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= “The Power of One” =

Rebecca R. Lawson, NBCT Email: lawsonr@winthrop.edu Winthrop University

Clark, Ron. //The Essential 55.// New York: Hyperion Book, 2003. Ron Clark became a teacher by accident in 1995. Since then, he has taught in some of the most challenging schools in the country. After winning the “Disney Teacher of the Year” award in 2001, he wrote his rules for “discovering the successful student in every child.” Currently he lives in Atlanta where he has founded the Ron Clark Academy to extend the reach of his educational philosophy beyond his classroom. http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/

Gruwell, Erin and The Freedom Writers. //The Freedom Writers Diary//. New York: Broadway Books, 1999. The Freedom Writers Diary: how a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2286935/k.AD6E/About_Erin_Gruwell.htm

Johnson, LouAnne. //Dangerous Minds//. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992. When LouAnne Johnson started to teach 34 inner city sophomores, she was told “those kids have tasted blood. They are dangerous.” Instead, she saw young people with intelligence and dreams. When others gave up on them, she broke the rules to give them hope and belief in themselves.

Johnson, LouAnne. //Two Parts Textbook, One Part Love.// New York: Hyperion, 199. Johnson’s second book is a recipe for successful teaching. http://www.louannejohnson.com/

Monroe, Lorraine. //Nothing’s Impossible.// New York: Times Books, 1997. Lorraine Monroe founded the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem in 1991 to give inner-city students the same quality of education as that received in an elite suburban school. Many of the graduates were accepted to Ivy League colleges and students in the lower grades set records for academic excellence. @http://www.lorrainemonroe.com/

Payne, Ruby K. //A Framework for Understanding Poverty//, Fourth Revised Edition. Highlands, TX:Aha! Process Inc, 2005. Dr. Payne is the leading US Expert on the mindsets of poverty, middle class, and wealth. Her thought-provoking book and presentations lead teachers to look more deeply at their students to discover ways to help them succeed. Teachers who develop a better understanding of the impact generational poverty has on the lives, dreams, and education of their students will be better prepared to help them escape the cycle.

Payne, Ruby K. //Under-resourced Learners: 8 Strategoes to Boost Student Achievement//, Highlands, TX:Aha! Process Inc, 2008. Dr. Payne is the leading US Expert on the mindsets of poverty, middle class, and wealth. Her thought-provoking book and presentations l http://www.ahaprocess.com

Berckemeyer, Jack C. //Managing the Madness: A Practical Guide to Middle Grades Classrooms.// Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association. 2009. Using humor Jack "tells it like it is" in middle level classrooms and gives educators strategies for turning the madness into success for young adolescents.

Carson, Ben. //Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story//. Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervon, 1990. From the projects of Detroit where he was the “dumbest kid in the fifth grade,” to director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, this is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever read. It illustrates the power of parenting, respect, books, and advocates for young adolescents. @http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/car1bio-1

Draper, Sharon. //Tears of a Tiger.// New York: Simon Pulse, 1994. Sharon Draper, a former English teacher, was the National Teacher of the Year in 1997, Mrs. Draper won her first literary award for her short story “One Small Torch” after being challenged to write by one of her students. Her books appeal to many young adolescents who are reluctant readers. Tears of a Tiger is the first book in the Hazelwood High trilogy. She also wrote Teaching from the Heart, reflections and poetry to encourage and inspire teachers. Learn more about Mrs. Draper and her books at her website []

Gray, Farrah. //Reallionaire//. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2004. The author, whose family was extremely poor in Chicago, made his first million by the age of 14. Now in his 20s, he is the youngest person to have an office on Wall Street. Yet, it is not enough to be rich on the outside. Farrah shares wisdom and personal experiences to help the reader become rich from the inside out. Through his foundation, he seeks to inspire today’s youth to have dreams. [] OR []

Hunt, Ullock, K., Selby, M., Silver, D., & Wormeli, R. //Because You Teach: A dynamic musical resource for innovative staff development//. Nashville, TN:Incentive Publications, 2006. //Because You Teach// combines the music of Monte Selby with dynamic suggestions for implementing good teaching strategies. Four amazing middle school educators have used their expertise and years of experience to create this innovative resource showcasing best practices and research-based models. @http://www.incentivepublications.com/

