Books about Inservice from Amazon.com

"Kaagan's book provides a growth focused tool kit that is unique in its presentation A must-have for the professional library of the novice trainer or the experienced staff developer, it gives the 'now what' piece to enhance dialogue in school-specific learning situations, curriculum design sessions, or system-wide strategic planning."
Marti Richardson, President
National Staff Development Council

Energize and enhance your next staff development workshop with reflective exercises!

In this invaluable and unique resource, leadership and organizational development expert Stephen S. Kaagan presents a unique guide for educators who enjoy challenging themselves and who hunger for new ideas and a fresh perspective of staff development. It promotes individual and collective learning of all participants as they undertake formal staff development while enhancing the success and performance of the entire educational system.

The 30 reflective exercises have been designed to meet the specific needs of educators and include:

• Fostering effective change
• Developing leadership skills
• Identifying and capitalizing on staff assets
• Gaining and using new perspectives

Each of the 30 exercises is described in rich, full detail, including detailed instructions on process, appropriate group size, and contextual cues for best use. Questions for reflection help users explore the "what," the "so what," and the "now what" of issues raised in the exercises. By incorporating reflective exercise into staff development, facilitators and participants will have the opportunity to engage deeply with new ideas and make connections between theory and practice.

30 Reflective Staff Development Exercises for Educators allows staff developers, principals, teacher leaders, and anyone else involved in staff development to improve their contributions in a variety of forums, including formal staff development, school staff meetings, curriculum planning sessions, and school improvement team meetings.

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Price: $21.50 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Teachers helping teachers is a great way to create a powerful instructional staff. Knight has included very practical and useful tools to help teachers achieve excellence "
—Dale E. Moxley, Principal, Round Lake Elementary School, Mount Dora, FL

"Provides valuable insight for mentors who are in the field working daily with novice teachers."
J. Helen Perkins, Assistant Professor, The University of Memphis

An innovative professional development strategy that facilitates change, improves instruction, and transforms school culture!

Instructional coaching, a research-based, job-embedded approach to instructional intervention, provides the assistance and encouragement necessary to implement new programs that improve student learning. The product of more than eight years of study, this approach to professional development has been proven to help schools respond to the pressures of accountability and reform.

Experienced trainer, developer, and researcher Jim Knight describes the "nuts and bolts" of instructional coaching and explains the essential skills that instructional coaches need, including getting teachers on board, providing model lessons, observing teachers, and engaging in reflective conversations. Each user-friendly chapter includes:

• First-person stories from successful coaches
• Sidebars highlighting important information
• A "Going Deeper" section of suggested resources
• Forms, worksheets, checklists, logs, reports, and other ready-to-use tools
• A short summary of the main chapter points

This book is perfect for coaches, aspiring coaches, as well as the staff developers, trainers, teacher leaders, principals, and other educators who work with coaches and oversee coaching programs.

(20060825).
Price: $30.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Based on rapid advances in what is known about how people learn and how to teach effectively, this important book examines the core concepts and central pedagogies that should be at the heart of any teacher education program. Stemming from the results of a commission sponsored by the National Academy of Education, Preparing Teachers for a Changing World recommends the creation of an informed teacher education curriculum with the common elements that represent state-of-the-art standards for the profession. Written for teacher educators in both traditional and alternative programs, university and school system leaders, teachers, staff development professionals, researchers, and educational policymakers, the book addresses the key foundational knowledge for teaching and discusses how to implement that knowledge within the classroom.

Preparing Teachers for a Changing World recommends that, in addition to strong subject matter knowledge, all new teachers have a basic understanding of how people learn and develop, as well as how children acquire and use language, which is the currency of education. In addition, the book suggests that teaching professionals must be able to apply that knowledge in developing curriculum that attends to students' needs, the demands of the content, and the social purposes of education: in teaching specific subject matter to diverse students, in managing the classroom, assessing student performance, and using technology in the classroom..
Price: $23.67 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Often, literacy coaches are former classroom teachers who have little or no coaching training. Although confident in their knowledge of reading, literacy coaches may feel daunted when faced with the practical aspects of coaching. This book provides tools and tips to guide literacy coaches as they work in schools to promote more effective literacy instruction. Author Cathy A. Toll has organized the book around three sections—How Do I Promote Change? What Does a Successful Literacy Coach Do? and How Do I Coach in Difficult Situations?—to answer the main questions you may have about coaching. The first section will help you better understand various issues of educational change, and view change as beneficial. The second section will assist you with the practical matters of coaching, such as starting out, working with individuals and groups, and approaching problems in a helpful manner. The third section shows you how to overcome challenges, with information on dealing with resistant teachers and responding to pressures from administrators. The questions addressed in the book are listed by topic in an appendix for easy reference. Plus, a narrative bibliography is included to provide a discussion of the professional literature and topics covered in the book. Literacy coaching is best when you approach it with the belief that coaching is at heart about relationships and growth. This book will show you how to be a literacy coach who is successful in supporting teachers and, most important, students..
Price: $22.61 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This training handbook was designed for use by all food service serving staff members The guide covers every aspect of restaurant customer service for the positions of host, waiter or waitress, head waiter, captain, and bus person. The detailed performance of each position is described for different types of establishments, and all types of service including French, American, English, Russian, Family-Style and Banquet. It provides step-by-step instructions on:

