Class Acts: Every Teacher's Guide to Activate Learning

by Gary Forlini, Ellen Williams, Annette Brinkman

Told in narrative style with supporting charts and other visual aids, this 160-page paperback outlines The Big 8 skill sets every teacher must master in order to engage students effectively in productive, focused learning. Each chapter interweaves experiences of real teachers in actual situations with concrete management skills that can be transferred directly into classroom practice.

In the books ten chapters, readers learn how to Expect Results in Real Time, Transition Smoothly, Develop Good Habits, Manage Time, Give Positive Reminders, Focus Attention, Use Stance and Movement, Encourage Student Signals, Say It Right, and Ask and Direct.

Based on more than 100 years of collective teaching experience and 1000 s of workshops and seminars conducted for teachers and school administrators across the country, the authors deliver concrete and measurable classroom management skills along with examples, checklists, how-to s, self-tests, strategies, and other useful techniques for the first-time teacher or seasoned educator.

The skills and strategies outlined in Class Acts: Every Teacher s Guide To Activate Learning are integral parts of the authors work in training administrators. The authors two most popular workshops are The Big 8 Student Engagement Skills for Teachers and Coaching and Consulting Struggling Teachers, which trains principals, coaches, and mentors to recognize the essential skills for activating learning and then to assist new and struggling teachers as needed. Often, the authors work on-site with administrators as they observe, consult with, and coach teachers.

Teacher evaluations frequently include proficiency in classroom management, and district evaluation systems like ObserverTab, as well as the authors AssistTab for coaches, use The Big 8 skill sets as central criteria for observation.

Genres: Teaching, Nonfiction, Education, Adult, School

160 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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Kammie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like it was geared toward elementary teachers.