From ADHD to schizophrenia and everything in between, what teachers need to know about their students’ mental health. Twenty percent of children and adolescents have a mental health disorder and in five percent, the disorder is severe. Chances are that every classroom in America will have at least one student who has a mental health disorder, possibly even in the severe range. These students often have symptoms that interfere with their ability to learn. From Ontario, Canada to California, school districts and state Boards of Education are recognizing the importance of comprehensive approaches to student mental health that include teacher education. By understanding child and adolescent mental health issues, general education and special education teachers have additional tools to provide the most successful educational environment for their students. But where can a teacher turn to get reliable information on what they need to know? Here, William Dikel, MD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, who serves as a consultant to school districts nationwide, answers the call with a comprehensive, teacher-focused guide to student mental health. From anxiety and depression to ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, behavior disorders, substance use disorders, and psychoses, this practical book provides essential information on how mental health disorders are diagnosed and treated, how they tend to manifest at school, and how they affect students’ emotions, behaviors, and ability to learn. It explains why traditional behavioral interventions are often unsuccessful, and describes effective classroom interventions that teachers can use to provide optimal educational experiences. Teachers will learn the differences between normal child and adolescent behaviors and behaviors that reflect underlying mental health disorders, and will recognize where these behaviors fall on a spectrum, ranging from behavioral (planned, volitional acts that clearly have a function) to the clinical (where a mental health disorder is causing the behavior). They will also learn how to communicate effectively with their school teams (and student families) to ensure that school mental health staff (psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses) will be able to provide appropriate interventions for students in need. Administrators will learn the importance of creating a district mental health plan that clearly defines the roles of teachers, mental health staff, principals, and others, with the goal of establishing a seamless system of coordinated professionals all working to meet the student’s needs. Finally, the book profiles successful programs, provided both by school districts and in collaboration with community mental health professionals, including Response to Intervention (RTI), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), social-emotional learning, and school-linked mental health services. Based on the author’s thirty years of experience providing consultation to teachers in settings varying from general education classrooms to self-contained special education programs for severely emotionally disturbed students, this book will be an invaluable guide for parents, school principals, special education directors, school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and nurses.

Drawing on the author's cutting-edge research this practical book helps teachers better understand the causes of bullying, gives them confidence to resolve nuanced cases, and provides them with the tools to develop pupil-led anti-bullying campaigns. This book delves into the complex nature of bullying at school in a clear and approachable way. It helps school staff understand the student's views and experiences of bullying, and how power imbalances and systemic inequalities can contribute to bullying relationships between pupils. The author provides evidence-based interventions that suggest ways teachers can develop knowledge and skills to resolve incidents. Key to this is a new approach to pupil-led interventions which allows staff to harness pupil voices to develop effective anti-bullying strategies. Included are resources and tools to help teachers set up these advisory groups and interventions, and train others to do the same. This is essential reading for teachers looking for a comprehensive and accessible guide to tackling bullying.

“The establishment of professional learning networks can be transformational for you personally and professionally. This book takes you step by step through the process of developing an effective Professional Learning Network (PLN) to create and realise a new status quo!” Catherine Carden, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK “The book impressively underscores the relevance and opportunities of Professional Learning Networks for innovation in school, while also addressing the challenges and pitfalls of successfully establishing, running and sustaining PLNs from the perspective of teachers.” Colin Cramer, University of Tuebingen, Germany “This book is a must read for practitioners, policy makers and researchers interested in Professional Learning Networks! [It] provides readers with concrete recipes with all the necessary ingredients, including leadership, trust and collaboration, to ensure PLN success.” Prof. Dr. Kim Schildkamp, University of Twente, the Netherlands The Teacher’s Guide to Successful Professional Learning Networks supports educators with practical guidelines developed from the authors’ practical and research-based experience in this area. Taking a step-by-step approach, the book guides readers through the different stages of inquiry and influencing factors involved with successfully running a PLN. The authors explore how teachers can participate in networks to achieve deep reflective inquiry and make positive changes in teaching and learning. The book: -Builds on international research into professional learning networks (PLNs) -Uses illustrative case studies from a range of contexts across the world -Provides step-by-step guidance to help readers establish sustainable PLNs Drawing from a diverse range of international contexts and with content stretching from early years to secondary, this book is essential reading for any educator looking to create, expand or enhance their Professional Learning Network. Cindy Poortman is Associate Professor at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Her research and teaching focus is teacher and school leader professional development in PLNs. She has co-founded and is coordinating the PLN network within the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI). Chris Brown is Professor and Director of Research at the Department of Education Studies at the University of Warwick, UK. He has co-edited two books on Professional Learning Networks, is co-editor of the Professional Learning Networks Book Series, and is co-founder and co-convener of the ICSEI Professional Learning Networks research network.

