Tools for Teaching
Study Group Activity Guide

“Most of our 35 schools are heavily engaged in the Tools for Teaching study groups. These groups involve both teachers and administrators! I wish you could hear the incredible conversations that go on. Everyone here loves the book.”

Cydelle Quinn, Professional Development Coordinator
Sarasota, FL

Now Two Versions: Tools for Teaching Second Edition is here – and a new Study Group Activity Guide is available to reflect the changes! Click here for First Edition Study Guide Click here for Second Edition Study Guide Please Download the correct Study Group Activity Guide for your edition of Tools for Teaching.

What is the Study Group Activity Guide?

The Study Group Activity Guide is a free, downloadable document designed for small "Study Groups" of teachers to meet regularly and put the skills detailed in Tools for Teaching into practice. With most schools facing less time and budget for full professional days we are hoping the Study Group Activity Guide will be an inexpensive answer to staff development.

Plus, Tools for Teaching is packed with specifics. If you are to master Tools for Teaching, you will need to study it chapter by chapter. The purpose of our Study Group Activity Guide is to provide the structure for making this study as productive as possible.

A Study Group can help you perfect the skills of classroom management prior to implementation. With adequate structure, a brief after school meeting can become a significant learning experience. Hopefully, working with colleagues will become a permanent part of your school culture. The Study Group Activity Guide structures learning activities that can be used indefinitely as you perfect your management skills. If you and a handful of colleagues work together on a weekly basis after you have Tools for Teaching under your belt, you will be able to solve classroom management dilemmas as they arise.

What's in it and how do we use it?

The Tools for Teaching Study Group Activity Guide provides structure for 12 Study Group meetings lasting 45 minutes each, plus an organizational meeting to help you get started. Study Groups should consist of 3-8 teachers that rotate leadership responsibility from meeting to meeting.

Each of the 12 meetings are structured around the following elements:

• Focus questions
• Study Group activities
• Performance checklist

The 12 meeting topics focus on the following skill areas:

1. Working the Crowd and Room Arrangement (Chapters 1-4)
2. Praise, Prompt and Leave (Chapters 5, 6)
3. Visual Instructional Plans (Chapter 7)
4. Say, See, Do Teaching (Chapters 8-10)
5. Rules Routines and Standards (Chapters 11, 12)
6. Understanding Brat Behavior (Chapter 13); (Chapters 13, 15 Second Edtion)
7. Calm is Strength (Chapters 14, 15); Calm and Consistency (Chapter 14 Second Edition)
8. The Body Language of Meaning Business (Chapters 16, 17)
9. Eliminating Backtalk (Chapters18, 19)
10. Responsibility Training (Chapter 20, 21)
11. Omission Training and Preferred Activity Time (Chapters 22, 23)
12. Dealing with Typical Classroom Crises (Chapters 24, 25)

Using the Study Group Activity Guide with the Video Toolbox

The 12 Study Group meetings listed above seamlessly integrate with the 12 Video Sessions inside the Tools for Teaching Video Toolbox. Combine your 45 minute Study Group meetings with the Video Sessions to create 75 minute meetings that include video and activities. It's all laid out for you in the Video Handbook for easy implementation and use. Click here for a breakdown of how they work together!