Douglas Fisher

Lay the foundation for inclusive, impactful classrooms where every student thrives Every student deserves an education that is meaningful, memorable, and built for them. When we design learning with intentional, universal support, the impact extends beyond individual students—it transforms entire classrooms. In Every Child Deserves a Special Education, the authors introduce five powerful mindframes that reshape the way we think about teaching, learning, and inclusion. These mindframes spark a cycle of reflection and growth, shifting not just what we do, but how we see our students, our classrooms, and our role as educators. Inside, you’ll find: Five essential educator mindframes—helping you plan for both diverse learners and the diversity within each learnerStories and examples that bring these mindframes to life through real classroom experiencesReflection tools to help you examine and refine your own beliefs and practices True inclusion starts with how we think, not just what we do. Every Child Deserves a Special Education will help you build the mindset every classroom needs for all students to thrive.

Winner of AM&P EXCEL Bronze AwardYour Students, My Students, Our Students explores the hard truths of current special education practice and outlines five essential disruptions to the status quo. Authors Lee Ann Jung, Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Julie Kroener show you how to:Establish a school culture that champions equity and inclusion.Rethink the long-standing structure of least restrictive environment and the resulting service delivery.Leverage the strengths of all educators to provide appropriate support and challenge.Collaborate on the delivery of instruction and intervention.Honor the aspirations of each student and plan accordingly.To realize authentic and equitable inclusion, we must relentlessly and collectively pursue change. This book—written not for ""special educators"" or ""general educators"" but for all educators—addresses the challenges, maps out the solutions, and provides tools and inspiration for the work ahead. Real-life examples of empowerment and success illustrate just what's possible when educators commit to the belief that every student belongs to all of us and all students deserve learning experiences that will equip them to live full and rewarding lives.

Every teacher wants engaged students. No student wants to be bored. So why isn’t every classroom teeming with discussion and activity centred on the day’s learning expectations? Engagement by Design gives you a framework for making daily improvements in engaging your students, highlighting opportunities that offer the greatest benefit in the least amount of time. You’ll learn how focusing on relationships, clarity, and challenge can make all the difference in forging a real connection with students. Engagement by Design puts you in control of managing your classroom’s success and increasing student learning, one motivated student at a time.

Lead lasting change for your entire learning community School leadership requires more than good intentions—it demands consequential actions that produce positive and meaningful outcomes for students, teachers, and the whole school community. Consequential Leadership is a practical, illustrated guide for busy educational leaders that will help you move beyond compliance to meaningful transformation—efficiently and effectively. Drawing from extensive research and real-world experience, the authors present five essential leadership imperatives that combine theoretical insights with actionable strategies, all delivered alongside engaging illustrations that make complex concepts accessible and memorable. The book explores crucial areas that define effective educational leadership: Five leadership imperatives that include courage and accountability, motivation and collective purpose, evidence-based decision making, professional learning design, and performance conversations Practical tools and assessments like self-evaluation rubrics, reflection prompts, and a personalized leadership journey map Real-world applications that bridge research and practice, helping you to implement strategies that drive student achievement and teacher effectiveness A visual framework that presents leadership concepts through illustrations, charts, and diagrams designed to enhance understanding and retention Embracing consequential leadership principles will allow you to develop the skills and competencies to create learning environments where students grow academically and personally, teachers thrive professionally, and school communities flourish through collective purpose and shared accountability.

