FIN Recommended Resources

Publications

FIN RECOMMENDED READING LEGEND

   Assessment & Grading
   Behavior Support
   Collaboration
   Inclusion
   Instructional Strategies
   Family
   Administrators

Assessment & Grading (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom Rick Wormeli This book explores the research and common sense thinking as it relates to grading and assessment.  The author cites examples throughout to help teachers and administrators address controversial issues. Stenhouse Publishers (2006) 1-57110-424-0 5
A Repair Kit for Grades - 15 Fixes for Broken Grades Ken O'Connor Provides practical suggestions for "fixing" traditional grading practices. Educational Testing Service, Inc. (2007) 0-88685-387-7 5
Checking for Understanding - Formative Assessment Strategies for Your Classroom Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey Shows teachers how to increase students' understanding through the use of creative formative assessments and discusses how teachrs can use traditional tests and collaborative assessments to improve instruction and increase comprehension. ASCD (2007) 978-1-4166-0569-0 4.5
Developing Grading and Reporting Systems for Student Learning Thomas R. Guskey & Jane M. Bailey Examines various grading and reporting methods and provides guidelines for developing an effective reporting system.   Corwin Press, Inc. (2001) 0-8039-6854-X 4

Back to Top  

Behavior Support (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
Day One & Beyond Rick Wormeli Shows middle-level teachers how to manage the physical and emotional aspects of their unique environment and provides practical information about setting up the grade book and other record keeping, classroom management, getting students' attention, relating to students, and building positive relationships with parents. Stenhouse Publishers (2003) 1-57110-355-4 5
Pre-Referral Intervention Manual/Teacher's Resource Guide Stephen B. McCarney & Kathy Cummins Wunderlich This book lists intervention strategies for a variety of issues that arise in the classroom. Hawthorne Educational Services, Inc. (2006)   4
Teacher's Guides to Inclusive Practices - Behavioral Support, 2nd Edition Rachel Janney and Martha Snell This book provides an easy to understand overview of positive behavioral supports (PBS) including: functional behavioral assessments (FBA), individual behavior support plans , etc. Provides sample forms and resources on behavioral supports. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. (2008) 1557663556 5
Tools for Teaching, 2nd Edition Fred Jones This book provides teachers with practical strategies on a variety of topics including developing a classroom management system, arranging the classroom to reduce disruptions, creating independent learners, raising expectations, teaching routines, setting limits, etc.  Fredrick J. Jones & Co., Inc. (2007) 0-9650263-0-2 5
Tough Kid Tool Box, The William R. Jenson, Ginger Rhode, H. Kenton Reavis This book provides teachers with classroom tested strategies addressing behavior management and motivation for tough to teach students. Sopris West (1994) 1-57035-000-0 5
What To Do with the Kid Who... Kay Burke Provides ideas for addressing issues that arise in inclusive classrooms including fostering cooperation, self-discipline and responsibility in the classroom Corwin Press (2000) 1-5751-7344-1 5

Back to Top  

Collaboration  (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
A Guide to Co-Teaching - Practical Tips for Facilitating Student Learning, 2nd Edition Richard Villa, Jacquline Thousand, & Ann Nevin Teachers are led through the planning, implementation, and reflection phases of co-teaching. Corwin Press (2004) 0-7619-3940-7 5
Co-Teaching Lesson Plan Book, The (3rd Edition)  Lisa Dieker An instructional lesson plan book for collaborative teachers.  Includes space for teachers to note big ideas/goals, standard and adapted assessment methods, co-teaching structures being utilized, academic and behavioral adaptations, materials, etc. Knowledge By Design (2006) 970842945 4
Creating an Inclusive School, 2nd Edition Richard Villa & Jacueline Thousand How to's of creating inclusive schools ASCD (2005)   5
Power of 2 Marilyn Friend This video provides information about and examples of various co-teaching models.   Forum on Education, Indiana University (2005)   5
School, Family and Community Partnerships - Your Handbook in Action Joyce Epstein A research-based guide that will help district leaders, principals, teachers, parents, and community partners form action teams. Corwin Press (2002) 0-7619-7666-3 4
Working Together - The Art of Consulting and Communicating Anita DeBoer This resource explores how educators can effectively engage in peer problem solving. The book focuses on three aspects of the process: 1) models for consulting with colleagues in problem solving 2) communication skills necessary for consulting and 3) how to collaborate with colleagues with differing interpersonal styles. Sopris West (1995) 1-57035-041-8 5
Working Together - Tools for Collaborative Teaching Anita DeBoer & Susan Fisher This book contains a variety of tools designed to assist teachers who are workign as part of a collaborative team.   Sopris West (1995)  1570350469 4

