Today's classrooms embrace students of all abilities, and David A. Sousa's latest work provides the most up-to-date information and insights on how to work effectively with each one of them.
Practical, effective, evidence-based reading interventions that change students' lives Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties is a practical, accessible, in-depth guide to reading assessment and intervention. It provides a detailed discussion of the nature and causes of reading difficulties, which will help develop the knowledge and confidence needed to accurately assess why a student is struggling. Readers will learn a framework for organizing testing results from current assessment batteries such as the WJ-IV, KTEA-3, and CTOPP-2. Case studies illustrate each of the concepts covered. A thorough discussion is provided on the assessment of phonics skills, phonological awareness, word recognition, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Formatted for easy reading as well as quick reference, the text includes bullet points, icons, callout boxes, and other design elements to call attention to important information. Although a substantial amount of research has shown that most reading difficulties can be prevented or corrected, standard reading remediation efforts have proven largely ineffective. School psychologists are routinely called upon to evaluate students with reading difficulties and to make recommendations to address such difficulties. This book provides an overview of the best assessment and intervention techniques, backed by the most current research findings. Bridge the gap between research and practice Accurately assess the reason(s) why a student struggles in reading Improve reading skills using the most highly effective evidence-based techniques Reading may well be the most important thing students are taught during their school careers. It is a skill they will use every day of their lives; one that will dictate, in part, later life success. Struggling students need help now, and Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties shows how to get these students on track.
Develop and monitor high-quality IEPs for diverse learners High-quality IEPs are fundamental for guiding the educational process of and developing goals for students who require special education services. English learners (ELs) and other students with learning, emotional, or behavioral disabilities present unique challenges to educators responsible for referring, assessing, and placing them. This book guides educators through the process for creating high-quality IEPs for these K-12 learners. Readers will find: Practical guidance for developing and monitoring culturally and linguistically responsive IEPs Checklists, guides, and other reproducibles that support IEP development Case studies highlighting examples of appropriate IEPs
Practical "brain-aware" facilitation tailored to the adult brain Facilitating Learning with the Adult Brain in Mind explains how the brain works, and how to help adults learn, develop, and perform more effectively in various settings. Recent neurobiological discoveries have challenged long-held assumptions that logical, rational thought is the preeminent approach to knowing. Rather, feelings and emotions are essential for meaningful learning to occur in the embodied brain. Using stories, metaphors, and engaging illustrations to illuminate technical ideas, Taylor and Marienau synthesize relevant trends in neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy of mind. Readers unfamiliar with current brain discoveries will enjoy an informative, easy-to-read book. Neuroscience fans will find additional material designed to supplement their knowledge. Many popular publications on brain and learning focus on school-aged learners or tend more toward anatomical description than practical application. This book provides facilitators of adult learning and development a much-needed resource of tested approaches plus the science behind their effectiveness. Appreciate the fundamental role of experience in adult learning Understand how metaphor and analogy spark curiosity and creativity Alleviate adult anxieties that impede learning Acquire tools and approaches that foster adult learning and development Compared with other books on brain and learning, this volume includes dozens of specific examples of how experienced practitioners facilitate meaningful learning. These "brain-aware" approaches can be adopted and adapted for use in diverse settings. Facilitating Learning with the Adult Brain in Mind should be read by advisors/counselors, instructors, curriculum and instructional developers, professional development designers, corporate trainers and coaches, faculty mentors, and graduate students—in fact, anyone interested in how adult brains learn.
The best new ideas for differentiating instruction You know that differentiation is the best way to reach each and every student in your classroom, but where do you begin? For more than a decade, educators everywhere have unlocked the mysteries of differentiation with this best-selling book. Now newly revised and updated, this practical resource helps you adjust your teaching with: Strategies to reach more learners through engagement and choice A new lesson on unit planning with a template for planning from the Common Core State Standards A focus on acceleration, critical thinking, equity, and support to give students the best learning opportunities
Guide your staff to a clear understanding of cognitive research and its practical applications for the classroom! This essential training guide to the new third edition of David Sousas How the Brain Learns, Third Edition provides staff developers and turnkey teachers with the tools necessary to facilitate a workshop or study group based on the bestselling book. Chapter-by-chapter topics focus on brain research that relates to teaching and learning and how this research can be translated into practical classroom strategies, and explore in depth Basic brain facts Information processing Memory, retention, and learning Transfer of knowledge Hemispheric preferences and teaching to the whole brain Creativity Higher-order thinking skills Key activities from the book include engaging in action research, determining sensory preferences, developing mnemonics, using metaphors to enhance knowledge transfer, making a concept map, putting the arts into lessons, differentiating complexity and difficulty, and putting lesson components together. Highlights for the facilitator include Chapter summaries Supplemental information Discussion questions Timed activities Journal writing exercises Sample workshop agendas Sample workshop evaluation form The Facilitators Guide to How the Brain Learns, Third Edition, helps you effectively lead others through dialogue, reflection, and application of Sousas work in a number of different settings. Now you can help guide your faculty and colleagues to a better understanding and application of the most current cognitive research available for educators!
Teaching students with learning challenges just got easier with this groundbreaking guide! More and more students are having difficulty acquiring basic reading, writing, and computation skills. If you seek effective strategies to meet their needs, look no further! Use this updated third edition from education expert David A. Sousa to explore the causes of many common learning disorders and discover how to identify, accommodate, and motivate your students. Dr. Sousa answers your questions about common disabilities and provides the latest alternative instructional approaches to ensure mastery occurs. Discover cutting-edge brain research and innovative instructional strategies to help you: Improve your understanding of the learning process Understand genetic and environmental triggers of learning problems Effectively instruct students with ADHD, LD, dyslexia, writing disabilities, autism, emotional and behavioral challenges, and more Utilize assistive technologies to remove barriers to learning Differentiate instruction in speech, reading, writing, and mathematics Learn how the brain works and the practical know-how to transfer that knowledge to the classroom for the benefit of all students. This expert resource shows you how! "By providing the specific neurological processes behind learning difficulties, Dr. Sousa gives teachers and teacher candidates a useful resource to understand and respond to challenges experienced by students with learning difficulties and special educational needs." Gina Garner, Assistant Professor of Education, Learning Disabilities Program Director Aquinas College "This book provides knowledge of the neurological basis of learning without inundating the reader with complex terminology. The author arms the reader with strategies to address various disabilities and a plethora of ways to support their learning and emotional needs. The teacher-friendliness of this book makes it stand out." Francine Del Vecchio, Associate Professor Division of Education, Caldwell University
The text offers a unique and simplified four-step model for teaching mathematics to PreK--12 students that helps teachers consistently relate what learners experience in the classroom to concrete, real-world applications.
This exciting and unique book presents practical, immediately applicable ideas for differentiating instruction in maths in the elementary classroom. It explains in detail the process of differentiation in maths, beginning with lesson planning, through implementation of a wide variety of research-proven instructional strategies and tactics. The ′Ideas from Teachers′ feature, located in various chapters, includes instructional tactics provided by teachers that exemplify the differentiation process. Also included are the ′To Ten Tactics′ lists which provide simple, immediately applicable tactics that can be easily implemented in almost every classroom.