Meet microlearning, a powerful instructional approach with roots in online learning that's making the jump to K-12 classrooms. Think of microlearning as modernized direct instruction-a systematic yet flexible way to present content via connected small bursts that build to complex understandings. Less about "shorter teaching sessions" than about smarter teaching, microlearning aligns with how the brain makes meaning and resonates with today's digital-native learners. It's a new tool for structured teaching that will help them stay focused, support long-term retention, and guide them "micro" step by step toward mastery of essential standards. In this book for practitioners, instructional coach Tyler Gilbert and bestselling authors and educators Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey introduce microlearning's "brief yet deep" approach and explain why it is so effective. The short, focused chapters mimic the microlearning experience; each features real-world examples, guided reflection, and a self-assessment. You'll learn how to Identify focused goals for microlearning sessions and divide complex content into the smaller servings that students can more easily process and teachers can more easily manage. Design and implement various kinds of microlearning sessions-from teacher-driven and text-based options to technology-enhanced ones that incorporate scenarios, gamification, and simulations. Gather and use feedback from microlearning sessions to improve student performance and refine your instructional design. At a time when teachers and students are feeling overloaded and disengaged, Microlearning in the K-12 Classroom's practical guidance can support breakthrough understanding for both you and them.

Build a sustainable coaching model that drives growth and results Instructional coaching has long been a crucial component of professional development in schools. However, without a clear framework, its true potential often goes unrealized. Coaching for Impact bridges this gap by providing a research-supported, practical guide that enhances the effectiveness of coaching programs while helping coaches transform theory into measurable results. Centered around an innovative set of "Impact Rubrics," this comprehensive flipbook offers a structured pathway for elevating coaching practices. Whether you’re an experienced instructional coach or just beginning your journey, this book equips you with actionable tools, proven strategies, and a vision to foster teacher learning and maximize student success. Inside you’ll find: Impact Rubrics, frameworks in each chapter to make coaching visible, actionable, and aligned with teacher growth and student outcomesStep-by-step guidance for building relationships, collecting evidence, and creating goal-oriented coaching plansResearch-driven content highlighting how coaching supports effective teaching and sustainable learning practicesA holistic approach with strategies to develop trust, foster communication, and align coaching with broader district and school goals By using Coaching for Impact, coaches will gain the skills to cultivate sustainable coaching models that promote both teacher and student success. If you’re ready to sharpen your focus, refine your strategies, and unlock the full potential of instructional coaching, this book is your indispensable guide.

Inspire trust, raise engagement, and advance learning outcomes with teacher credibility Why do some instructional strategies work better for certain teachers than others? Given the same materials, time and effort, these teachers seem to possess the secret to success when it comes to high-impact teaching. No secrets here—the key to increasing student learning outcomes is teacher credibility. The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Credibility dives into one of the most impactful aspects of teaching, helping educators understand how trust, competence, dynamism, and immediacy shape students’ perceptions and influence their motivation to learn. By focusing on the relationship between teacher credibility and its influence on learning, this book delivers the goods for educators to overcome barriers, establish meaningful connections, and achieve high-impact teaching. With practical insights and strategies and a research-backed Visible Learning effect size of 1.09, the authors demonstrate how credibility is not just a concept but a fundamental driver for student success with: Comprehensive Frameworks: Explore the four pillars of teacher credibility (trust, competence, dynamism, and immediacy) and how to cultivate them in your practice.Practical Strategies: Gain actionable tools for building trust with students, improving teacher clarity, and fostering dynamic, engaging learning environments.Self-Assessments and Tools: Evaluate your own credibility and use reflective tools to enhance professional growth.Real-World Applications: Learn how to apply immediacy and proximity to improve communication and create enriched classroom relationships. This essential resource is for every educator whose aim is to inspire trust, raise engagement, and advance learning outcomes. By focusing on credibility, you’ll empower your students and create an environment where they can thrive academically and socially.

