EDUCATION

Works about educational psychology, theories, practices, and science.

General Works

Knight, George R. Issues & Alternatives in Educational Philosophy. 3rd Ed. Berrien Springs, Mich: Andrews UP, 1998.

Offers a survey of philosophies and issues in education. Presents educational theories, touching on basic issues in philosophy and the relationship between philosophy and education, explaining how traditional and modern philosophic issues develop and affect educational practices. Also stresses the need for a personal philosophy of education and encourages the development of one.

Slavin, Robert E. Educational Psychology Theory and Practice. 8th Ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2005.

Offers in-depth, practical coverage with a focus on the intentional teacher. Translates theory into practices that teachers can use in their classrooms and focuses on the concept of intentionality, modeling best practices through classroom examples.

Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. Understanding by Design. Expanded 2nd Ed. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2005.

A revised and expanded version of the original work, with the purpose of guiding teachers in curriculum design, instruction, and assessment. Explains the rationale of backward design and key ideas like essential questions. Focus on how the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. Includes an array of practical strategies, tools, and examples.

Assessment

Differentiation

King-Shaver, Barbara, and Alyce Hunter. Differentiated Instruction in the English Classroom Content, Process, Product, and Assessment. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2003.

Shows teachers of both middle and high school English how to understand and apply the principles and practices of differentiated instruction, addressing their unique challenges and needs. Offer a practical instructional model based on the experience of real teachers in real classrooms, including their own. Their model features: definitions with examples, specific classroom lessons, a unit design template/overview, follow-up activities, alternative assignments and assessments, discussions of classroom management and content concerns, and forms for planning and delivering lessons, including learning contracts, curriculum compacting guides, and much more.

Tomlinson, Carol Ann. How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms. 2nd Ed. Alexandria, Va: ASCD, 2001.

Good book on how to use students' readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles to address student diversity. Shows teachers how to structure lessons at every grade level and content area to provide "scaffolds" and "high-speed elevators" for lesson content, the processes used in learning, and the products of learning.

- - - - -. The Differentiated Classroom Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1999.

Useful book on differentiating instruction, with a strong focus on the latest research and theories, including several examples of a number of lessons, units, and classrooms with differentiated instruction in action.

Winebrenner, Susan. "Gifted Students Need an Education, Too." Educational Leadership. Sep (2000): 52-56.

Article on how to better provide for the needs of gifted students in heterogeneous classrooms through differentiation.

Management

Emmer, Edmund T., Carolyn M. Evertson, & Murray E. Worsham. Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers. 7th Ed. Boston: Pearson/a and B, 2006.

Offers chapters on organizing classrooms and materials, choosing rules and procedures, planning and conducting instruction, managing cooperative learning groups, maintaining appropriate student behavior, communication skills for teaching, managing problem behaviors, and managing special groups.

Wong, Harry K., and Rosemary T. Wong. The First Days of School How to Be an Effective Teacher. Version 3. Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, 2005.

Offers practical techniques on discipline, procedures and routines, teaching for mastery, cooperative learning, and positive expectations.

Materials & Technology

"Digital Games for Learning." Pink Flamingo's Resource List. 07 May 2007. 01 Apr. 2007 http://www.ibritt.com/resources/dc_games.htm.

An extensive list of digital resources on educational games, including how to make & use a variety of different games for teaching.

"EclipseCrossword." Green Eclipse. 30 Apr. 2007. 01 Apr. 2007 http://www.greeneclipsesoftware.com/eclipsecrossword/index.html.

A fast, easy, & free way to create crossword puzzles in minutes.

"PinkFlamingo's Resource URLs for Educators, Students, Writers, Webpage Designers." Pink Flamingo's Resource List. 06 May 2007. 01 Apr. 2007 http://www.ibritt.com/resources/.

An absolutely huge list of online resources for teachers including how to incorporate basic technology skills into the classroom.

"Weblogs in Education." Mustang Blog. 20 Apr. 2005. 01 Apr. 2007 http://mustangblog.typepad.com/educationalweblogs/.

An interesting examination of the use of blogs in education, with details on how to incorporate them into instruction. A little out of date in terms of the technology, but still a great presentation of ideas.

"Where Can We Find Classroom Resources Aligned with State Standards?" The Curriculum Resource Center. DPI WINSS. 01 Apr. 2007 http://www2.dpi.state.wi.us/sig/practices/high_2.asp.

Thousands of high-quality lesson plans, classroom activities, instructional television programs, and more, all provided by leading professional education organizations, and aligned to Wisconsin's model academic standards.

ENGLISH   LANGUAGE   &   LITERATURE

Works about the study of English, including how to teach reading, writing, and literature.

General Works

Atwell, Nancie. In the Middle New Understandings About Writing, Reading, and Learning. 2nd Ed. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1998.

Amazing book that offers practical advice and procedures for running writing and reading workshops, including mini lessons on a variety of strategies and skills. Appendixes are particularly helpful, with a number of reproducible forms.

Burke, Jim. The English Teacher's Companion a Complete Guide to Classroom, Curriculum, and the Profession. 2nd Ed. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2003.

Excellent guide on a huge variety of subjects, including literacy and teaching reading in high school, vocabulary and grammar, teaching speaking and listening, composing a curriculum, measuring student progress, digital and media literacy, service learning, gender/culture/race issues, AP & Honors English, being a new teacher, getting a job, being a professional, and the politics of education.

Verderber, Rudolph F. Speech for Effective Communication. ?: Henry Holt & Company, 1999.

Offers effective checklists for assessing student speaking.

Literature

McMahon, Robert. Thinking About Literature New Ideas for High School Teachers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2002.

