New publications

The authors explore and compare the education budgets and student outcomes within 25 of the world's school systems, including the 'ten top performers'. Based on this examination of high-performing schools, the researchers suggest three critical factors for improving outcomes: selection and recruitment of teachers, effective instruction and system provision. In terms of effective instruction, the report makes suggestions for initial teacher training, inservice mentoring, developing instructional leaders, allowing principals time to focus on instructional leadership and enabling teachers to learn from each other. Various measures are noted in terms of systems provision, including setting high expectations for all students and monitoring and intervening at both the school and student levels. International examples of best practice for achieving each factor are explored throughout the report. (Adapted from report.)

This book outlines elements of high-quality literacy programs such as a schoolwide literacy vision, an involved staff, a strong sense of community, a top-notch resource collection, a plan for monitoring progress and the right tools to work effectively with students and parents. The book includes suggestions for organisation, tips on providing specialised instruction, classroom-tested lesson plans, and ideas to keep staff, students and parents motivated to succeed. The book is based on the experiences of a literacy supervisor from a growing suburban school division and a reading specialist based at a middle school but the suggestions are appropriate for implementation in elementary, middle and high school settings. Adapted from distributor's description.

Coaching for Balance moves beyond simply addressing literacy instruction to addressing the pedagogy of coaching. This practical resource highlights the competing demands that school leaders, teachers and school communities place on literacy coaches, and how coaches might discover balance in their roles. Adapted from distributor's description.

Writing for a Change shows teachers how to engage students in 'real world' problem-solving activities that can help them to acquire voice, authority and passion for both reading and writing practice. The book describes a 'social action process' for encouraging students to collaborate on problems of their own choosing, analyse options, develop action plans, discover solutions and reflect on their work. Featuring stories by teachers who have successfully used the method, the book shows that first-graders as well as high-school students can enjoy this educational process. Practical guidance for applying the process to any curricular area is provided along with an extensive list of classroom activities. Adapted from publisher's description.

Learning how to learn is an essential preparation for lifelong learning. However, teachers often lack the rich professional knowledge base required for them to teach their students how to learn. This book contributes to this knowledge base by building on previous work associated with ‘formative assessment’ which has a strong evidence base. Additionally, Improving Learning How to Learn reports on the conditions within schools and across networks of schools that are conducive to the promotion of learning how to learn as an extension of formative assessment. A companion book, Learning How to Learn in Classrooms: Tools for Schools, provides practical resources for those teachers looking to put into practice the principles covered in this book. Adapted from publisher's description.

In this completely revised edition, Susan M Drake provides a new approach to standards-based curriculum, instruction and assessment that helps educators identify 'what students must know, do and be'. This resource also provides a framework for multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to curriculum integration; sample models of integrated curriculum in action; practical suggestions to simplify curriculum alignment and integration; and end-of-chapter discussion questions and suggested activities. Adapted from publisher's description.