February 2024 MBR The Education Shelf

The Education Shelf

The Working Classroom
Matt Bromely, author
Andy Griffith, author
Crown House Publishing
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785836985, $24.95, PB, 220pp

https://www.amazon.com/Working-Classroom-School-Working-Class-Students/dp/1=
785836986

Synopsis: Collaboratively co-authored by Matt Bromley and Andy Griffith, "T=
he Working Classroom: How to make school work for working-class students" f=
rom the Crown House Publishing Company offers practical strategies and tool=
s to help secondary schools address the needs of working-class students, in=
cluding by building cultural capital and designing more engaging learning.

Schools do amazing work to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.=
 But "The Working Classroom" will enable them to do even more. Disadvantage=
 comes in many forms, but cultural poverty, where some students have relati=
ve knowledge gaps compared with their more affluent peers, can be addressed=
 successfully by schools. What "The Working Classroom" does is to explore h=
ow working-class students are disadvantaged by a flawed system and what sch=
ools can do to close the gap.

Written by two experienced authors with a deep understanding of the challen=
ges that poverty and low aspiration can bring, and a passion for social jus=
tice, "The Working Classroom" also examines how and why we must seek system=
ic changes. The focuses is on actions within the control of teachers and sc=
hool leaders which will ensure that we create a socially just education sys=
tem -- one that builds on the rich heritage of the working-class, rather th=
an seeing their background as a weakness. "The Working Classroom" offers pr=
actical ways for students and families to build on the best of working-clas=
s culture, whilst also empowering teachers, students and parents to change =
the system.

"The Working Classroom" will provide teachers with useful methods to improv=
e the cultural capital of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that can =
be easily replicated and implemented in their own setting. Backed up by pra=
ctical case studies that have a proven impact in schools with high levels o=
f deprivation, "The Working Classroom" will enable teachers to audit their =
current provision and encourage them to adopt new systems and practices so =
that they, and the wider school, will have a greater impact on the lives of=
 working-class students and their families.

Critique: Deftly written, expertly organized, and thoroughly 'reader friend=
ly' in style and presentation, "The Working Classroom: How to Make School W=
ork for Working-Class Students" is an ideal DIY instructional 'how-to' guid=
e for both teachers and leaders in a secondary school or sixth form college=
 settings who seek to support social change in education and anyone in the =
corporate or non-education world who wants to practice effective altruism o=
r philanthropy. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, =
school district, and college/university library Educational Theory & Practi=
ce collections and Teacher Education curriculum syllabus, "The Working Clas=
sroom" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.70).

Editorial Note #1: Matt Bromley is an education journalist, author, and adv=
isor with twenty five years' experience in teaching and leadership includin=
g as a secondary school headteacher and academy principal, further educatio=
n college vice principal, and multi-academy trust director.

Editorial Note #2: Andy Griffith is the director of MALIT and MALIT Communi=
ty Learning. He is an award winning trainer and the creator of high-impact =
training courses for leaders, teachers and students.

Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools
Margaret K. Merga
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783306398, $52.95, PB, 222pp

https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Reading-Culture-Primary-Secondary/dp/178330=
6394

Synopsis: A critically important question for parents and teachers is -- Do=
es your school encourage a life-long love of reading?

Children who identify as readers are three times more likely to have good m=
ental wellbeing. A reading culture that permeates a school can transform it=
 into a space where reading is supported, encouraged, normalised and valued=
.

"Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools: A Practical G=
uide" by Margaret K. Merga will help teachers and librarians to: Advocate f=
or the importance of a whole-school reading culture with recent research in=
 this field; Select from a number of research-supported strategies underpin=
ning a whole-school reading culture to tailor your school's approach accord=
ing to resourcing and priorities; Develop a clear trajectory for building a=
nd sustaining stakeholder engagement and resourcing, including securing ext=
ernal funding for related initiatives; Plan and manage a multi-faceted appr=
oach to enable real change within your school.

Drawing on the Margare Merga's internationally-recognized experience in thi=
s field, "Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools: A Pr=
actical Guide" will be essential reading for anyone looking to develop read=
ing in schools.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, expertly organized, and throughly 're=
ader friendly' in presentation and style, "Creating a Reading Culture in Pr=
imary and Secondary Schools: A Practical Guide" is an extraordinarily infor=
mative study that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, =
professional, school district, and college/university library Reading Educa=
tion collections and curriculum studies syllabus. It should be noted that "=
Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools: A Practical Gu=
ide" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $50.30).

Editorial Note: Margaret K. Merga PhD; MEd; GradDipEd; BA(Hons), is the fou=
nder of Merga Consulting and consults with schools, professional associatio=
ns and governmental departments on educational policy and program issues. (=
www.researchgate.net/profile/Margaret-Merga-2)

Classroom Assessment Essentials
Susan M. Brookhart
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416632528, $32.95, PB, 186pp

https://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Assessment-Essentials-Susan-Brookhart/dp/1=
416632522

Synopsis: Classroom assessment is a vital part of teaching. It helps make s=
tudent learning (or a lack thereof) visible so that teachers can adjust tea=
ching practices and better support learners. But designing and implementing=
 reliable assessments is a complex process.