Book suggests ways to teach students to think about literature by asking them questions, giving them imaginative exercises, and working with their responses.

S.C.O.R.E. Language Arts CyberGuides. Schools of California Online Resources for Educators. 01 Apr. 2007 http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cyberguide.html.

Offers a number of great cyberguides for literature, but hasn't been kept up due to lack of funds.

Smith, Michael W., and Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. Reading Don't Fix No Chevys Literacy in the Lives of Young Men. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2002.

Advice on the psychology of teaching literature to boys, based upon interest and ability levels. Guide on selection, engagement, assessment, and more.

Classics

Jago, Carol. With Rigor for All: Teaching the Classics to Contemporary Students. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000.

Offers practical suggestions for overcoming the problems teachers face when teaching the classics: length, challenging vocabulary, complex syntax, alien times and settings, student disaffection. Also deals with issues such as assessment and censorship, and offers many lists of suggested titles and a rich sampling of student writings in response to the classics.

Drama

O'Brien, Peggy. Shakespeare Set Free: Teaching Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, a Midsummer Night's Dream. New York: Washington Square P, 1993.

A wonderfully detailed text on how to structure lessons and units around great Shakespeare texts.

Strickland, Robert D. Shakespeare-ience: Romeo & Juliet. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning Corporation, 2001.

An awesome guide to engaging students with Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, with great interactive lessons & writing tasks.

Novels

Poetry

Moon, Brian. Studying Poetry: Activities, Resources, and Texts. Urbana, Ill: National Council of Teachers of English, 2001.

A fantastic text for covering a wealth of poetical concepts, including performance, definitions, sound, form, function, critique, theories, and practices.

Perrine, Laurence. "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry." English Journal Sep. (1962): 393-398.

Answers the question of to what extent teachers can demand "correct" interpretations of poetry, and if there is such a thing as an incorrect reading of a text.

Somers, Albert B. Teaching Poetry in High School. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1999.

Fantastic resource on teaching poetry to secondary school students, including how to select poems and teach key concepts, also how to encourage student's poetic efforts.

Short Stories

Writing

Bucknum, Fern Klopp. "What IS Grammar?" English Journal Nov (1996): 76+.

A great crossword puzzel on grammar terms and concepts.

Dean, Deborah. "Grammar Without Grammar: Just Playing Around, Writing." English Journal 91.2 (2001): 86-89. FirstSearch. 27 Feb. 2007.

Discusses using sentence imitation and combining to teach grammar, presenting an interesting alternative to traditional grammar exercises in order to teach sentence structue and rhetorical style.

Harris, Muriel. Teaching One-to-One the Writing Conference. Urbana, Ill: National Council of Teachers of English, 1986.

An in-depth examination of the power of individual conferences in teaching writing to students in terms of providing individual instruction, better feedback, encouraging growth, and improving teacher-student connections.

Haussamen, Brock. Grammar Alive! A Guide for Teachers. Urbana, Ill: National Council of Teachers of English, 2003.

Offers teachers ways to negotiate the conflicting goals of testing, confident writing, the culturally inclusive classroom, and the teaching of Standard English while also honoring other varieties of English. This hands-on approach to grammar in the classroom includes numerous examples and practical vignettes describing real teachers' classroom experiences with specific grammar lessons - including ESL issues - as well as a review of grammar basics.

Jago, Carol. Cohesive Writing: Why Concept is Not Enough. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2002.

A wonderful book on showing young writers how to overcome their road blocks in producing clear & cohesive writing by using coherent teaching methods. Includes a great five-day writing plan.

Noden, Harry R. Image Grammar: Using Grammatical Structures to Teach Writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1999.

A great book on teaching the mechanics of writing that pays particular attention to reaching students with visual/non-verbal learning styles.

Perrin, Robert. "Grammar on the Information Superhighway: Proceed with Caution." English Journal 92.3 (2003): 80-85. FirstSearch. 27 Feb. 2007.

A guide to the variety of resources on grammar offered on the Internet, detailing their relative advantages & shortcomings.

Teaching the Writing Process in High School. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1995.

A guide on how the emphasis that should be placed on various writing aspects in order to meet a standards based curriculum, including focuses on audience & purpose, prewriting & drafting, and editing & revision.

Weaver, Constance. Lessons to Share on Teaching Grammar in Context. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1998.

This book focuses on the practical, offering valuable "lessons" from educators at all levels. It addresses the learning and teaching of grammar, teaching grammar in the context of writing, addressing punctuation, parts of speech, effective word choice and syntax, and conferencing with students to teach revision and editing. Addresses ESL students and the issues surrounding dialects and powers. Discusses style, emphasizing sentence composing, "image grammar," and "breaking the rules" for stylistic effect.

TEACHING   PROFESSION

Works about the profession of teaching.

Bradford, Jennifer J. "How to Stay in Teaching (When You Really Feel Like Crying)." Educational Leadership May (1999): 67-68.

A vetran teacher shares seven lessons on ways to renew when threatened with exhaustion and frustration.

Gutek, Gerald Lee. An Historical Introduction to American Education. 2nd Ed. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland P, 1991.

An examination of the development of the US educational system, from colonial times to the present, which deals with many of the debates that continue to surround the profession.

Hole, Simon, and Grace Hall Mcentee. "Reflection is At the Heart of Practice." Educational Leadership May (1999): 34-37.

Article presents a guide to reflecting on classroom experiences as a means of improving personal teaching performance.

National Center On Education and the Economy. Tough Choices or Tough Times: The Report of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce 1st Ed. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Interesting work by a comission calling for a major redesign of our educational system. Provides a well-researched analysis of the issues and a compelling set of proposals for changing our system of education.