Being a school principal is tough. And there's a lot that nobody told you before you took the job. The Principal's Toolbox picks up where most leadership training leaves off, exploring the reality of life as the head of a school. Covering 275 topics from the obvious to the obscure, The Principal's Toolbox gives aspiring, new, and seasoned leaders an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of the principalship. Entries address issues principals WILL encounter, such as "How do I begin to craft a master schedule?", "What if a teacher is so good I can't come up with quality feedback?", "How do I stay out of trouble with the fire marshal?", "How should I handle it when a teacher's kid misbehaves?", and " A pipe burst - where do I turn off the water?"Written by an experienced and currently practicing elementary school principal, The Principal's Toolbox doesn't exist to tell readers WHAT to think; it exists to challenge readers TO think. By honestly (and often humorously) presenting a variety of scenarios common to the principalship, the author gives readers the freedom to accept his viewpoint or form their own. With their engagement in each entry, leaders will sharpen their mind and increase their skill.The Principal's Toolbox consists of 9 sections (with example topics from each): -FACULTY (Relationship with faculty, candor, tough conversations, caring for people, human nature)-CULTURE (Gathering feedback, giving credit, parent support organizations, influential stakeholders, honoring traditions)-INSTRUCTION (Understanding data, state testing, lesson plans, grading, coaching vs. evaluating, quality questions)-PARENTS (Perceptions, sharing bad news, handling requests for a teacher, admitting when you're wrong, confidentiality)-KIDS (Communicating with, party invitations, tardiness, nurse visits, the purpose of discipline, dress code, child abuse, bullying)-LOGISTICS (Class sorting, school pictures, reassigning teachers, interview questions, school floor plan, professional learning)-SELF-MANAGEMENT (Discretion, emotions during difficult situations, personal biases, giving recommendations, precedent)-MONEY (Teacher wishlists, employee benefits, discretionary funds, tax-exempt status, restricted vs. unrestricted accounts)-THIS AND THAT (Student residency, physical plant maintenance, the laminator, ADA compliance, drills, employee injuries)With its straightforward tone and extensive content, The Principal's Toolbox is equally suited to a graduate school book study as the shelf of a veteran principal needing a quick reference. No more need we say, "Well they didn't teach us THAT in principal school!"

The world of special education can sometimes feel like a confusing place to novice teachers and families; however, The Special Education Toolbox: Supporting Exceptional Teachers, Students and Families is a primer that everyone can use to become an expert in their own right. Beginning with a brief walk through special education history and including the basics of assessment and IEP writing, this book considers student success from a variety of perspectives to include the role of the paraprofessional, the home-school connection, and transition planning to name just a few. The Special Education Toolbox will easily be one of the most used books on the shelf in any office, classroom, or home.

Practical strategies to support your English language learners The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox is a practical, valuable resource to be used by teachers of English Language Learners, in teacher education credential programs, and by staff development professionals and coaches. It provides hundreds of innovative and research-based instructional strategies you can use to support all levels of English Language Learners. Written by proven authors in the field, the book is divided into two main sections: Reading/Writing and Speaking/Listening. Each of those sections includes “Top Ten” favorites and between 40 and 70 strategies that can be used as part of multiple lessons and across content areas. Contains 60% new strategies Features ready-to-use lesson plans Includes reproducible handouts Offers technology integration ideas The percentage of public school students in the U.S. who are English language learners grows each year—and with this book, you’ll get a ton of fresh, innovative strategies to add to your teaching arsenal.

This book provides busy teachers with an adaptable toolbox of strategies for challenging gifted students that they can immediately put into practice in their classroom, school, or program. Chapters cover everything from makerspaces and project-based learning, to enrichment clubs, mentorships, creative thinking, and more. Each strategy includes an overview, resource guide, description of how it looks in the classroom, and all the information you need to put it into practice. With templates, charts, and links to videos illustrating the tools in action, A Teacher’s Toolbox for Gifted Education is your go-to guide for creative ways to support advanced learners.

This hands-on school leadership guide for new and veteran principals and administrators offers practical advice for leading a school successfully. Want honest student input? Try texting. Got a group of angry parents? Arrange one-on-one meetings—you’ll avoid a mob scene and give each family the attention it deserves. Trying to make a teacher feel appreciated? Shoot a quick email after stopping by his classroom and describe something cool you saw him do. It takes ten seconds but has a big impact. These tips and hundreds more are the collective wisdom of three experienced principals who know how to connect with kids, staff, families, and stakeholders, and help students succeed.

