Overloaded and Underprepared : Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids

The book will give readers the tools and concrete examples they need to begin to make immediate change at their schools and in their communities. The overall change process described in Chapter 1 will help educators identify problems, create vision statements, brainstorm appropriate change actions, identify obstacles to change, learn strategies to achieve buy-in from multiple stakeholders, and determine resources to help achieve their goals. Each subsequent chapter will depict real-life case studies and lessons learned around common areas for changes in school based on our SPACE framework: S-Students' Use of Time (homework, scheduling more free time, etc.)P-Project and Problem-Based Learning (Plagiarism-proof assignments, final projects instead of exams, etc.)A-Alternative and Authentic Assessments (multiple forms of assessement, peer reviews, etc.)C-Climate of Care (social and emotional learning, better relationships between teachers and students, etc.)E-Educate Parents, Students and Faculty (parent involvement, planning tools for students, etc.) Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of Tables, Figures, and Exhibits......Page 7 About the Authors......Page 9 About Challenge Success......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 13 Introduction......Page 15 A Cheating Story......Page 21 How Does This Work? Principles for Change......Page 23 The Characteristics of Effective Challenge Success Teams......Page 24 Identifying the Problem: Causes of Unhealthy Stress, Pressure, and Disengagement......Page 26 Moving (Slowly) Toward Change......Page 28 From Ideas to Action......Page 29 What You'll Find in This Book......Page 30 Chapter 2 A Saner Schedule......Page 33 Student for a Day......Page 34 What Is a Block Schedule?......Page 35 The Research on Block Scheduling......Page 38 Implementation Tips for Changing the School Schedule......Page 42 A Later Start Time......Page 44 Lessons Learned from Changing to Later Start Times......Page 45 The Kids Need a Break: Moving Semester Exams......Page 48 Tips for Implementing Exams Before Break: Responding to the Naysayers......Page 49 An Ideal Schedule?......Page 51 Chapter 3 The Homework Dilemma......Page 53 A Brief History of Homework......Page 54 How Much Homework Are Students Doing?......Page 55 Does Homework Help Students?......Page 56 Does Homework Hurt Students?......Page 58 Effective Homework......Page 59 Differentiated......Page 60 Connected to the “Big Idea”......Page 61 Creating Policies for More Effective Homework......Page 62 Recommendations for Teachers......Page 67 Recommendations for Teachers to Suggest to Parents......Page 69 A Tool for Effective Homework......Page 70 A Scheduling Tool for Counselors and Families to Use......Page 72 Chapter 4 Engagement Matters: Backward Planning and Project-Based Learning......Page 75 What Do We Mean by Engagement?......Page 76 Backward Design Approach......Page 77 Project-Based Learning......Page 81 How Does Project-Based Learning Work?......Page 82 The Research on Project-Based Learning......Page 83 Project-Based Learning in Action......Page 85 Project-Based Learning and the Flexible Teacher......Page 96 Getting Started with Project-Based Learning......Page 97 Chapter 5 Authentic and Alternative Assessments......Page 103 Back to Backward Design......Page 105 Traditional Tests—Good or Bad for Students?......Page 107 Performance Assessments......Page 108 “Voice, Choice, Revision, and Redemption”......Page 111 Implementing Alternative Assessments......Page 113 Assessing 21st Century Skills......Page 122 To Grade or Not to Grade?......Page 127 Standards-Based Grading......Page 128 The Case Against the Zero......Page 132 Chapter 6 The Advanced Placement Program — Benefits and Challenges......Page 135 What's a School to Do?......Page 140 Suggestions for Educators......Page 145 Chapter 7 Creating a Climate of Care......Page 149 What Is a Climate of Care, and Why Does It Matter?......Page 150 Making It Happen: Structures That Support a Caring Climate......Page 152 Advisory......Page 153 Wellness Programs......Page 159 Relaxation and Stress-relief Practices......Page 166 Planning for a Climate of Care......Page 170 Chapter 8 Educating the Whole School......Page 177 What Do We Want Everyone in the Community to Know?......Page 178 Playtime......Page 179 Downtime......Page 182 Spreading the Word about PDF......Page 184 Fishbowls......Page 185 Dialogue Nights......Page 186 Parents Are Our “Students” Too: Strategies for Successful Parent Education......Page 187 Question: Home Editor......Page 192 Regaining Gratitude This Thanksgiving: A Blog Post by Madeline Levine......Page 195 Dealing with Naysayers and Competing Demands......Page 199 Align and Combine Your Initiatives......Page 201 Take Advantage of Opt-in and Pilot Programs......Page 202 Calm Fears about Colleges and Test Scores......Page 203 The Bottom Line......Page 205 What Is a Shadow Day?......Page 207 Recommended Talking Points—Faculty Meeting......Page 209 Recommended Talking Points—Student Meeting......Page 210 Post–Shadow Day......Page 211 How to Run a Student Fishbowl......Page 215 Sample Letter Inviting Students to Participate in Fishbowl......Page 218 Overview of Dialogue Night......Page 223 References......Page 233 Index......Page 249 EULA......Page 259