LaBoon, Anne. Welcome to Anne LaBoon’s Kindergarten This website includes links to wonderful poems about teachers and teaching. http://www.alaboon.com//

Pink, Daniel H. //A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future."// New York, NY: Riverhead Books. 2006. //A Whole New Mind// reveals the six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend, and includes a series of hands-on exercises culled from experts around the world to help readers sharpen the necessary abilities. []

Reynolds, Peter. //The Dot//. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2003. Illustrator, author, and president of FableVision, the mission of Peter Reynolds is to honor and encourage the creative spirit in all children. His works celebrate those who choose to follow their dreams against all odds. He is also the author of //The North Sta//r, //Ish// and //Rose’s Garden// (dedicated to Rose Kennedy.). He has also illustrated many books for other authors, including the one by Debbie Silver. Learn more about Peter, his life, his inspiration – 7th grade math teacher Mr. Matson, and his work at the following websites: http://www.peterhreynolds.com/ http://www.fablevision.com/index.html

//The North Star// website is dedicated to teachers, families, students, lifelong learners, and those brave enough to follow their dreams. Read the story online, find activities, and share ideas. @http://www.fablevision.com/northstar/index.html

Silver, Debbie. //Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers//. Nashville: Incentive Publications, 2005. The author shares wisdom and humor to help educators improve their instructional skills in a differentiated classroom. Included are practical strategies and research-based models. http://www.debbiesilver.com/

Thomas-El, Salome. //I Choose to Stay: A Black teacher refuses to desert the inner city.// New York: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2003. http://www.ichoosetostay.com/

Thompson, Randy and Dorothy VanderJagt. //Fire Up! For Learning.// Nashville: Incentive Publications, 2002. This book contains active learning projects and activities to motivate and challenge students. http://www.edugator.com/gator/randypg.htm

Wormeli, Rick. //Day One & Beyond: Practical Matters for New Middle-Level Teachers//. Westerville, Ohio: National Middle School Association. Noted speaker and author Rick Wormeli also wrote //Meet me in the Middle, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment,// //Grading in the Differentiated Classroom,// and //Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, Grades 6-12// @http://www.nmsa.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/OnSiteStaffDevelopment/RickWormeli/tabid/588/Default.aspx

The essentials for middle level educators
http://www.nmsa.org

Erb, Tom, ed. //This We Believe in Action//. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association, 2005. This We Believe in Action includes a DVD, which uses video clips taken in middle schools to dramatically illustrates each of the 14 characteristics of a successful middle school as detailed in //This We Believe//.

National Middle School Association. //This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents// (2010). Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association. In this fourth edition, NMSA’s landmark position statement shares the enduring lessons learned in more than 35 years of active middle school advocacy. When its concepts are embraced, students are prepared for success in school and career. In this edition: • 16 characteristics fully described • Four essential attributes identified • Chart of characteristics and attributes • Extra attention to digital tools, exceptional education, • ESL/ELL, service learning, and learning in a global economy • New section that articulates the vision on major goals • Call to Action • A NEW research section

National Middle School Association. //This We Believe: Successful schools for young adolescents// (2003). Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association. The third edition of our association's position paper details the 14 characteristics of successful middle schools. A Call to Action then provides specific suggestions for using this document as a tool to improve educational programs for middle level students.

Research Committee, National Middle School Association. (2003) //Research and resources in support of This We Believe.// Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association. This is the resource middle level leaders have been waiting for since //This We Believe// was first published in 1982. It responds to the question, “Do middle schools work?” and presents research evidence that supports the philosophical base of //This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents//.

High School Reform
National Association of Secondary School Principals. "NASSP:Breaking Ranks II & High School Reform." @http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=563&DID=48223

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. @http://www.gatesfoundation.org

The George Lucas Educational Foundation. "Edutopia: What Works in Public Schools." @http://www.edutopia.org

Prelude music by Monte Selby
“I will believe,” “One,’ “Because you Teach,” “Architects of Change,” “Armstrong,” “To Catch Them When they Fall,” “Middle School Matters,” “Can’t Get There from Here.” “Middle School,” “Until We Feed the Child.” []