"Classroom Assessment Essentials" is comprehensive book by assessment exper=
t Professor Susan M. Brookhart. In this instructional guide Professor Brook=
hart covers the foundational concepts and practical skills necessary to be =
successful with classroom assessment. Organized into 21 essentials, "Classr=
oom Assessment Essentials " addresses everything from using pre-assessment =
before starting new lessons to communicating with parents about their child=
's academic growth.

Additionally, classroom educators will discover how to:

* Create clear learning targets and success criteria based on standards.
* Provide meaningful feedback to students about progress toward goals.
* Involve students in the regulation of their own learning.
* Use homework to check for understanding.
* Decide on instructional follow-up based on formative assessment data.
* Make accommodations for students with IEPs and support equity and fairnes=
s.
* Design performance tasks for individuals and groups.
* Craft rubrics and design classroom tests.

With strategies that support high-quality assessment, tips and troubleshoot=
ing advice, and examples across subject areas and grade levels, "Classroom =
Assessment Essentials" will help to make effective assessment a cornerstone=
 of any public or private K-12 classroom.

Critique: An ideal textbook for school district in-service training worksho=
ps, "Classroom Assessment Essentials" is impressively comprehensive, except=
ional well written, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in both organization and=
 presentation. Simply stated, "Classroom Assessment Essentials" is the only=
 assessment book novice and experienced K - 12 teachers alike will need in =
order to effectively monitor and maximize student learning. While unreserve=
dly recommended for professional, school district, and college/university l=
ibrary Education Assessment and Teaching Training collections and supplemen=
tal curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for student teachers, acad=
emia, classroom teachers, school district administrators, and non-specialis=
t general readers with an interest in the subject that "Classroom Assessmen=
t Essentials" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).

Editorial Note: Susan M. Brookhart (https://susanbrookhart.com/about) is Pr=
ofessor Emerita in the School of Education at Duquesne University and an in=
dependent educational consultant working with schools, districts, regional =
educational service units, universities, and states doing professional deve=
lopment. She was the 2007 - 2009 editor of Educational Measurement: Issues =
and Practice and is currently an associate editor of Applied Measurement in=
 Education. She is also the author or co-author of numerous books on classr=
oom assessment, teacher professional development, and evaluation. Brookhart=
 has been named the 2014 Jason Millman Scholar by the Consortium for Resear=
ch on Educational Assessment and Teaching Effectiveness and is the recipien=
t of the 2015 Samuel J. Messick Memorial Lecture Award.

Research Handbook on Migration and Education
Halleli Pinson, Nihad Bunar, and Dympna Devine, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781839106354, $345.00, HC, 586pp

https://www.amazon.com/Research-Handbook-Migration-Education-Handbooks/dp/1=
839106352

Synopsis: Collectively compiled and co-edited by the team of Halleli Pinson=
, Nihad Bunar, and Dympna Devine, "Research Handbook on Migration and Educa=
tion" significantly contributes to the shaping of education and migration a=
s a distinct field of research. It is forward-looking Research Handbook fro=
m Edward Elgar Publishing that explores cross-cutting questions on the rang=
e of challenges facing education systems, migrant children and students tod=
ay.

Covering an impressive range of local, national and educational contexts, t=
he contributors to the "Research Handbook on Migration and Education" explo=
re the diverse case studies, educational initiatives, approaches and polici=
es that have been developed to support migrant and mobile students, educati=
onal professionals and schools.

Diverse chapters offer a broad understanding of the multifaceted nature of =
global migration today, exploring varied theoretical and methodological per=
spectives, and examining the educational challenges and opportunities prese=
nted by migration.

The "Research Handbook on Migration and Education" ultimately stresses the =
importance of interdisciplinary research into the complex phenomenon of glo=
bal migration and its impact on education systems and the educational traje=
ctories of migrant children.

Students and scholars in the fields of education, migration, childhood stud=
ies and globalization studies will find the "Research Handbook on Migration=
 and Education" to be an invaluable reference. Its wide range of case studi=
es on different educational provisions designed to support migrant children=
 in schools will further benefit educational practitioners and policymakers=
.

Critique: Comprised of thirty-six articles deftly organized and presented i=
n five major sections, informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclu=
sion of a twelve page listing of the contributors and their credentials, an=
d featuring a twenty-two page Index, the "Research Handbook on Migration an=
d Education" must be considered an essential, significant, and core additio=
n to personal, professional, governmental, and college/university library G=
lobal Migration/Education reference collections and supplemental curriculum=
 studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Halleli Pinson, is part of the School of Education, Ben-=
Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. (https://www.humanmovement.cam.ac.u=
k/directory/halleli-pinson)

Editorial Note #2: Nihad Bunar (https://www.su.se/profiles/nbuna-1.188149) =
is part of the Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, Swede=
n.

Editorial Note #3: Dympna Devine (https://people.ucd.ie/dympna.devine) is p=
art of the School of Education, University College Dublin, Ireland.

