by Paula Rutherford
ISBN 978-0-9830756-4-6
170 pages
Publication Date 2012
Order #11060

This new book presents over 60 ways to ensure that students are focused on and interacting with concepts, processes, and information in ways that promote rigor, relevance, and retention. Active Learning and Engagement Strategies helps teachers to move students toward mastery of the Common Core State Standards and to demonstrate their own skillfulness with the teacher performance criteria that focus on student engagement.

The opening pages feature a review of the research followed by charts specifically identifying best use of these practitioner-tested strategies. The “Active Learning Strategies to Use If You Want…” categories include:

• Gathering pre-assessment data
• Accessing prior knowledge
• Setting purpose for reading
• Promoting vocabulary development
• Building in creative and critical thinking
• and nine more!

The purposes, the processes, and the possibilities are explained with clarity and examples of classroom use with students of all ages are included. More than 50 tools and templates are available online.

What people are saying:

"Active Learning and Engagement Strategies is a viable resource for both novice and veteran teachers.  The descriptions are concise and clear. My favorite page is the one that outlines the purpose for the strategy. Too often strategies are used because they exist and not because they will help the educator achieve a specified goal."

Rosalind LaRocque
Associate Director
The American Federation of Teachers
Washington, DC

“Paula's books are always student focused and teacher friendly. All educators would benefit from owning this book.” 

Judy Newhouse
President, Learning Forward Virginia
Manassas, VA

“This is one of the best compilations of active learning and engagement strategies I have seen recently. I really like having this wealth of information in one identifiable resource.”

Carolyn L. Smith
Coordinator New Teacher Induction
Duplin County School District
Kenansville, NC