Why do some children experience literacy difficulties? How can I identify a child with reading and writing challenges? What is the best way to support them in a classroom context? 1 in 8 children will experience some kind of reading difficulty, and while you as a class teacher are not expected to formally assess children or deliver specialist interventions, a good understanding of literacy challenges is crucial for providing optimum educational support. This guide demystifies and disentangles different types of literacy difficulty and explains how they can impact the child's day-to-day classroom functioning and general school life. Chapters include: how to identify children that are struggling; how to work with SpLD teachers and parents so they can be maximally supported; the co-occurrence of literacy difficulties with other learning difficulties such as with maths and attention problems,; alongside practical tips to support each child's learning. Strongly grounded in up-to-date theory and research, this is a perfect companion for classroom teachers of all age levels.

Guidance for teachers on two pressing problems in student mental health. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health problems for young students, and can be particularly hard to detect and support. In this book, the first of its kind for teachers, Nadja Reilly lays out with richly detailed examples the signs to look for so educators can direct their students to help and ensure emotional wellness in the classroom. Grounded in recent psychological research and practical self-regulation tools, Reilly opens her study out onto nourishing emotional wellness in all students, communicating with parents, and schoolwide mental health advocacy.

Enables educators to quickly identify individual student’s difficulties and strengths and then target intervention directly where it is needed

Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students’ needs or how to navigate Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students’ needs or how to navigate the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What are the roles and rights of parents? And what must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other special needs receive the quality education they’re entitled to? In this practical reference, David F. Bateman—bestselling author of A Principal’s Guide to Special Education—and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom. Topics covered include The pre-referral, referral, and evaluation processes Individualized education programs (IEPs) and the parties involved Accommodations for students who do not quality for special education, including those covered by Section 504 Transition from preK to K–12 and from high school to postschool life Classroom management and student behavior Educational frameworks, instructional strategies, and service delivery options Assessment, grades, graduation, and diplomas The breadth of coverage in this book, along with its practical examples, action steps, and appendixes covering key terms and definitions will provide the foundation all K–12 teachers need to successfully instruct and support students receiving special education services. It’s an indispensable resource for every general education classroom. the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What are the roles and rights of parents? And what must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other special needs receive the quality education they’re entitled to? In this practical reference, David F. Bateman—bestselling author of A Principal’s Guide to Special Education—and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom. Topics covered include The pre-referral, referral, and evaluation processes Individualized education programs (IEPs) and the parties involved Accommodations for students who do not quality for special education, including those covered by Section 504 Transition from preK to K–12 and from high school to postschool life Classroom management and student behavior Educational frameworks, instructional strategies, and service delivery options Assessment, grades, graduation, and diplomas The breadth of coverage in this book, along with its practical examples, action steps, and appendixes covering key terms and definitions will provide the foundation all K–12 teachers need to successfully instruct and support students receiving special education services. It’s an indispensable resource for every general education classroom.

While it is true that children from military families live unique and interesting lives, it is also true that they face many challenges and special circumstances that civilian children and families don't experience. These can include gaps in school attendance and learning due to frequent moves, being separated from a parent who has been deployed, and a sense of isolation in the midst of a civilian community. This comprehensive and evidence-informed guide introduces pre- and inservice teachers to this population and provides essential tools to help minimize the impact of military life on student learning. It addresses issues such as: Frequent transitions between schools, gaps in academic progress, social adjustment, parental deployments, and trauma or tragedy. And it shows how practices already being used in your school can be adapted to ease the transition for military students, and it also introduces original strategies, such as: A "Hero Wall" honoring members of the military, friendship or memory gardens, military Appreciation events, writing letters or making care packages for deployed service members.