A winning educational formula of engaging lessons and powerful strategies for science teachers in numerous classroom settings The Teacher’s Toolbox series is an innovative, research-based resource providing teachers with instructional strategies for students of all levels and abilities. Each book in the collection focuses on a specific content area. Clear, concise guidance enables teachers to quickly integrate low-prep, high-value lessons and strategies in their middle school and high school classrooms. Every strategy follows a practical, how-to format established by the series editors. The Science Teacher's Toolbox is a classroom-tested resource offering hundreds of accessible, student-friendly lessons and strategies that can be implemented in a variety of educational settings. Concise chapters fully explain the research basis, necessary technology, Next Generation Science Standards correlation, and implementation of each lesson and strategy. Favoring a hands-on approach, this bookprovides step-by-step instructions that help teachers to apply their new skills and knowledge in their classrooms immediately. Lessons cover topics such as setting up labs, conducting experiments, using graphs, analyzing data, writing lab reports, incorporating technology, assessing student learning, teaching all-ability students, and much more. This book enables science teachers to: Understand how each strategy works in the classroom and avoid common mistakes Promote culturally responsive classrooms Activate and enhance prior knowledge Bring fresh and engaging activities into the classroom and the science lab Written by respected authors and educators, The Science Teacher's Toolbox: Hundreds of Practical Ideas to Support Your Students is an invaluable aid for upper elementary, middle school, and high school science educators as well those in teacher education programs and staff development professionals.

This updated resource provides principals and other school administrators with the tools needed to become effective instructional leaders, build teamwork, and boost student achievement.

Math teachers will find the classroom-tested lessons and strategies in this book to be accessible and easily implemented in the classroom The Teacher’s Toolbox series is an innovative, research-based resource providing teachers with instructional strategies for students of all levels and abilities. Each book in the collection focuses on a specific content area. Clear, concise guidance enables teachers to quickly integrate low-prep, high-value lessons and strategies in their middle school and high school classrooms. Every strategy follows a practical, how-to format established by the series editors. The Math Teacher's Toolbox contains hundreds of student-friendly classroom lessons and teaching strategies. Clear and concise chapters, fully aligned to Common Core math standards, cover the underlying research, required technology, practical classroom use, and modification of each high-value lesson and strategy. This book employs a hands-on approach to help educators quickly learn and apply proven methods and techniques in their mathematics courses. Topics range from the planning of units, lessons, tests, and homework to conducting formative assessments, differentiating instruction, motivating students, dealing with “math anxiety,” and culturally responsive teaching. Easy-to-read content shows how and why math should be taught as a language and how to make connections across mathematical units. Designed to reduce instructor preparation time and increase student engagement and comprehension, this book: Explains the usefulness, application, and potential drawbacks of each instructional strategy Provides fresh activities for all classrooms Helps math teachers work with ELLs, advanced students, and students with learning differences Offers real-world guidance for working with parents, guardians, and co-teachers The Math Teacher's Toolbox: Hundreds of Practical ideas to Support Your Students is an invaluable source of real-world lessons, strategies, and techniques for general education teachers and math specialists, as well as resource specialists/special education teachers, elementary and secondary educators, and teacher educators.

Inspire yourself and others with the second edition of this best-selling book. With heartfelt advice, practical wisdom, and examples from the field, Todd Whitaker explains the qualities and practices that distinguish great principals. New features include: Developing an accurate sense of self Understanding the dynamics of change Dealing with negative or ineffective staff members One of the nation’s leading experts on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness, Todd Whitaker has written over 20 powerful books for educators of every level. Discover what you can do differently.

Social studies teachers will find classroom-tested lessons and strategies that can be easily implemented in the classroom The Teacher’s Toolbox series is an innovative, research-based resource providing teachers with instructional strategies for students of all levels and abilities. Each book in the collection focuses on a specific content area. Clear, concise guidance enables teachers to quickly integrate low-prep, high-value lessons and strategies in their middle school and high school classrooms. Every strategy follows a practical, how-to format established by the series editors. The Social Studies Teacher's Toolbox contains hundreds of student-friendly classroom lessons and teaching strategies. Clear and concise chapters, fully aligned to Common Core Social Studies standards and National Council for the Social Studies standards, cover the underlying research, technology based options, practical classroom use, and modification of each high-value lesson and strategy. This book employs a hands-on approach to help educators quickly learn and apply proven methods and techniques in their social studies courses. Topics range from reading and writing in social studies and tools for analysis, to conducting formative and summative assessments, differentiating instruction, motivating students, incorporating social and emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching. Easy-to-read content shows how and why social studies should be taught and how to make connections across history, geography, political science, and beyond. Designed to reduce instructor preparation time and increase relevance, student engagement, and comprehension, this book: Explains the usefulness, application, and potential drawbacks of each instructional strategy Provides fresh activities applicable to all classrooms Helps social studies teachers work with ELLs, advanced students, and students with learning differences Offers real-world guidance for addressing current events while covering standards and working with textbooks The Social Studies Teacher's Toolbox is an invaluable source of real-world lessons, strategies, and techniques for general education teachers and social studies specialists, as well as resource specialists/special education teachers, elementary and secondary educators, and teacher educators.