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This page is available in its new updated form here.
Wouldn't you agree that there is a REAL NEED for PRACTICAL information for teachers? The educators that I talk to and communicate with via email seem hungry for more than what's traditionally offered in teacher resource books--they're looking for strategies that work with English Language Learners, special needs students, kids in the inner city, and children from backgrounds that are far beyond the scope of anything described in education course textbooks. I continually meet teachers who are drowning in paperwork and overwhelmed by student behaviors, but don't have a sufficient support system within their school district. These teachers spend their 'spare time' scouring for resources on the Internet and in bookstores, hoping for solutions from someone who can relate to their struggles and offer guidance. And unfortunately, most of the resources they find focus on WHAT to do and not HOW to do it.
If you're like most teachers, you've come to this website because you're looking for detailed and realistic suggestions for organizing and managing your classroom. You have an idea of how you want your day to flow, but you're not sure how to communicate your expectations to students, or how to reinforce the guidelines you've set up. You know that you want kids to line up quietly and pay attention while you're teaching, but you sometimes resort to nagging, yelling, or bribing them to cooperate because you're not sure what your other options are. Similarly, you know you want your classroom to be organized and neat. But, you're exhausted by the mere idea of sorting through all those papers and resources, and you're worried that even if you had everything in place, it wouldn't stay that way because the children haven't learned to take responsibility for keeping the room neat.
The good news is that these dilemmas are NORMAL for teachers, and they CAN be remedied much faster than you probably think. In fact, your struggles with classroom management HAVE to be addressed so that teaching and learning can take place. Management has always been my focus on this website, not only because it's the foundation (or cornerstone) of everything that happens in the classroom, but because quality resources are so scarce. I was desperate for information when I was a new teacher and struggling to maintain control when a thousand things were happening simultaneously throughout the school day. Like most new teachers, I needed a practical guide to show me how find a teaching style that was supportive and engaging for the kids and a good fit for my personality. I needed a resource that would show me how to determine and communicate what I wanted to happen, and teach my students to meet my expectations with automaticity.
That's what this website and book are all about:
how to construct a self-running classroom that frees you to teach.
You can easily regain and maintain control of your classroom once you understand the keys to strong classroom management. Once you've developed the right (positive) mindset and created a realistic vision for your classroom, you can teach for it. The Cornerstone uses actual classroom photographs, forms, and dialogue examples to show you how to create procedures and routines that facilitate learning. It will guide you through every step of reinforcing your expectations.
The Cornerstone is an expansion of the ideas presented on my website, and provides a tangible, more comprehensive resource for teachers to keep and reference in the classroom. Take a look at the table of contents to see what you'll learn.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: BEGINNING THE YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE
Chapter 1: Classroom Arrangement
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.2
Setting up an environment that is conducive to learning
Chapter 2: Planning for the First Weeks of School
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20
Making preparations and starting the year off right
Chapter 3: Open House
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..37
Hosting an informative, stress-free event for families
PART TWO: ORGANIZING THE CLASSROOM
Chapter 4: Avoiding the Paper Trap
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50
Creating one place for each paper that you come across!