Praise for Overloaded and Underprepared

“Parents, teachers, and administrators are all concerned that America’s kids are stressed out, checked out, or both--but many have no idea where to begin when it comes to solving the problem. That’s why the work of Challenge Success is so urgent. It has created a model for creating change in our schools that is based on research and solid foundational principles like communication, creativity, and compassion. If your community wants to build better schools and a brighter future, this book is the place to start.”
--Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind

“Challenge Success synthesizes the research on effective school practices and offers concrete tools and strategies that educators and parents can use immediately to make a difference in their communities. By focusing on the day-to-day necessities of a healthy schedule; an engaging, personalized, and rigorous curriculum; and a caring climate, this book is an invaluable resource for school leaders, teachers, parents, and students to help them design learning communities where every student feels a sense of belonging, purpose, and motivation to learn the skills necessary to succeed now and in the future.”
--Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University

“Finally, a book about education and student well-being that is both research-based and eminently readable. With all the worry about student stress and academic engagement, Pope, Brown and Miles gently remind us that there is much we already know about how to create better schools and healthier kids. Citing evidence-based ‘best practices’ gleaned from years of work with schools across the country, they show us what is not working, but more importantly, what we need to do to fix things. Filled with practical suggestions and exercises that can be implemented easily, as well as advice on how to approach long-term change, Overloaded and Underprepared is a clear and compelling roadmap for teachers, school administrators and parents who believe that we owe our children a better education.”
--Madeline Levine, co-founder Challenge Success; author of The Price of Privilege and Teach Your Children Well

“This new book from the leaders behind Challenge Success provides a thorough and balanced exploration of the structural challenges facing students, parents, educators, and administrators in our primary and secondary schools today. The authors’ unique approach of sharing proven strategies that enable students to thrive, while recognizing that the most effective solutions are tailored on a school-by-school basis, makes for a valuable handbook for anyone seeking to better understand the many complex dimensions at work in a successful learning environment.”
--John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University

Many American students are overworked, stressed-out, and still underperforming relative to their global peers. Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids gives you the tools you need to begin making immediate changes at your school, in the community, and at home to benefit all kids. It provides a concrete framework to reduce student stress while engaging kids in real learning. The book helps you identify areas for improvement at your school, brainstorm possible solutions, identify potential obstacles, and achieve buy-in from multiple stakeholders, and it outlines the research-based SPACE framework, providing best practices on:Students' schedule and use of time Project- and problem-based learning Alternative and authentic assessments Climate of care Education of parents, students, and faculty about well-beingOur current fast-paced, high-pressure culture works against everything we know about healthy child development. We all want our kids to do well in school and to master certain skills, but our largely singular focus on academic achievement has resulted in a lack of attention to other components of a successful life the ability to be independent, ethical, and engaged critical thinkers. Using real-life case studies from schools throughout the country, this book is a guide for change, offering a practical action plan that can be implemented in a single classroom or on a school-wide scale. Overloaded and Underprepared helps educators better prepare students mentally, emotionally, and academically to handle the challenges of college and careers Reduce stress and improve academic success with this research-backed framework for change Many American students are overworked, stressed-out, and still underperforming relative to their global peers. Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids gives you the tools you need to begin making immediate changes at your school, in the community, and at home to benefit all kids. It provides a concrete framework to reduce student stress while engaging kids in real learning. The book helps you identify areas for improvement at your school, brainstorm poss Teach Like a Champion 2.0 is a complete update to the international bestseller. This teaching guide is a must-have for new and experienced teachers alike. Over 700,000 teachers around the world already know how the techniques in this book turn educators into classroom champions. With ideas for everything from classroom management to inspiring student engagement, you will be able to perfect your teaching practice right away. From vision to action : an overview of the school change process A saner schedule The homework dilemma Engagement matters : backward planning and project-based learning Authentic and alternative assessments The advanced placement program : benefits and challenges Creating a climate of care Educating the whole school Keeping momentum for positive school change. Praise for Overloaded and Underprepared Parents, teachers, and administrators are all concerned that America s kids are stressed out, checked out, or both but many have no idea where to begin when it comes to solving the problem. That s why the work of Challenge Success is so urgent.