school's performance, and act to improve the school. The author also explains the various ploys by which inept school administrations deflect criticism and demands for reform, quieting parents without addressing their concerns. "A plain English guide from a hands-on educator. Saul Cooperman knows America's schools. His book will help you know whether your school is right for your child". -- Lamar Alexander Former U.S. Secretary of Education "I receive many letters from people who want to know how to make their schools better. How Schools Really Work tells them how, in useful, clear detail... The thing I like best about this book is that it is so practical. It tells how education works, so that anyone can understand the problems and solutions, not just the symptoms". -- Joyce D. Brothers Psychologist and Syndicated Columnist "How Schools Really Work is a marvelous guide for parents, board members, administrators, and the community at large. It is written in language that anyone can understand. I only wish that I had had a copy of How Schools Really Work when I started to become involved in my children's education". -- Maude Dahme President, National Association of State Boards of Education