Drive collaboration and improve student learning with PLC+ Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have long been celebrated as a powerful tool for driving collaboration and improving student outcomes. But what if there was a way to take your PLC work to the next level? Your Introduction to PLC+: Building Collaborative Teams That Drive Student Success introduces the next-generation PLC model that prioritizes collective efficacy and actionable strategies by focusing on five essential questions: Where are we going?Where are we now?How do we move learning forward?What did we learn today?Who benefited and who did not? PLC+ emphasizes identifying and applying evidence-based instruction that values the background of every student, ensuring access and opportunities for all. Team members begin by identifying a common challenge. Then, the clear PLC+ framework, practical tools, and research-based strategies ensure that team efforts directly improve teaching practices and student outcomes. This playbook includes: Protocols and tools that promote data-driven decision-making and actionable plans.Engaging features like "Two Truths and a Lie," self-assessment tools, and implementation-ready scenarios.Practical strategies to measure the real-time impact of collaborative efforts.An interactive design with ample space to reflect on your learning and outline steps to build collective efficacy. Transform your professional learning community today. Whether you're a teacher or school leader, Your Introduction to PLC+ equips you with the knowledge and skills to collaborate effectively and lead with clarity and confidence. Together, you’ll create effective and impactful learning environments that ensure every student thrives.

The Latest Time Saving AI Tools that Make Learning More Engaging Busy educators need tools that support their planning and provide them with more time with students. While artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising solution, it can only help if we’re willing to continuously learn how to use it in ways that improve upon what we already do well. The Artificial Intelligence Playbook: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers that Make Learning More Engaging, Second Edition, is a thoroughly updated, expanded new edition that reflects the transformative changes that have emerged since the first publication, offering updated strategies, insights, research, and examples that address the latest developments in AI technology. Learn how to purposefully use AI with: Best practices for composing effective prompts for optimal output and incorporating images, PDFs, or other documents with those promptsAn expanded look at the responsible use of generative AI, addressing plagiarism, citations, and other common concernsNew strategies and research supporting AI literacy instruction to prepare students for an AI-powered futureMore classroom examples demonstrating AI use cases for instructional best practices across various grade levelsPractical ways to implement AI to enhance teaching functions from planning, instruction, assessment, student engagement, and more. Though AI has the potential to reduce workload for educators, it will never replace teachers. Your connection with students is irreplaceable—and greatly impacts their learning. With The Artificial Intelligence Playbook, Second Edition, in hand, educators will find even more time-saving tools to help build and sustain those vital relationships with students all while enhancing learning and engagement in the classroom.

Recharge Adolescent Literacy: Strategies to Foster Joyful and Proficient Readers There are many adolescent readers who, for a variety of reasons, find it difficult to connect with written words and have fallen behind on their foundational reading skills. Thankfully, it’s never too late to give these necessary skills a boost and help students find joy in reading and learning. Armed with equity, empathy, evidence-based research, and practical application, Teaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers provides classroom practices teachers can use with the whole class or with small groups to integrate reading support seamlessly with grade-level content learning. Bestselling authors Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, along with Sarah Ortega, Kierstan Barbee, and Aida Allen-Rotell, creatively organize the book around a metaphor: adolescent literacy is a battery—when all the parts are connected, working together, and fully charged—literacy can thrive. Throughout the book, the following features will guide your learning: Plug Into the Research – an overview of the evidence-based research supporting each section of the literacy modelPower Up Classroom Practice – connecting the dots on the research, classroom practice and human aspects of learningVoices from the Field – classroom examples of application and strategies from other secondary educatorsTake Charge – key takeaways and reflection questionsTips on building and organizing your classroom library to incorporate tools, technology, and media available to maximize lesson effectivenessDozens of videos to model time-efficient strategies and key concepts By focusing on research, classroom practices, and the human aspects of learning, this book is an essential tool to recharge reading practices for adolescent readers and help educators increase foundational reading skills in the classroom.

