Unstoppable Learning: Seven Essential Elements to Unleash Student Potential (Using Systems Thinking to Improve Teaching Practices and Learning Outcomes)

2015 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist in Education

Discover how to enhance teaching and learning using the seven essential elements of the Unstoppable Learning model: (1) planning, (2) launching, (3) consolidating, (4) assessing, (5) adapting, (6) managing, and (7) leading.

Examine how to use systems thinking to create a network of interactions that promote best practices in teaching and enhance student learning schoolwide. Every classroom has a network of relationships among schools, families, and communities that impacts the classroom. This book will help you cultivate teaching practices that create optimal learning and working environments. You'll gain a variety of proven strategies and tools for creating learning outcomes, preparing effective lessons, adapting learning in response to students' individual needs, and more.

After reading this book, you should be able to:

• Distinguish patterns and consider short- and long-term consequences in the classroom.
• Use the seven elements of the Unstoppable Learning model to better understand the big picture of education and the intricate relationships that impact classrooms and school leadership.
• Prompt discussion and reflection using the driving questions and chapter takeaways to foster school improvement.
• Identify strategies and tools to create clear learning targets, prepare effective lessons, and successfully assess instruction.
• Gather helpful sample surveys, unit plans, analysis forms, rubrics, templates, and pull-out questions to reach selected learning outcomes.

Contents:
Introduction: The Business of Learning
Chapter 1: Planning Learning
Chapter 2: Launching Learning
Chapter 3: Consolidating Learning
Chapter 4: Assessing Learning
Chapter 5: Adapting Learning
Chapter 6: Managing Learning
Chapter 7: Leading Learning
Appendix: Driving Questions

Douglas Fisher, PhD, is professor of language and literacy education in the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University and a classroom teacher at Health Sciences High and Middle College. He teaches preservice courses in literacy and English language learners, graduate courses in reading instruction and intervention, and doctoral courses in policy, research, and literacy. As a classroom teacher, Dr. Fisher focuses on English language arts instruction. He was director of professional development for the City Heights Educational Collaborative and also taught English at Hoover High School.

Dr. Fisher received an International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award for his work on literacy leadership. For his work as codirector of the City Heights Professional Development Schools, Dr. Fisher received the Christa McAuliffe Award. He was corecipient of the Farmer Award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article, "Using Graphic Novels, Anime, and the Internet in an Urban High School," published in The English Journal.

Dr. Fisher has written numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design. His books include Creating Literacy-Rich Schools for Adolescents, Checking for Understanding, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, and Content-Area Conversations.

Nancy Frey, PhD, is a professor of literacy in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University. Through the university's teacher-credentialing and reading specialist programs, she teaches courses on elementary and secondary reading instruction and literacy in content areas, classroom management, and supporting students with diverse learning needs. Dr. Frey also teaches classes at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego. She is a board member of the California Reading Association and a credentialed special educator and reading specialist in California.

Before joining the university faculty, Dr. Frey was a public school teacher in Florida. She worked at the state level for the Florida Inclusion Network, helping districts design systems for supporting students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

She is the recipient of the 2008 Early Career Achievement Award from the National Reading Conference and the Christa McAuliffe Award for excellence in teacher education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She was corecipient of the Farmer Award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article "Using Graphic Novels, Anime, and the Internet in an Urban High School."

Dr. Frey is coauthor of Checking for Understanding, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, and Content-Area Conversations. She has written articles for The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, English Journal, Voices in the Middle, Middle School Journal, Remedial and Special Education, and Educational Leadership.