Class Acts: Every Teacher's Guide To Activate Learning

by Gary Forlini, Ellen Williams, Annette Brinkman

Written like a novel about real people in classroom situations, this guide offers teachers (and administrators) tips and techniques to engage students effectively to improve engagement and learning. Page-by-page, the book interweaves experiences of real teachers in actual situations with concrete, transferable classroom management skill. The book addresses a national focus on improving student learning by enhancing teacher effectiveness in their classrooms. Handily, the book focuses on The Big 8 engagement skills that every teacher needs to activate student engagement and learning.

Genres: Teaching, Nonfiction, Education, Adult, School

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2010

Reviews

[Riley]

no one laugh this was actually just a great book that i need for future reference also made me feel like a boomer enjoying the first page reference to the byrds

[Trent Mikesell]

I've attended various worksheets and received other information from these folks, and I think they hit the nail on the head as far as what it means to be a good teacher. This book had a lot of good information, and I think it would be great for any teacher to read and apply no matter the length of their teaching career. I felt some of the tips were geared more towards younger students, but I think it's mostly applicable to all grades.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer)]

This was such a great, easy-to-read book. There were many ideas that any teacher could focus on in the classroom and use immediately. Each month I chose something new to try out in my 2nd Grade classroom. Any teacher that is looking for Classroom management ideas will find many that are easy to use. Administrators will see improvements quickly in student behavior and in teachers' instructional practice. Having our whole school use these ideas made a great difference in our whole school atmosphere.

[Jenn]

This book is not necessarily well written, but the principles are excellent and have me reevaluating how I approach my intervention groups. Ideas align with principles for good comprehension, which is a plus for me in my job. This was the summer read for American Heritage School and I hope it sparks some good discussions as we start a new school year.

[Lindsey]

Helpful information and ideas for classroom management, but not particularly well-written.

[Krista]

This book was given to me by my principal. It was ok, like most teacher books it was only partially applicable to my position. I usually have to just pick out what might be useful.

[Cody]

Great book! Written by mucky mucks from Granite School District. Great ideas. They are considered the Big 8 of Classroom Management. What was funny is they have found oldies hits to remind teachers of the habits they should be using. See if you can spot these management habits by these top hits.

==> E - X - P - E - C - T Find out what it means to me

==> "To everything (turn, turn, turn), there is a season (turn, turn, turn), and a time for every purpose"

==> "Done, done, and I'm on to the next one. Done, I'm done. I'm on to the next."

==> ". . .Do, do, do, what you've done, done, done before"

==> "Time is on my side, yes it is. Time is on my side, yes it is."

==> "You've got to, ac'centuate the positive, E'liminate the negative, and latch on to the affirmative, don't mess with mister inbetween."

==> "Hello there, ladies and germs, are you ready to rock?"

==> "Stand in the place where you live . . . Now face forth, think about direction"

==> "I got your signal, loud and clear. . .in the distance, a light is near"

==> "If you listen close, you can hear the sound of a human voice saying 'come gather round' "

==> "And when the answer that you want, is in the question that you state, come what may, come what may."

HAVE FUN!

Give it a shot.

[Daleine]

Class Acts: Every Teacher's guide to Activate Learning is a wonderful book that shows various ways to keep students engaged in learning. I enjoyed this book and got a lot of wonderful ideas that I do or will be using in my classroom.

[Sheri]

Reviewed best practices for teaching and working with classes for control
and teaching. Works in grades K-12. Many good ideas and ways to improve on
what you are doing now.

[Heather]

Good ideas--nothing stood out that I hadn't heard before, but it was full of good reminders as I return to the classroom.

[Tricia Price]

Really useful, practical tips for classroom management. Work great with elementary-age kids; some strategies also work with middle school students.

[Kammie]

Felt like it was geared toward elementary teachers.