New publications

Results are reported for research into the habits of mind instilled by studying art. After introducing the research framework, the book examines the potential for good art teaching to impart cognitive and social skills. It includes comments from teachers, photographs of students at work and samples of art projects in different media to demonstrate findings. Studio Thinking aims to help advocates explain arts education to policymakers, help art teachers develop and refine their teaching practices and help educators in other disciplines learn from existing practices in arts education. Adapted from publisher’s description.

Educator Elaine K McEwan offers 40 strategies to promote success for struggling readers in all content areas. Each strategy features an initial quote or definition, a brief description of the method, and suggestions for its implementation, recommended resources to gain a more in-depth understanding, and research citations to demonstrate the empirical success of the method. The text includes three tables of contents (traditional, topical and problem-solving) formatted for quick and easy reference. Adapted from publisher's description; also available via DA Direct.

Using authentic student-centered strategies in reading and language arts classrooms can give students a real voice in their academic growth. In this book, Karrell Hickman presents creative ways to make literacy instruction exciting and relevant, and outlines techniques for inspiring student motivation, exploration and teamwork. The book describes four long-term research projects that encourage student-centered learning. It also provides guidelines for using the student-centered approach with readings and assignments, time management strategies and resource lists for each project, student samples and Quick Tip sections. Adapted from publisher's description.

For educational leaders to achieve distinction in their practice, it is vital to establish clear personal values rather than reacting to the implicit values of others. This book guides readers in considering the values they bring to their task and the values they intend to promote. Values for Educational Leadership aims to promote critical thought and constructive analysis about underlying values that involve aims and moral purpose in education, vision, school ethos and culture, and schools as educational communities. Case studies and work-through activities are included. Adapted from publisher's description.

There has been limited detailed investigation into the connection between where a young person lives and his or her chances of graduating from high school. This US report takes a geographically-informed approach to the issue of high school completion. It examines graduation rates in the school districts serving the USA’s 50 most populous cities as well as the larger metropolitan areas in which they are situated. Results show that graduation rates are considerably lower in the nation’s largest cities than they are in the average urban locale. Extreme disparities emerge in a number of the country’s largest metropolitan areas, where students served by suburban systems may be twice as likely as their urban peers to graduate from high school. Adapted from Introduction to the report.