• hosting
• seating guests
• taking/filling orders
• loading/unloading trays
• table side service
• setting an elegant table
• folding napkins
• centerpieces
• promoting specials
• promoting side orders
• handling problems
• difficult customers
• managing tips and taxes
• getting customers to order quickly
• handling questions
• handling the check and money

Plus, learn advanced serving techniques such as flambé and carving meats, fish, and fruits. It also features a chapter devoted exclusively to food safety and sanitation. Whether it's your first day on the job or you are a twenty year veteran you are bound to learn alot. Food service managers will find this book to be an excellent foundation for your organizations training program..
Price: $16.10 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Marcia brings the same enthusiasm she has for working with adults to writing for adults. This is a book all trainers could benefit from, study, and keep accessible in their tool chest."
Stephanie Hirsh, Deputy Executive Director
National Staff Development Council

Actively engage teachers, rekindle their passion for teaching, and take advantage of the ways the brain learns best!

Research and experience prove that students learn better when teachers use brain-based strategies. The same is true with adult learners. However, the very strategies that are recommended for teachers to use in instructing students are seldom reflected in staff development workshops.

"Sit and Get" Won’t Grow Dendrites draws on the latest research in brain-based learning, differentiated instruction, multiple intelligences, and adult learning to provide strategies that not only motivate adult learners but also increase understanding and long-term retention. Author Marcia Tate defines each strategy, explains its theoretical framework in easy-to-understand language, provides multiple professional learning activities that staff developers can incorporate immediately, and includes a guided reflection and application section.

Designed for easy implementation, this practical handbook includes:

• An overview of adult learning theory
• More than 150 professional learning activities
• Several sample professional learning designs
• Opportunities to reflect on and apply the presented strategies

Supported by both learning-style theory and brain research, Tate’s strategies enable all staff development professionals to plan and deliver powerful, memorable presentations that improve teaching practices and increase academic achievement.

This indispensable staff development resource is suitable for anyone who teaches adults, including staff developers, trainers, principals, teacher leaders, and educational consultants.

(20050620).
Price: $21.75 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"As the authors so aptly suggest, good teaching is more a journey than a destination This book will help both mentors and teachers to navigate this journey successfully."
Stephen Sroka, Health Education Consultants
Case Western Reserve University

"What a great book to provide for all veteran teachers so that when we are chatting in the lunchroom and ‘new’ teachers share a dilemma, anyone on staff can chime in with advice, backed by research and experience."
Diane Mierzwik, Teacher and Mentor
Parkview Middle School, Yucaipa, CA

"What Successful Mentors Do is easy to use, linked to best practices and is certain to be an invaluable resource for new and returning mentors."
Theresa Ford, Developer/Consultant
Educational Testing Service, Downey, CA

Be the best mentor you can be with these state-of-the-art strategies!

The first-day jitters. The first encounter with an angry parent. The first performance review. As a seasoned teacher, you remember each of these "firsts." But how can you relate your experiences to a new teacher? Find answers to these questions and the research to back them up in this tool-packed guide.

What Successful Mentors Do offers sensible strategies to help mentors help new teachers. Using state-of-the art research as a bas, the authors provide 81 ways to put those "firsts" in perspective for your new teachers. Working from decades of experience, the authors synthesize theory and practice to show mentors how to:

• Increase new-teacher retention with the surest methods for classroom success
• Encourage teachers in ten essential areas of teaching, from using assessment tools to developing a personal teaching style, and more
• Guide teachers in their relationships with colleagues, parents, and administrators
• Improve their own mentoring approach and develop a mentoring style
• Avoid common mentoring pitfalls

Sometimes life teaches us the lessons we need to grow. Other times, a trusted mentor prepares us for the challenges and guides us to success.

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Price: $18.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]