Inspiration is Key: Unconventional Strategies to Motivate and Support Students

by Victor Sgambato

Overview

Would you like to encourage greater academic passion in your students, interact with them more influentially, and be extraordinarily effective in inspiring them on a daily basis?

Then this is the book for you!

This book is a collection of unconventional classroom approaches, lessons, and strategies rarely found in text form. They serve to successfully acquire your students’ undivided attention, strongly influence a sincere appreciation for their education and motivation to learn, and creatively inspire their thought processes in a variety of successful, academic ventures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475824995
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/08/2016
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.29(d)

About the Author

Victor Sgambato’s rewarding academic career includes the development of a curriculum resource guide to support the new learning standards in health education for the New York State Department of Education. Additionally, he’s published articles on education, history, and health and wellness as well as created curricula for the Fort Plain Central School district in the areas of English, health, and AIDS education.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Section I: You Retain the Potential to Inspire, Motivate, & Support Your Students.
Chapter 1: The Joys of Teaching
Chapter 2: Fellowship and the Feel of Colleague Support
Section II: Professional Advice in Dealing With Your Students.
Chapter 3: Learning From Classroom Experience
Section III: Tools that Succeed: Unconventional Approaches and Strategies
Chapter 4: Unique and Unorthodox Approaches
Chapter 5: Are You Listening to Your Students?
Chapter 6: Cooperative Classroom Environment
Chapter 7: The Seat of Distinction; promoting sensitivity, trust, and comfort
Section IV: Is There More That Can We Do?
Chapter 8: Support Groups for Adolescents
Chapter 9: Multicultural Education
Appendix
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying the book! I took a long time to get through it because I highlighted and jotted down notes in the margins. There was a lot to think about and digest as I read it. Then when finished reading, I consolidated what I've written as an analysis. I don't want to go into detail as to why I think the book is so good, I'd rather you read it all at once and experience it yourself.

Eileen Kurtz

I not only have read this book, I witnessed it in person since I taught with Vic Sgambato for over 30 years. The methods and approaches he used to get a student's attention, were truly "outside the box", and worked. As you read this book, it will take you into some extraordinary situations that will show you Vic's creativity and sensitivity as he deals with young people, and adults as well. The section concerning what can be done to promote a better understanding of your fellow teachers and support staff is truly unique.

Mike Gifford

This is a wonderful book -- NOT for teachers only! I picked it up because I work with autistic kids and felt I might glean some useful information -- but what I got is an emotionally charged experience. Whether you are a teacher or not, there is LIFE in this book -- lessons for life not just for the classroom. We are all teachers....and students. Thank you, Mr. Sgambato -- I wish my kids had had you...hell, I wish I had had you -- and I feel I did in part through this wonderfully written work.

George Scrima

Evoking the experience of having a rambling conversation in the teacher’s lounge with a 30-year veteran, this title is not organized thematically, but the topics discussed build on one another. The consistent thread, and Sgambato’s main message, is mutual respect and connection with students. The examples and strategies, especially the commentary on ways to make a difference with troubled adolescents, are most salient to an upper–middle school or high school teaching environment. Because the author’s career spanned three decades, his ideas are not aligned with a single school of thought, yet they have the ring of reliability that comes from trial and error by a seasoned teaching professional. For example, Sgambato describes a whole-class icebreaker game to build trust, perhaps at the start of the year.... [T]eachers may come away with tools and resources for dealing with difficult situations. Verdict: Add this unique selection to professional development collections to serve teachers looking for general advice about cooperative classrooms and student-centered instruction and management.

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