Applying a skill or concept learned in isolation to a higher-order thinking problem can elude students who are at risk for school failure. They can complete a page of computation problems in math, but fail to connect those skills to daily challenges and work problems. They can read a chapter in the science book, define key vocabulary, and answer…

"Working Smarter, Not Harder: Reaching the Tough to Teach" is the topic of an exclusive four-part series by the author for the "Kappa Delta Pi Record." Part I, Prior Knowledge and Concept Development, appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of the "Record." This article is the second of the four-part series. It discusses content integration and how to…

"Working Smarter, Not Harder: Reaching the Tough to Teach" is the topic of an exclusive four-part series by the author for the "Kappa Delta Pi Record." Part I, Prior Knowledge and Concept Development, appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of the "Record". Part II, Content Integration, appeared in the Winter 2008 issue. This article is the third of the…

"Working Smarter, Not Harder: Reaching the Tough to Teach" is the topic of an exclusive four-part series by Sylvia Rockwell for the "Kappa Delta Pi Record." Part I describes the characteristics of students at risk of school failure, provides an overview of research-based principles found to be effective with all students and essential for students…

Teachers are in uniquely powerful positions to positively impact youths who are at risk for school failure. Youths who overcame serious risk factors often report that a teacher, coach, or other adult provided a mentoring relationship that sustained them. Developing classroom management and academic instruction routines that meet the needs of all…