The Competent Classroom

Written by teachers for teachers, this enlightening book describes the cross-disciplinary journey of two high school teachers trying to align curriculum, assessment, and performance standards in their classrooms. With a focus on the importance of constantly inspiring students, the authors troubleshoot issues surrounding content standards, instructional objectives, and the aims of curriculum. This user-friendly guide:

• Helps readers consider the main concepts surrounding creative teaching and ways of helping students take ownership of their learning
• Provides insight into what it takes for teachers to learn about, work with, and benefit from standards work
• Gives teachers practical advice for achieving greater success in the classroom
• Targets the connections between essential questions, content, assessments, and performance standards

This creative and informative guide will inspire any educator who wrestles with how to make classroom learning meaningful to students and who cares about academic achievement and success.

Allison Zmuda is a social studies teacher at Newtown High School in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Mary Tomaino taught English for 32 years before retiring to write and spend time with her family.

“Good books have a way of illuminating incidents so that one’s own experiences come in to sharper focus. This was certainly the case for me while reading this accessible and very important book.”
—Patricia Wasley, from the Foreword

“This book is superb. The concepts are clearly explained and the uses in practice come to vivid life. I love the student quotes and how easy it is to see what the teachers DID with the students’ ideas.”
—Connie Titone, College of New Jersey

". . . deserves to be on the short list of recommended readings for beginning teachers and veterans alike."
—Jay McTighe, Independent Consultant