Recharge Adolescent Literacy: Strategies to Foster Joyful and Proficient Readers There are many adolescent readers who, for a variety of reasons, find it difficult to connect with written words and have fallen behind on their foundational reading skills. Thankfully, it’s never too late to give these necessary skills a boost and help students find joy in reading and learning. Armed with equity, empathy, evidence-based research, and practical application, Teaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers provides classroom practices teachers can use with the whole class or with small groups to integrate reading support seamlessly with grade-level content learning. Bestselling authors Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, along with Sarah Ortega, Kierstan Barbee, and Aida Allen-Rotell, creatively organize the book around a metaphor: adolescent literacy is a battery—when all the parts are connected, working together, and fully charged—literacy can thrive. Throughout the book, the following features will guide your learning: Plug Into the Research – an overview of the evidence-based research supporting each section of the literacy modelPower Up Classroom Practice – connecting the dots on the research, classroom practice and human aspects of learningVoices from the Field – classroom examples of application and strategies from other secondary educatorsTake Charge – key takeaways and reflection questionsTips on building and organizing your classroom library to incorporate tools, technology, and media available to maximize lesson effectivenessDozens of videos to model time-efficient strategies and key concepts By focusing on research, classroom practices, and the human aspects of learning, this book is an essential tool to recharge reading practices for adolescent readers and help educators increase foundational reading skills in the classroom.

Engage, Empower, Educate: Unleash the Potential of Multilingual Learners What's your "why" for being a teacher? Unlike other professionals, teachers often have strong reasons for why they teach and a clear sense of purpose. Acknowledging and understanding this purpose helps educators to not just do what they do but do it well. This illustrated guide was designed for all classroom teachers to emphasize the unique challenges and opportunities that arise in multilingual learner education. Using Simon Sinek's Golden Circle theory to understand and elevate that sense of purpose, the book is organized into three parts: the why, the how, and the what of teaching multilingual learners. You will learn The benefits and goals of a multilingual educationHow to design learning experiences for multilingual learners and how to respond when students are not learningCulturally inclusive pedagogy and how it positively supports the identities of your studentsHow to foster oral language skills, build vocabulary, and increase students’ word knowledgeHow to engage families and caregivers and create a sense of belonging in your classroomAnd so much more! With a clear understanding of the research-based tools, techniques, and instructional strategies described and illustrated in the book, a solid sense of purpose, and a dash of grace for you and your multilingual learners, you will be well on your way to creating productive and positive learning opportunities that meet the best interests of all students, families, educators, and the community.

How to Activate and Accelerate Student Learning Have you ever given instructions to your students, only to receive blank stares or confusion? Clarity is an essential part of teaching and learning, and every interaction we have with students is the foundation for moving learning forward—we must make every interaction count. Backed by the latest education research on what really works, Teacher Clarity spotlights the newest and best teaching strategies and explains the importance of clear learning intentions, success criteria, lesson design, progress monitoring, and more. Inside, you’ll discover how teacher clarity Helps educators make informed decisions around teaching and learningDemands that educators keep the "big picture" in mindAllows educators to integrate optimal teaching and learning experiences at the right timeTells us what evidence we must generate around teaching and learning and what steps to take next Organized around the four critical components of teacher clarity—organization, explanations, examples, and assessments—and filled with samples for all content and grade levels, Teacher Clarity is your essential guidebook for unlocking your learners’ potential.

A professional development assessment tool to elevate learning and instruction in every classroom This unique, hands-on flipbook is designed as a classroom observation tool that redefines RIGOR, with a focus on five key elements, or indicators, that form a framework to promote a rigorous, scaffolded learning environment. Explore the five indicators on a RIGOR Walk to identify teacher strengths and areas for growth, and to set goals: RelationshipsInstructionGoalsOrganizationRelevance Developed for teachers, teams, instructional coaches, and school leaders, RIGOR Unveiled provides a wealth of support and knowledge for classroom observation and reflection, including: Tabbed sections that describe each of the five indicators to help focus discussion and evaluationsRubrics for evaluation including ratings, evidence, and "My Next Steps"100+ video spotlights defining key concepts25 classroom videos showing each of the indicators in action25 videos of coaches discussing what they observed in each of the classroom videosSturdy flipbook format for individual and team use and easy writing on the goSpot It Happening feature to calibrate observations as they happen Together your teaching teams can improve the learning outcomes for students by committing to continuous improvement in their teaching practice. With this book in hand, you’ll have everything you need to make it happen.