Microstrategy Magic: Confronting Classroom Challenges While Saving Time and Energy

Educators and instructional leaders in today’s schools are under tremendous pressure and time constraints. They have high stakes requirements to show performance achievement of students in their schools and classrooms. The relentless conflict they face is the task of managing the constant disruptions and challenges that exist in a demanding, answer-now world. We must have the tools to respond to these in an efficient and effective manner, so that we can get back to our most important work: helping students learn and grow into successful young adults. Included in this text are quick references for the busy educator to utilize. They are tools developed over decades by educators who recognize the urgency of their work and how they must not be deflected by aggravations of time consuming, emotionally exhausting challenges. Accompanying anecdotal evidence are time tested and research-based practices. If you have ever experienced the challenges of costly arguments, political motives, or minutiae that steer you away, pick up this book for an account of how to favorably alter this fast and effectively!

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Foreword Preface Introduction Chapter 1. Introduction/The Quick Chat Intervention Chapter 2. There’s More Power in Persuasion than Push Chapter 3. The 1-Liners that Disarm any Parent, Student, or Others in Difficult Situations Chapter 4. Applying the Rule of 9s to Approach every Challenge with Success Chapter 5. Taking on Test Anxiety with 3 Simple, Effective Strategies Chapter 6. The Smartest Educators Steal Chapter 7. The Importance of the 80/20 Principal of Management Chapter 8. Getting Your School/Classroom to Perform Its Best in “Flow” Chapter 9. How I Know if It’s All Working or Not, and What to Do about It Chapter 10. Utilizing Non-Faculty Adults to Improve Your School Culture Appendix A Appendix B Bibliography About the Author

About the Author :
Michael S. Gaskell, Ed. D. is a veteran principal who has written numerous articles about practical solutions to challenges and problems in education. Dr. Gaskell presents at conferences, works to mentor new administrators, and has a refreshing approach to the inevitable challenges’ educators encounter every day.

Review :
It takes a special kind of person to work with middle schoolers (the word crazy comes to mind!), let alone lead a school of them. Dr. Gaskell is that kind of person, and his passion for this age group rings clear in his original, insightful, and deeply helpful advice and anecdotes. This book is a must-read for anyone in K-12 who wants to be more effective and memorable. In these pages, you'll find the kind of practices that can be applied minutes after you read about them. Free of jargon and over-theorizing, Gaskell's work can give any educator valuable advice and ideas. This book is a must read for any educator who seeks to balance the daily challenges of their job in order to focus on what is most important – the students! Dr. Gaskell has done an exceptional job of bringing together informative, practical,and tested strategies that will be highly useful for today’s professionals. A much needed addition to an educator’s bookshelf! The school workplace is a stressful, demanding environment that requires strong leadership. Mike Gaskell is a very knowledgeable principal who brings a unique blend of middle school experience and a passion for excellence. He sees the big picture while attending to the little things that allow teachers to grow and a school to flourish. Mike focuses on the child as a learner where their social, emotional, and cognitive needs are paramount. His book will be a “must read” for those who want to make a positive difference in the classroom and school.