Bridges & Hope
Recommended Resources
(in no particular order)
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After years of searching, I cannot more strongly recommend SpringMath to help ALL STUDENTS master foundational math skills at every grade level. This resource is all based on sound research and includes research-based INTERVENTIONS that ensure ALL STUDENTS are given the gift of math proficiency! This is the one-stop MTSS program we've all dreamed of!
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I believe the work of Ken O'Connor is essentially the Bible for best grading practices. This is incredibly important work that impacts student motivation IF it is combined with best assessment practices that change how we approach teaching. This is his latest:
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A Repair Kit for Grading: 15 Fixes for Broken Grades by Ken O'Connor
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(includes Dansville Schools Assessment Flow Chart and vignettes)
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Outstanding resource to learn how to engage and gain community support for bonds! Learn how to do community mapping as a new leader! Garner strategies for how to promote our profession!
Schools Cannot Do It Alone by Jamie Vollmer
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This became the district's common language of instruction. Mandated reading for mentors/mentees in Year 1. Helps ensure new staff understand Marzano Observation tool for teacher evaluation.
The Handbook for The Art and Science of Teaching by Robert Marzano
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Inspirational book study done with administrative team to help us bring joy back into our work, based on effective practices described by practitioners.
Lead Like a Pirate by Shelley Burgess & Beth Houf
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Critical resource to help staff develop shared background knowledge, with a focus on non-negotiable vocabulary in each content area, to reduce gaps and ensure shared scaffolding for staff to build upon through instruction and shared classroom experiences.
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Building Common Background Knowledge by Robert Marzano
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Click here to purchase on Amazon
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Important all-staff read that helped us address our beliefs about students and their ability to grow. Needed to ensure all staff understood this important work, as it represented a core value for the district. Used as a school board common read also.
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Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck
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Click here to purchase on Amazon
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This book was required reading for every teacher in Year 2, particularly Chapter 3. The engagement strategies are so clear and outstanding that we added this book to our common language of instruction. We added Archer's engagement strategies by name to our iObservation tool to ensure we were not just sharing the strategies, but coaching and expecting what we were expecting.
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Explicit Instruction by Anita Archer
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Resource describing K-12 SEL resource used for many years; districts can purchase access to lesson plan portal, including videos and activities. Can send staff to immersive training.
Seven Mindsets by Scott Stickler & Jeff Waller
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Click here to purchase on Amazon
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Coming Soon on Amazon! Includes assessment and teaching expectations for elementary, MS and HS teachers to ensure scaffolding of expectations/gradual release of support over time. Checklists for key assessment components based on best assessment practices.
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Teaching & Assessment Expectations Guide by Dansville Schools
Foundational resource to help teachers and administrators understand MTSS. Often referenced for years throughout implementation process.
Pyramid Response to Intervention by Weber, Buffum & Mattos
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One of the most impactful resources our administrative team read together, as we learned together how to best approach implementation for adults. The basic tenets of this work were used for every implementation from the time of this book study onward. This practical approach applies to all human improvement- this is a must read!
The Influencer by Kerry Patterson
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