Educator Resources

"Good teachers make all the difference. According to research by academic-testing expert William Sanders and others, the effectiveness of the individual classroom teacher is the single biggest factor affecting students' academic growth."

We'd "like to offer some words in praise of teachers and the incredible work that so many of them do each day on behalf of children, families, and communities."

Of course, your psychologists couldn't agree more with the sentiments communicated in these articles, especially considering our family of terrific Madison teachers! Here are some presentations, talks, ideas, books, and other resources on a host of topics that we hope you will find helpful for your work. After all, teaching is the one career from which virtually every other career is derived.

Teacher Information and Resources by Common Areas of Interest

The following are some teacher focused resources and information sources for consideration that deal with many common areas of concern. Check back with us often, as new information and resources will be added periodically. Please click on any of the links or peruse the live pages below.

CARE Program | CREATE for Education

When Students Are Traumatized, Teachers Are TooTrauma in students’ lives takes an emotional and physical toll on teachers as well. Experts weigh in on the best ways to cope.

Teacher Self-Care:

"Since it was developed in 2007, CARE has been studied in a series of rigorous studies examining the impacts of CARE on teacher, classroom and student outcomes. The results of this research have been published in 5 peer-reviewed journal articles. These include the results of both quantitative and qualitative analyses."

When Teachers Take A Breath, Students Can BloomAn evidence-based program teaches mindfulness to educators. Research suggests it can reduce their stress and improve their teaching.

10 TED Talks for when you feel totally burned outWorn out? Exhausted? Bleary-eyed? If you need a little something to ease your frustration and get you back in the spirit, this collection of talks should help.

Behavior:

"When Michael Essien became an administrator at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School in San Francisco it was immediately apparent that he needed to help teachers get behavior issues under control."

A Whole School Approach to Behavior IssuesClassroom management is a fundamental element of a strong learning environment, but it has been a struggle at MLK Middle School. Principal Michael Essien is changing that story by emphasizing teamwork among adults.

How Anxiety Leads to Disruptive BehaviorIf your child is acting out or having tantrums, he may seem angry or manipulative, but he may be extremely anxious and not know any other way to express his feelings.

Ways to Encourage Good Behavior, Without the Prizes or TreatsThese fun ideas will have your students doing a happy dance!

Improving Behavior in the Classroom | Child Mind InstituteHow live coaching can help teachers manage disruptive behavior in the classroom. Teachers have less stress and more time to teach.

When Students Won’t Stop TalkingWhat they don't teach us in education courses is just how freaking much students talk, and how hard it can be to quiet them down. Help is on the way.

What’s Going on Here? How to Have a Trouble Huddle with StudentsWith a trouble huddle, you allow your best laid plans to veer off the rails, stop the activity, and ask, “What’s going on here? What seems to be the problem?”

26 Research-Based Tips You Can Use in the Classroom TomorrowWhether you want to increase student engagement or minimize your own stress, you’ll find ideas here.

Pause, Refocus, Assess: Meditation in the ClassroomAs a classroom practice, meditation can help students strengthen their self-regulation and their focus on coursework. It also boosts their overall health, reduces negative feelings, and fosters compassion.

Mindfulness:

"Schools can benefit from meditation. This practice equips students with breathing strategies to refocus mindsets for learning. Meditation supports students' transitions from class to class, and it cultivates a community of compassion and respect."

5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Unmotivated StudentsIf we know what works to motivate students, why are so many students still unmotivated? These five questions will help you determine if your practice is really in line with research.

Motivation:

20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant LearnersUnderstanding what a child's brain needs is central to instruction.

49 Ways to Create a Tidal Wave of Kindness in Schools - WeAreTeachersOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month. But what if, instead of focusing on anti-bullying, we focused on kindness?

Kindness, the Anti-bullying:

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” —Scott Adams

Three Brain-Based Teaching Strategies to Build Executive Function in StudentsNeurologist and educator Judy Willis offers three practical strategies to build and nurture students' executive function -- critical thinking, creativity, and complex decision-making. (Updated 01/2014)

ADHD & Executive Functioning:

17 Ways to Help Students With ADHD Concentrate

What Kids Should Know About Their Own Brains Getty Neuroscience may seem like an advanced subject of study, perhaps best reserved for college or even graduate school. Two researchers from Temple

Getting Specific About SLD: A Conversation Guide for Using Terms like Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and DysgraphiaClear and effective communication between parents, educators, and other school professionals is critical to identifying and meeting the needs of students with specific learning disabilities (SLD). But sometimes, confusion over specific terms like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia can lead to unnecessary tension or conflict between members of a student’s IEP team. And there may be confusion about when it’s appropriate to use these terms and how the terms might impact the student’s success.

Understanding Dyslexia and the Reading Brain in KidsReading is a skill humans aren't born with, but schools are designed to reward those whose brains are well-wired to read, which can complicate the learning experience for kids with dyslexia.

Why we should teach all pupils as if they have dyslexia

Academic Interventions:

SST Interventions.docx

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education. Our goal is to provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions. We focus on the results from high-quality research to answer the question “What works in education?”