Chapter 5: Finding and Filing Instructional Resources
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..64
How to locate any teaching material quickly and easily
Chapter 6: Organizing Classroom Materials
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.68
How to create a functional space that facilitates routines
Chapter 7: Maintaining a Class Library
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75
Teaching kids to organize and utilize books effectively
Chapter 8: Cleaning, Packing, and Moving
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..86
What to keep, what to toss, and where to put it so you can find it
PART THREE: DEVELOPING PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES
Chapter 9: How To Teach Any Procedure
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....94
Making your classroom management expectations a reality
Chapter 10: Predictable Daily Routines
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109
Structuring transitions that set kids up for success
Chapter 11: Tips and Tricks for Difficult Procedures
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......116
Ideas for lining up, getting drinks, passing papers, and more
Chapter 12: Student Responsibility and Organization
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141
Giving children ownership of their learning environment
Chapter 13: Teaching Work Habits
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...155
Clear expectations for following along, staying on task, and more
PART FOUR: APPROACHING BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT PRO-ACTIVELY
Chapter 14: Five Strategies for Preventing Behavior Problems
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....165
A pro-active approach to behavior modification
Chapter 15: Teaching Children to Be Self-Reliant
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..176
Encouraging independence and self-sufficiency in the classroom
Chapter 16: Whole Class Reinforcement Systems
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..193
Two simple plans for rewarding students efforts toward self-discipline
Chapter 17: Meeting Individual Needs
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..209
Understanding and addressing the behavior of every child
Chapter 18: The Challenges of High-Poverty Schools
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.....235
Tools to help you succeed with disadvantaged children
PART FIVE: PLANNING YOUR INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT
Chapter 19: Purposeful Planning
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..248
Gathering and organizing resources for effective instruction
Chapter 20: Managing Small Group Instruction
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....263
Strategies for facilitating guided reading groups and transitions
Chapter 21: Re-Thinking Centers
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282
Creating a simplified system for independent hands-on learning
Chapter 22: Standardized Testing
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298
Preparing, surviving, and even having fun
Chapter 23: Eliminating Homework Hassles
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308
Choosing an effective and manageable program for your class
Chapter 24: Quick and Easy Assessment
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320
Minimizing paperwork to focus on student learning
PART SIX: IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTION EFFECTIVELY
Chapter 25: Teaching Techniques that Minimize Off-Task Behavior
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336
Fifteen tips for keeping all kids actively engaged
Chapter 26: Making the Most of Every Moment
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349
Maximizing time on task and encouraging equitable participation
Chapter 27: Hands-On and Cooperative Learning
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...362
Using manipulatives, concrete materials, and group work effectively
Chapter 28: Time Management for Kids
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376
Meeting the needs of slow workers and fast finishers
PART SEVEN: PARTNERING WITH PARENTS, COLLEAGUES, AND ADMINISTRATION
Chapter 29: Creating a Support System
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..389
Collaborating with staff to maintain a positive work environment
Chapter 30: Creative Family Outreach
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...398
Building a rapport and empowering parents to support learning
Chapter 31: Keeping Parents Informed
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408
Choosing a system to update parents on behavior and academics
Chapter 32: The Importance of Documentation
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428
Keeping excellent records to protect yourself in an age of accountability
PART EIGHT: LEARNING AND ADAPTING TO THE REALITIES OF TEACHING
Chapter 33: The Unwritten Contract
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436
Understanding the realities of public school teaching
Chapter 34: Timesaving Strategies
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.446
Discovering how to be a teacher and still have a personal life
Chapter 35: Ending the Year on a High Note
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453
Maintaining order and keeping your sanity during the close-out process
Chapter 36: Avoiding Burn-Out: Enjoying and Growing with Students
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....463
Changing your mindset to restore your passion for teaching
In The Cornerstone, you'll learn how a positive teaching philosophy plays out practically in the classroom to create a calm, supportive environment that balances predictable routines with unpredictable teaching strategies and lessons. It is a comprehensive guide to making this school year the very best possible, whether its your first or your thirty-first. This book will guide you to reflect on why you teach, what type of students you want to produce, and ways to run your classroom that fit well with your personal teaching style...all within the context of planning for specific procedures and routines. From the first minute you spend with your students in August to the final hectic week in June, The Cornerstone will show you how to stay focused on what's really important, maintain your enthusiasm, and utilize all the resources you have available.
