1. Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire is a critical educator's classic that clearly links education to the possibility for social change. Freire's explanation of the power dynamics existent between the oppressors and the oppressed, and how this play out in the classroom, has provided food for thought and impetus for action to educators across the planet for decades. His critique of the 'banking method' of much of the current educational practice offered up new hopes and visions for an education more centered around consciousness raising and active participation in the shaping of society through dialogical action.
2. Brain - Based Learning
Based on empirical brain research from the disciplines of neuroscience, biology, and psychology, Jensen's text explains how the relationship between learning and the brain can impact emotions, patterns, gender, meaningfulness, environments, body rhythms, attitudes, enrichment, and assessment, and how it influences the effects of stress and trauma.
The book's powerful information suggests ways for transforming schools into complete learning organizations by providing students with an optimal learning environment. Implementation of brain-based schooling has proven to increase graduation rates, decrease learning difficulties and discipline problems, and create conditions for the love of learning to flourish.
3. Improving Schools Through Action Research
This book emphasizes the reflective processes used in planning and conducting action research studies, data analysis techniques (quantitative and qualitative), and displaying and explaining results. It provides specific information needed to complete each step of the action research cycle with chapter activities that help the student/reader conduct projects focused on school improvement. Each activity includes a research paper component that helps students create a research paper as they complete the activities.
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