Back to Top  

Inclusion  (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
At the End of the Day Edited by Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Mary Fisher, & Debbie Staub This book encompasses eight case studies featuring diverse children with varying disabilities (from preschool to high school) that show how including them in the classroom affects families, teachers, and other students.  These case studies, combined with the latest research, enable educators to evaluate different methods for inclusion.  Paul H. Brookes (2001) 1-55766-480-3 5
Building Inclusive Schools Halverson & Neary Covers information from the legal rationale for building inclusive schools to effective classroom techniques. Allyn and Bacon (2001) 0-205-27552-4 5
Deciding What to Teach and How to Teach it - Connecting Students Through Curriculum and Instruction, 2nd Edition Elizabeth Castagnera, Douglas Fisher, Karen Rodifer, Caren Sax, Nancy Frey Provides families and professionals with practical strategies for meeting the diverse needs of secondary students.  The topics of the chapters include creating an inclusive curriculum, tailoring suppots to meet individual needs, planning instruction, and accommodations and modifications, etc.  Contains several useful forms.  PEAK Parent Center (2003) 1-884720-19-6 4
From Disability to Possiblity Patrick Schwarz This book allows teachers to change the way they look at and work with their students with disabilities.  With the scenarios presented, teachers will begin to look at the possibilities for their students in the inclusive classrooms. Heinemann (2006) 978-0-325-00993-3 5
Inclusive Elementary Schools - Recipes for Success, 2nd Edition Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Caren Sax Provides families and professionals with practical strategies for meeting the diverse needs of elementary students.  The topics of the chapters include creating an inclusive curriculum, tailoring suppots to meet individual needs, planning instruction, and accommodations and modifications, etc.  Contains several useful forms.  PEAK Parent Center (2004) 1-884720-21-8 4
Teaching Language Arts, Math, and Science to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Diane M. Browder and Fred Spooner A research-to-practice resource that shows educators how to make the general curriculum accessible to students of all ages with significant cognitive disabilities. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. (2006)  1-55766-798-5 5
You're Going to Love This Kid!: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom Paula Kluth Provides insight into working with students with autism in an inclusive classroom. Includes specific ideas for enhancing literacy; planning challenging, multidimensional lessons; supporting student behavior; connecting, communicating, and collaborating; fostering friendships; and adapting the physical environment. Paul H. Brookes Co. (2003) 1-55766-614-8 5