The Cornerstone is formatted to:
*include classroom forms and sample versions of reproducibles
*provide space in the margin for notes
*separate detailed information into small, easy-to-digest sections so you can easily skim over or skip to the parts you need most
*utilize nearly 200 photographs to illustrate organizational tips, room arrangement ideas, and instructional resources
*correlate with the new website, which will provide further resources and regularly updated supplements
Pre-orders are currently available on my website, and The Cornerstone should be available in bookstores by mid-August. Because there are approximately 3 million book titles currently in print, the average bookstore can physically stock less than 1% of titles in-store. That means you may not see The Cornerstone in all markets. Your local retailer is more likely to stock the book if customers request it, so of course, I encourage you to do so! However, all major retailers (e.g., Amazon, Borders Books, Barnes and Noble) will sell The Cornerstone on their websites.
Hundreds of site visitors have emailed recently to express gratitude for the free website resources and excitement about being able to give something back by supporting the book. If you share this viewpoint, I'd like to suggest that you purchase the book directly from my website or by clicking on Amazon.com from my homepage. These two methods of purchase divert a greater percentage of the profit to me, at no additional cost to you. Please note that authors do not receive royalties from the sale of used books, so anytime your intention is to support an author, be sure to purchase a new copy of his or her book.
A million thanks to the site visitors who have sent me encouragement, suggestions, ideas, contributions, referals, positive thoughts, and especially prayers over the past five years. I feel so blessed to have you as part of the online support network that's been offered at mspowell.com. Neither the book nor the website would be possible without the enthusiastic word-of-mouth that you all have generated not only across the United States, but reaching six continents.
This has been an amazing journey, and it's still only the beginning! As long as there are teachers who feel burdened by management concerns and need the freedom to teach, I still have work to do. There are many other ideas that I want to pursue now, from presenting The Cornerstone workshops to individual schools and districts, to creating a children's version of The Cornerstone that can be used to facilitate class discussions and serve as a visual aid when teaching procedural and behavioral expectations (such as following along and working together). I'm excited about what's coming, and as always, I will keep you updated every step of the way through my website, blog, and Yahoo Group.
So, stay tuned for the new website and book! I hope that you will find practical suggestions that leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and full of confidence that you can handle every task that's set before you. My aspiration is to make your teaching life as effective, efficient, and ENJOYABLE as possible!
Angela
Recommended Ordering Options:
eBook download
Directly from mspowell.com (click on 'Pay Now' button below)
Ordering directly through mspowell.com. is easy and fast! No waiting for 'super saver shipping' or Media Mail rates--your book will arrive via Priority Mail within 3-4 days of placing your order. 'The Cornerstone' can be purchased securely with a credit card or eCheck through PayPal for $26.99 by clicking on the button below. US Residents only at this time. Priority Mail shipment is $5.00 for one copy. Combined shipping rates are available for orders of multiple copies sent to the same address. Sales tax of 6% is added for FL shipping addresses only.
Book details: "The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient, and Enjoyable" by Angela Powell. (ISBN# 978-1-60647-357-2). 8.5x11, 500 pages, Xulon Press, July 2008.
Click to view the front and back covers:
 
FREE PDF Download of Chapter 9, 'How To Teach ANY Procedure!'
(You will need Acrobat Reader 8.0 for proper viewing)
In just this single chapter (15 pages!), you'll learn:
--The importance of ongoing (distributed practice)
--How to form precise expectations and figure out exactly what you want
--What NOT to do (how to phrase your expectations so kids will be successful at meeting them)
--Why you should be cautious about mis-using the term"we
--How to use a variety of signals to facilitate routines
--The art of replacing nagging and criticism with reinforcement narration and performance feedback
--The 8 steps for teaching ANY procedure you want kids to follow
--How to play the Procedure Review Game as a FUN reminder for kids
--The key to revising your criteria or expectations without confusing kids or seeming incompetent
--What to do when students don't meet your expectations (repeat the practice, not the command)
--The power of "Go back and try it again" (and how to get kids to cooperate without attitude!)
--Ways to accommodate special needs children who aren't developmentally able to meet your expectations
--How to avoid a slow descent into laziness and sloppily-done procedures
--Ideas for logical rewards and appropriate incentives that foster intrinsic motivation
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