Classroom management and differentiated instruction continue to emerge as two of teachers’ greatest challenges, and while an abundance of books offer advice, systems, techniques, and examples, teachers still ask for a practical, down-to-earth, short guide to help them create the learning environment they want and to accommodate all of their students’ needs.

The names of teachers who discussed the use of reflective logs are used with permission, as are their comments. All of the classroom examples are based on actual classroom experiences: some are composites, some are reports about teachers with whom I am no longer in contact, and some are descriptions of my personal experiences. For those examples, I have used pseudonyms. In addition, all student...

I am grateful to the following people, all of whom played essential roles in the creation of this book:

Whether you want to refine your classroom management, learn to differentiate instruction, or improve some other aspect of your teaching, you’ll find that using a reflective log, or journal, will facilitate your efforts. A well-kept log accomplishes three purposes: it records what happened in your classroom, it provides the opportunity to analyze what happened, and it reminds you of actions...

Who can use this book? Any teacher who wants to improve the tenor of the classroom. Whether you teach in a school where student behavior is a constant challenge or in one where peace and harmony prevail, this book will help you create and sustain the learning climate you want. Whether you are a newcomer to the profession who needs to know how to establish order in your first year of...

Effective instruction requires a teacher to accommodate a myriad of learning styles, interests, interferences, and abilities while at the same time maintaining high expectations and paving the way for every student’s success. Knowing how to do that is the subject of this section. What follows is based on three assumptions:

Billie Birnie has been teaching writing most of her life, first to students in elementary, middle, and senior high schools, and in recent years, to prospective and experienced teachers.

Wrinkles in Teaching: A Series of Guidebooks for Teachers