Katherine Perez, a professor of education at Saint Mary’s College of California, has over three decades of teaching experience from the preschool level through graduate school. A frequent presenter and enthusiastic “teacher cheerleader,” she offers guidance to both novice and experienced educators. Perez is an international educational consultant, author, and motivational speaker, specializing in instructional strategies and creative approaches to literacy and professional development. She integrates state-of-the-art methods and research with passion and practical insights from her own classroom experiences.Perez has taught in many diverse environments, including in Richmond and Oakland, as a general educator, special educator, reading specialist, and curriculum and staff development coordinator. In order to “keep it real,” she balances her college courses and her work as a coordinator for the California Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program by serving as a literacy coach in a San Francisco Bay Area middle school, engaging even the most reluctant learners with brain-friendly techniques.Perez works with teachers, administrators and parents throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Australia. For the past three years, she has conducted extensive training in Singapore and Hong Kong for the Ministry of Education.

• PrefaceAbout the Author1. Brain-Based Literacy Learning - Pieces of the PuzzleThe Research ConnectionReading Comprehension and the BrainPersonal ConnectionsReflect to ConnectSlow Down to Go FasterDifferent Ways of Knowing - Different Ways of Showing2. Activate to Educate!Why Activate?Prereading StrategiesAnticipation Guide/Prediction GuidePeople BingoWindowpaneGraphic OrganizersK-W-LPreview PuzzlesSticky-Note Discussion/Graffiti BoardStory ImpressionsWord SplashBacktrackLearning LineupVoting With Your FeetPreview PairsSort and ReportPostcard Connections3. What Does a Brain-Compatible Classroom Look Like?Tips for Developing a Brain-Compatible ClassroomContent and Process ("Gum" and "Chew")State ChangesManagement TipsGrouping and Floor PlansLearning CentersSample CentersCreating Independent LearnersStrategies for Flexible GroupingManaging for Grouping AccountabilityPlanning for GroupingMix-Mingle-SwapCarousel CruisingWalk and Talk TourNewscast ReportingClock BuddiesGrouping "Roundup"4. Literacy is NOT a Spectator Sport!Note Taking/ Note MakingSummary StrategiesPicture This: Stretch to SketchRhyme TimeSlogansComparisonQuestioning StrategiesTranslationAlliterationSpeculationApplicationsReflection5. Differentiate to Motivate!Essential Elements of DifferentiationWhat Is This Thing Called Differentiation?Pieces of the PuzzleManaging Your Differentiated ClassroomTen Things to Try Next Week (To Encourage Independence and Differentiate Instruction)Lesson Planning for ActionProfessor of the Week"Professor for the Week"Active Participation StrategiesGive One/ Get OneSave the Last Word for Me!Cubing6. Into, Through, and Beyond BoostersDeveloping an Instructional Framework"Into" Strategies"Through" StrategiesCoding Strategy"Beyond" StrategiesFlip Book"Two Facts and a Fib"Question FanCelebrate a BookFishbone StrategyQuestion "Connections"ConclusionReferencesIndex

"This is a fabulous book! Hundreds of activities that can be implemented at no cost. Buy it, use it, and allow the genius of Kathy Perez to rub off on you."