Teacher Training Books

This book has been very helpful in designing lessons for teaching students to become more proficient, creative writers. I highly recommend it for anyone who teaches upper elementary! The CD contains an abundance of great prompts!

This book is well worth the price!! I was able to turn average writers into stronger, self confident writers. Students buy into the ideas presented in the book, and take off in their writing. For the students who just need a little boost, for dramatic flair in their writing, this book is the ticket. Start today! Your students and parents will thank you for the metamorphsis they see in student writing. Share with colleagues and you'll be a star.

After my first year of teaching and experiencing the stress associated with preparing for the state writing assessment, I knew I had to find something that would help me know how to prepare my students for this important test. As I stood in the middle of a teacher's store, I spotted this book. I wondered if this would be of any help. Since I was open to any ideas, I decided to take the chance and make the purchase. Happily, I admit, this was perhaps the best purchase of my entire teaching career. Mrs. Kiester's simple four-step plan was a "God-send." She puts into print each step a teacher should follow to help her students became extremely proficient writers. I have followed her plan for several years and have had great success with my students. I believe my students truly understand the writing process, and it is all due to Mrs. Kiester's Blowing Away the State Writing Assessment Test book. Hooray, Mrs. Kiester!!! This is the answer we've all been looking for!

This book, along with other tools for your classroom, is yet another excellent source to turn your mediocre writers into advanced writers. The strategies are also excellent for empowering your students to pass your state writing assessments.

This is just what I was looking for: a step-by-step writing program that includes examples of student writing that I can share with my students. I couldn't be happier.

I worked for ETS and this book is weak. Try Delray Beach publisher ASAP Abstracts. Found individual study guides for my area in Special Ed and Elementary and PLT.

The subject tests are not valid for the Florida Teacher Certification Exam. I am perhaps the only person in America that knows every test, every question, and content debth. My name is Sharon A. Wynne and I produce the Florida Teacher Certification Exam study guides. They are found at all the State Universities in Florida and nationally. ARCO is selling it's name. The teacher candidate will find ARCO book has 25 sample questions in numerous fields. Our books have 125. They have no content to review. Different states require you know different state knowledge such as how many credits do you need in "whatever state" to graduate, or what is the most significant battle in "whatever state". Some subject areas have literature that must be refered to. It is a huge task to produce study guides that truely meet a teachers need. ARCO is my last pick. Start with ETS TAG series found in teacher certification offices. They are free. You will want more. Visit http://mypage.ihost.com/asap and I will show you more

I also found that ASAP Publishing's Teacher Certification Exam Book was the best study guide book. I passed my subject exam after reviewing their book.

Dennis Sparks' book is both insightful and easy to read. It is a well-researched, practical guide to staff development at all levels of the educational system. It is grounded in three fundamental principles: "quality teaching makes a difference in student learning, professional learning of teachers and principals is a central factor in determining the quality of teaching, and third, district structures and culture that surround the school play a critical role in determining the quality of professional learning" (1-1).

The ideas in Designing Powerful Professional Development for Teachers and Principals are grounded in the research of many educational leaders. References are cited at the end of each chapter and lend credibility to the ideas set forth.

John Kotter, Michael Fullan, and others add background to the chapter about teacher collaboration and developing a system for change.

Peter Senge's work also informs the discussion about structures and culture.

Significant conclusions based on research and practical experience provide a framework school leaders can use in designing a professional development program. 1) District and school leaders play an essential role in creating high-quality professional learning for all teachers. 2) Habits of thought and behavior are more significant barriers to the improvement of professional learning than time, money, and the current state of research. 3) Local evaluation studies are more important than large-scale "definitive" research to demonstrate the value of staff development. 4) The redesign of teachers' workdays is fundamental to significant improvements in teaching and student learning.

On some level, the ideas in Sparks' book are nothing new. They are common sense. Unfortunately, they are not common practice. This book emphasizes the steps school leaders must take to ensure quality instruction for students. Barriers and previous failures in designing quality professional development create the sense of urgency to reform these programs.

This practical handbook practices what it preaches. Each chapter ends with assumptions the author makes and ideas for discussion and reflection. The author invites the reader to be actively involved in learning.

The best teacher is experience itself. A big thumbs up to a very practical guide that gets instructors together in an informal comraderie in order to facilitate good teaching ideas. With a pre-selected educators' study book instructors can meet weekly - not only to discuss the material at hand - but also to use it to stimulate and share their own individual experiences in the classroom - of what works and doesn't work. This book is a great tool: to put school and teachers on the same educator page; to build staff morale through personal contribution to each other's work; and - as a result - to benefit the school and students. I highly recommend the implementation of these study group ideas - particularly to administrators. You will find your job easier by using teacher facilitators to run these groups - everyone having an opportunity. It gives your teachers ownership of their field - as well as vision and passion for their work.

Teacher study groups provide educators an opportunity where they can address issues related to their own classrooms and develop new practices directly related to their own needs and interests. This is the perfect little guide to help teachers organize and take control of their own professional development. Very Helpful!

This book was amazing and I would recommend it to all. These gals know their stuff and have written an excellent guide that can help us all grow professionally.