* Identifying similarities and differences.
* Summarizing and note taking.
* Reinforcing effort and providing recognition.
* Homework and practice.
* Nonlinguistic representations.
* Cooperative learning.
* Setting objectives and providing feedback.
* Generating and testing hypotheses.
* Questions, cues, and advance organizers.

This list is not new. But what is surprising is finding out what a big difference it makes, for example, when students learn how to take good notes, work in groups, and use graphic organizers. The authors provide statistical effect sizes and show how these translate into percentile gains for students, for each strategy. And each chapter presents extended classroom examples of teachers and students in action; models of successful instruction; and many "frames," rubrics, organizers, and charts to help teachers plan and implement the strategies.

First, it should be required reading for every new teacher. It clearly details for them what is effective in the classroom, regardless of grade level. There is little philosophy here. This is ???meat and potatoes??? practicality.

Secondly, the research in this book should become an integral part of every teacher-evaluation process. It provides a model paradigm of excellence in teaching above and beyond the subjectivity extant in most evaluations today.

Finally, this book should be a personal read of every experienced teacher. I cannot express my feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when I realized--I already do many of these things! While I know I can improve in many areas because of reading this work, much of my teaching was validated by sound research, and that felt good!

It is my hope that this material will be presented at many of the national education conferences I attend each year--in fact, I plan on using much of this in my own presentations.

The book is nicely organized, backed by solid research, and utilizes illustrative scenarios which make complex methodology very understandable. And isn't this the goal of every classroom teacher?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Dr. J.L. Parks
Georgetown Middle School
Georgetown, KY


If Student Achievement Matters to You, read this book.   June 30, 2001
J. Reilly (TampaBay)
38 out of 43 found this review helpful

Teachers, this book spells out in plain language what works. It explains each strategy in detail, gives examples, and summarizes the research on how effectively that strategy works. The strategies are in order of effectiveness. It doesn't matter what subject you teach; it does matter HOW your teach it.

The book is beautifully written, just 178 pages, and POWER PACKED! A crucial read for educators.


A Great Place To Start   October 14, 2004
Timothy P. Young (Rawlins, WY, USA)
38 out of 44 found this review helpful

I've yet to read such a well-written, succinct overview of the most popular current teaching methods. Marzano and company are the great synthesizers of educational methods these days. While it's true that no chapter is completely detailed, the authors provide ample notations to enable those interested in pursuing a method to further enhance their teaching.

Very well put together, highly accessible, and very plain-spoken, this is a fantastic overview for the novice and a great refresher for the veteran educator.

PS. A reply to "Chock full of the Obvious," the reviewer from Maine who didn't bother to leave a name. What Marzano does is provide a jumping-off point. He and his co-authors don't expect their text to be biblical. If they do, well, then I'll apologize. However, for thumbnail sketches of the big methods that work, it's a damn fine book. And that's how I reviewed it. Not only that, but keeping this book on your desk gives you a pretty high CYA quotient if you're ever questioned on your methods by an overzealous administrator.


A Reference Book with Data-Driven Punch   June 1, 2005
Todd Finley (Greenville, NC USA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I've studied education for over 20 years and I still learned new approaches in my field. The book should be scanned in some places and read and re-read in others.

Yes, some of the best practices are familiar because they are, well, best practices. This is what teachers have begged for, a book of techniques back by data.


All the keys are here   August 9, 2005
J. Wood (Kansas)
20 out of 23 found this review helpful

If someone gave you a book that had the keys to learning in it, would you read it? You are a good teacher, so of course you would, and it is this book. Many books out there are some research, some theory--this book is all research-based strategies that are proven to work in a classroom, so there is no guessing if these are effective methods or not.

The accompanying handbook helps you to apply these strategies to your content, giving you step-by-step instructions. I would highly recommend this book for any teacher at any level and any subject area.