Back to Top  

Instructional Strategies (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
Activating the DESIRE to Learn Bob Sullo Through a variety of scenarios, this book discussess theory and research on understanding internal motivation.   ASCD (2007) 978-1-4166-0423-5 4
Art and Science of Teaching, The Robert J. Marzano The author presents a model for ensuring quality teaching that balances the need for researched based practices with the need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of individual students.  ASCD (2007) 978-1-4166-0571-3 5
Classroom Instruction that Works Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock This book outlines nine teaching strategies that research has shown to have a positive effect on student learning and outcomes. ASCD (2001) 0-87120-504-1 5
Cooperative Learning and Strategies for Inclusion, 2nd ed. JoAnne W. Putnam, Editor Compilation of practical information needed to use cooperative learning frameworks to promote successful inclusion of student with disabilities in general educaiton settings. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. (2001) 1-55766-346-7 4.5
Differentiated Literacy Strategies for Student Growth and Achievement in Grades 7-12 Gayle H. Gregory and Lin Kuzmich This book contains practical strategies for differentiating instruction when students are asked to read their textbooks or nonfiction text. Corwin Press (2005) 0-7619-8883-1 5
Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom Diane Heacox, Ed.D A practical handbook that includes a menu of strategies any teacher can use to reach and teach all learners. Free Spirit Publishing (2002) 1-57542-105-4 5
Differentiating Textbooks: Strategies to Improve Student Comprehension & Motivation  Char Forsten & Jim Grant This easy-to-use resource provides over 80 step-by-step strategies for teachers to use with their textbooks to help build comprehension while also keeping students` interest high. Crystal Springs Books (2003)  1-884548-48-2 4
Inclusion: A Service Not a Place  - A Whole School Approach Alan Gartner & Dorothy Lipsky This book focuses on a whole school approach that positions students as the centerpiece of educational decision-making, and reinforces both the need for and the way to ensuring all students have full access to the entire general education curriculum. DUDE Publishing  (2002) 1-887943-54-4 4
Leadership for Differentiating Schools and Classrooms Carol Ann Tomlinson & Susan Allan Helps administrators to know what to look for in the differentiated classroom.  Also helps them to set up for appropriate differentiation in their school. ASCD (2000)  871205025 5
Personal Planner and Training Guide for the ParaEducator, The Wendy Dover This guide provides information and instructional strategies to help paraprofessionals support the students with whom they work. The Master Teacher (2002) 1589921275 4
Teacher's Tool Box for Differentiated Instruction, The Linda Tilton This book provides a wealth of strategies, tips, tools,  and techniques to help teachers differentiate instruction.  In addition, the author provides information about co-teaching and practices that support inclusion. Covington Cove (2003) 0-9953529-7-8 5

Back to Top

Family (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
Believe in My Child with Special Needs! Helping Children Achieve Their Potential in School Mary A. Falvey This handbook, written by a parent of a child with a disability, is an invaluable resource to share with parents of a school-age child with a disability. It helps tp demystify complicated issues, encourages parents to celebrate abilities and recognize possibilities, and tells parents what they need to know to be successful advocates throughout their child’s education.  Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc (2005) 1-55766-702-0 4
Chicken Soup for the Soul - Children with Special Needs  Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Heather McNamara, & Karen Simmons The authors of the stories contained in this book relate their own experiences of adjusting, reaching out, and flourishing and share the worries, the tears, and the laughter that have been part of their daily life since they found out that their child(ren) had a disability.    Health Communications Inc. (2007)  0-7573-0620-9 4
Take a Look at Me Portfolio Mary Rugg, M. Irma Alvarado, Zolinda Stoneman, & Julianne Butler This portfolio is a 20+ page book of information representing a person’s strengths, interests, hopes, and dreams. The portfolio provides a series of open-ended questions with space for the person and his/her family to elaborate and share information using pictures, words, and creativity.  This portfolio assists adults and school age individuals in identifying ways to become active participants in the daily life of their community and is a powerful tool for use in transitional periods in a peron’s life…from one school to another, from classroom to classroom, or from school to work. Institute on Human Development & Disability, University of Georgia (2004)   5
Working with Parents - Building Relationships for Student Success Ruby Payne Handy collection of tips and resources for parents, teachers, and other educators. Aha Process, Inc. (2006) 1-929229-62-3 3

Back to Top

Administrators (back to Fin Recommended Reading Legend)

Title Author Description Publisher (Copyright) ISBN# Rating
Creating and Inclusive School Richard Villa & Jacqueline Thousand (Editors) Explores how an inclusive school can support a diverse student body at all grade levels. Looks at how to facilitate change through universal design principles and other curricular, instructional, assessment, and organizational practices. ASCD (2005) 978-1-4166-0049-7 4
Leadership for Differentiating Schools and Classrooms Carol Ann Tomlinson & Susan Demirsky Allan Explores how school leaders can help to develop responsive, personalized, and differentiated classrooms. ASCD (2000) 0-87120-502-5 4
Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares About Education Peter Senge, Nelda Cambron-McCabe, Timothy Lucas, Bryan Smith, Janis Dutton, & Art Kleiner This resource provides descriptions of practices that are meeting success across the country and around the world as schools attempt to reinvent themselves through comprehensive improvement efforts. Featured are articles, case studies and anecdotes from prominent educators such as Howard Garner and Peter Senge. This is a valuable resource for all change agents. Doubleday/Currency (2000) 978-0-385-49323-9 4

Back to Top  



This site requires Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download the Flash plugin.