Overview

Any teacher or administrator who has had a relatively long tenure in one school district has seen district-level initiatives come and then go. But there are no-budget, high-impact initiatives that can be undertaken every day at the classroom level, and the building of teacher-student and student-student relationships is a prime example. Ron Nash has met and worked with many teachers over the years, but the best ones pay attention to the little things that make positive impacts on the culture of the classroom, or as he calls them, “big little things.” Attending to these things on a regular basis can lift spirits, trigger a smile, and create a climate where students want to engage in their own learning. But monkey wrenches come in all sizes, and when they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, even little things that disrupt the classroom routine become “big little things” because of their negative impact on the learning process. In this book, Nash doesn’t deal with big-ticket or big-budget items, but rather with “big little things” that make a difference one way or another, by their use or by their absence. Every one of the concepts or ideas in these 40 chapters can be implemented and maintained at the classroom level. Each of them can be used and perfected by teachers to build better classrooms, regardless of grade level or subject area. Filled with testimonials from real teachers, animated life examples from Nash’s own experience, and reflection questions for each strategy, this book will help every teacher identify and skillfully address those “big little things” for building a better classroom.

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9781943920792

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Reviews

"Big Little Things is a must read for all teachers. Whether this is your first or 31st year of teaching, you will learn many things to enhance your teaching practices. This book brings to light how making a few changes in how we interact with students and staff can create an environment that enhances a learning community and student academic growth. Each chapter has a real story of what - and what not - to do to make positive impacts in the classroom. Big Little Things made me reflect on what I was doing in the classroom. Now I am much more intentional and purposeful in what I say, how I say it, and the manner I communicate with others. Big Little Things is the field guide for what teaching needs to be! Mary Johnson, Math Specialist Gayle Middle School, Stafford County, VA Big Little Things: 40 Tools for Building a Better Classroom is a must have resource for teachers at any and every point in their careers. In his book, Mr. Nash reminds us all that it is often the little things we do that make the biggest impact in our classrooms. Often, we teachers forget the power these ""little"" things have - routines, expectations, movement, conversations, interactivity, etc. As a 10th year teacher, this book was just the refresher I needed to inspire positive change in my practice. What I loved most about this book is that not only does Mr. Nash share these tools, strategies, and research to support them (as well as some great anecdotes), but he includes ways to immediately implement them into our daily classroom routines giving us the tools AND plans to help us be better teachers and make our classrooms a place where students are excited to learn. I am excited to go into the new year equipped with these tools from Mr. Nash's book and looking forward to the positive changes I know it will have on my craft, my classroom, and ultimately my students. Theresa Doster, 8th Grade Spanish Teacher Edward Hand MS, Lancaster, PA Truly a must read for both new and veteran educators. We need to shift our education system from one that teaches content to one that teaches children. This book is full of practical ways to do just that. Educators will feel empowered to raise their game. Jennifer Perilla, Principal Tyler Elementary School, Gainesville, VA Big Little Things details clear tools/processes that enable teachers to smoothly shift their instructional practices from a teacher centered approach to one that is student centered. Ron Nash is a masterful story-teller/teacher who clearly describes how students thrive in a classroom designed around student learning vs. a classroom centered on the teacher teaching. Big Little Things is also an excellent resource for school and district leaders because the processes are outlined so well it will enable leaders to explicitly pin-point areas to provide support as teachers make this foundational transition to engaging students in deeper learning experiences. Dr. Rebecca Eastwood, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Roanoke County Schools, Roanoke, VA"

Big Little Things is a must read for all teachers. Whether this is your first or 31st year of teaching, you will learn many things to enhance your teaching practices. This book brings to light how making a few changes in how we interact with students and staff can create an environment that enhances a learning community and student academic growth. Each chapter has a real story of what - and what not - to do to make positive impacts in the classroom. Big Little Things made me reflect on what I was doing in the classroom. Now I am much more intentional and purposeful in what I say, how I say it, and the manner I communicate with others. Big Little Things is the field guide for what teaching needs to be! Mary Johnson, Math Specialist Gayle Middle School, Stafford County, VA Big Little Things: 40 Tools for Building a Better Classroom is a must have resource for teachers at any and every point in their careers. In his book, Mr. Nash reminds us all that it is often the little things we do that make the biggest impact in our classrooms. Often, we teachers forget the power these little things have - routines, expectations, movement, conversations, interactivity, etc. As a 10th year teacher, this book was just the refresher I needed to inspire positive change in my practice. What I loved most about this book is that not only does Mr. Nash share these tools, strategies, and research to support them (as well as some great anecdotes), but he includes ways to immediately implement them into our daily classroom routines giving us the tools AND plans to help us be better teachers and make our classrooms a place where students are excited to learn. I am excited to go into the new year equipped with these tools from Mr. Nash's book and looking forward to the positive changes I know it will have on my craft, my classroom, and ultimately my students. Theresa Doster, 8th Grade Spanish Teacher Edward Hand MS, Lancaster, PA Truly a must read for both new and veteran educators. We need to shift our education system from one that teaches content to one that teaches children. This book is full of practical ways to do just that. Educators will feel empowered to raise their game. Jennifer Perilla, Principal Tyler Elementary School, Gainesville, VA Big Little Things details clear tools/processes that enable teachers to smoothly shift their instructional practices from a teacher centered approach to one that is student centered. Ron Nash is a masterful story-teller/teacher who clearly describes how students thrive in a classroom designed around student learning vs. a classroom centered on the teacher teaching. Big Little Things is also an excellent resource for school and district leaders because the processes are outlined so well it will enable leaders to explicitly pin-point areas to provide support as teachers make this foundational transition to engaging students in deeper learning experiences. Dr. Rebecca Eastwood, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Roanoke County Schools, Roanoke, VA

Author Information

Ron Nash is a graduate of Clarion State College, now Clarion University, in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in History. As a social studies teacher, Nash taught grades 7 through 12 in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He served as Middle School Social Studies Coordinator for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools from 1994 to 1998, when he moved to Organizational Development for the same district. Retiring in 2007, Nash formed Ron Nash and Associates, Inc., a company dedicated to continuous improvement in schools and classrooms. Since 1994, Nash has presented at ASCD, Learning Forward, Eric Jensen's Learning Brain Expo, and the NBPTS Conference. He has presented at dozens of state and regional conferences over the past 23 years. Nash is the author of several books, including two bestsellers, The Active Classroom and From Seatwork to Feetwork, both in second editions. Other titles include The Power of We, And What About You?, In Praise of Foibles, The Active Teacher, The Active Classroom Field Book, The Active Workshop, The Active Mentor, Harness the Power of Reflection, Shake-Up Call, and Collaborative School Leadership, with Kathy Hwang. Ron lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his wife Candy and their two cats, Callie and Gracie.

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