Fanatically Formative
Successful Learning During the Crucial K–3 Years
- Bob Sornson - Early Learning Foundation
Leadership & Management | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles | Teaching in Primary Schools
'I could not put this book down. The captivating message reignited my passion for quality and joyful teaching. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter will serve as springboards for stimulating discourse.' - Kathleen A. Robbins, Principal MacGowan School, Redford, MIT
Transform your K-3 classrooms into effective centers of learning! Helping children experience early learning success and acquire essential skills by third grade is a crucial part of any school reform effort. Yet, many teachers and children are overwhelmed by the ineffective curriculum-driven education system and the 'rush to cover' climate in schools. Fanatically Formative shows how you can rediscover the joy of teaching and help children fall in love with learning again. This book traces the journey of a teacher as she works through the challenges of formative assessment and responsive instruction to discover the practices that will help her students succeed. K-3 teachers, principals, and district administrators will learn how to:
Set clear, attainable learning outcomes
Make teaching responsive to the whole child
Monitor student progress toward essential skills
Build a truly positive classroom and school culture
Collaborate to help young children succeed
With surveys, lists of essential skills, study questions for PLC groups, and highlighted summaries of key points Fanatically Formative offers a clear and powerful vision for your early learning success initiative along with the action steps to achieve your goals.
"The best teachers are the ones who are hungry for knowledge, and are driven to make a difference for individual children. This important book merges theory and practice, and provides the reader with a template for improving everyday instruction."
"This comprehensive book, Fanatically Formative, holds the key to assure that all students are given a rich foundation in the essential skills that will give them the foundation to be successful in school. I highly recommend Fanatically Formative to use in your district to make meaningful change. The foundation of Early Learning Success will impact the lives of students and increase student achievement in their district."
“Dr. Sornson has issued a challenge that no educator, parent, or legislator can ignore. It is time to adequately invest in the early education of children in order to create lifelong learners and raise them to the high levels of College and Career ready by the time they leave high school. Fanatically Formative draws from an extensive body of research to illustrate the need to flip this nation’s prevailing practice of investing time and resources after a child’s learning gaps are too significant. The benefits to children, schools, and society of investing in early education when the learning gaps first appear are numerous and long standing. Dr. Sorenson’s book puts this transformation within reach through storytelling, applicable appropriate facts, and by presenting a clear blueprint for success. Now is the time for all to meet the challenge and reach for success.”
Sample Materials & Chapters
Appendix G. Reflection on Classroom Culture
Appendix H. Reflection on School Culture
Appendix I. Reflection on Home-School Connections
Appendix J. Reflection on the Early Learning Success Initiative in Our School
Appendix K. Sample District Plan for Early Learning Success
Appendix O. Building Essential Skills: Parent Support Request