Integrating Technology into Student Affairs
V. Barbara Bush, Ph.D, editor
Hugo A. Garcia, Ph.D, editor
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094263, $30.95, PB, 175pp

https://www.amazon.com/Integrating-Technology-American-Practice-Professiona=
l/dp/0398094268

Synopsis: Collaborative compiled and co-edited by B. Barbara Bush and Hugo =
A. Garcia, "Integrating Technology into Student Affairs" is a valuable reso=
urce for graduate students in student affairs preparation programs and anyo=
ne working in the field of student affairs. It provides readers with a comp=
rehensive guide to the integration of technology in student affairs, drawin=
g on the expertise of leading scholars and practitioners in the field.

The chapters comprising "Integrating Technology into Student Affairs" explo=
re the many ways in which technology can be used to enhance student engagem=
ent, support, and learning outcomes. The topics include the history of tech=
nology in student affairs, digital identity, integrating high-tech with hig=
h touch on campus, ethical issues with technology, technology and risk mana=
gement, consideration of the need for social media liaisons in student affa=
irs, technology competency and adaptability, and case study on technology d=
ecision-making.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a new practitioner, you can gain=
 a wealth of insights on how to use theoretical models to address digital i=
dentity, convert traditional campus functions to technological approaches, =
apply a conceptual framework for ethical technological practices, enhance c=
ampus and community engagement through the development of a social media li=
aison, navigate technological competency and adaptability issues on campus =
as well as to identify legal issues arising in daily practice and learn ris=
k management skills.

The knowledge, skills, and wisdom provided in "Integrating Technology into =
Student Affairs" will guide you not only to incorporate technology into you=
r work but also empower you to leverage technology in innovative ways to be=
tter serve the needs of your students and advance the field of student affa=
irs.

Critique: Expertly organized and presented, "Integrating Technology into St=
udent Affairs" is impressively informative and essential reading for anyone=
 with an interest in the technological innovations and advances in the fiel=
d of education in general, and student affairs in particular. Simply stated=
, "Integrating Technology into Student Affairs" is unreservedly recommended=
 for the personal reading lists of school administrators, as well as colleg=
e/university Education Technology collections and supplemental curriculum s=
tudies lists.

Editorial Note #1: V. Barbara Bush (University of North Texas) received the=
 2020 UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award. The UNT Foundation Faculty L=
eadership Award acknowledges a faculty member who significantly impacts the=
 academic enterprise through initiatives, leadership, and service

Editorial Note #2: As an educator and academician (Texas Tech University) H=
ugo Garcia has an informative website at https://scholar.google.com/citatio=
ns?user=3Dzgw24FAAAAAJ

Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction
Kevin L. Merry
Cast, Inc.
https://www.cast.org
9781943085040, $38.00, PB, 210pp

https://www.amazon.com/Delivering-Inclusive-Impactful-Instruction-Universal=
/dp/B0CL1GG2GY

Synopsis: With the publication of "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instr=
uction: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education", Kevin L. Merry =
provides a comprehensive and easy to understand introduction to implementin=
g Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in either the physical or virtual cla=
ssroom.

Focusing on the application of practical strategies, techniques and methods=
, "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction" is the definitive teache=
r education text for higher education professionals new to teaching in high=
er education, and new to UDL. "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instructi=
on" will also support enhancements in the practice of the most experienced =
and seasoned teaching staff when it comes to implementing UDL instructional=
 design.

Based on an approach to instructional design utilized at De Montfort Univer=
sity, "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction" also provides the pe=
dagogic blueprint detailing how a large and exceptionally diverse UK higher=
 education institution successfully adopted UDL as its approach to learning=
, teaching, and assessment.

In "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction", Merry shows how educat=
ors can respond to increasing levels of learner diversity - a means of crea=
ting highly differentiated, customizable learning experiences that reflect =
the needs and preferences of diverse learners. Critical topics addressed in=
clude goal-oriented learning, learning activities, assessment, feedback, pl=
anning teaching and opportunities and outlets for reflection and developmen=
t.

"Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction" will be of particular inte=
rest to higher education professionals, including teaching staff, course le=
aders, learning technologists, educational developers, curriculum design sp=
ecialists, quality assurance and enhancement specialists, senior academic l=
eaders and managers, or anyone with an interest in higher education instruc=
tional design.

Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in or=
ganization and presentation, "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instructio=
n: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education" is an ideal choice fo=
r in-service training programs and as a textbook for college/university lib=
rary collections, as well as supplement Higher & Continuing Education Metho=
ds curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists =
that "Delivering Inclusive and Impactful Instruction" is also available in =
a digital book format (Kindle, $36.10).

Editorial Note: Kevin L. Merry (https://drkevinl.wixsite.com/drkevinlmerry)=
 for the last 20 years has been delivering accessible, inclusive and equita=
ble education to learners, teachers, and leaders in a variety of educationa=
l contexts, including schools, further education, higher education and corp=
orate education.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
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 (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal=
muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review