Fanatically Formative
Successful Learning During the Crucial K–3 Years
- Bob Sornson - Early Learning Foundation
Administration & Leadership | Elementary Teaching Methods | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles
'I could not put this book down. The captivating message reignited my passion for quality and joyful teaching. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter will serve as springboards for stimulating discourse.' - Kathleen A. Robbins, Principal MacGowan School, Redford, MIT
Transform your K-3 classrooms into effective centers of learning! Helping children experience early learning success and acquire essential skills by third grade is a crucial part of any school reform effort. Yet, many teachers and children are overwhelmed by the ineffective curriculum-driven education system and the 'rush to cover' climate in schools. Fanatically Formative shows how you can rediscover the joy of teaching and help children fall in love with learning again. This book traces the journey of a teacher as she works through the challenges of formative assessment and responsive instruction to discover the practices that will help her students succeed. K-3 teachers, principals, and district administrators will learn how to:
Set clear, attainable learning outcomes
Make teaching responsive to the whole child
Monitor student progress toward essential skills
Build a truly positive classroom and school culture
Collaborate to help young children succeed
With surveys, lists of essential skills, study questions for PLC groups, and highlighted summaries of key points Fanatically Formative offers a clear and powerful vision for your early learning success initiative along with the action steps to achieve your goals.
“This book is a significant contribution to the early learning field—and deserves to be read, and heeded.”
“Bob Sornson makes it incredibly clear. Early learning success for our children is possible. Early learning success for our children is an essential ingredient for meaningful school reform and for the success of our nation.”
“I could not put this book down. The message was captivating and reignited my passion for quality and joyful teaching. I want to share this book with my colleagues as a part of a professional learning community. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter will serve as springboards for stimulating discourse. The authors words will give our learning community the courage to continue to do what is best for the kids despite the pressures of high stakes testing.”
“I smiled, I laughed, I stayed up late reading, and then my head was buzzing with excitement. Fanatically Formative turns best practice into a clear vision for action. Set clear attainable learning outcomes, teach responsively, monitor progress toward the essential skills, build a truly positive classroom and school culture, collaborate to help young children succeed, including parents, and make schools filled with joy. Sornson makes me believe we can!”
“This book is a joy to read! Positive and practical are the two best words to describe it. Every early childhood educator would benefit from reading Fanatically Formative if only for the common sense offered for teaching in complex times.”
“This is the missing link we’ve been looking for. Bob Sornson defines how we can transform our instruction to meet the needs of all children—one child at a time.“
Fanatically Formative describes all the pieces that must come together to give young children the quality learning experience with a commonsense approach. It is an engaging, thought-provoking, modern masterpiece! The ideas presented are essential to the success of school reform enabling every child the chance at becoming a lifelong learner.
Educators know that the curriculum driven instruction mandated today in our schools does not work for a very high percentage of students. How do we turn education around to be responsive to how students learn and assure student success and life-long learners who will become the leaders of tomorrow? Bob Sornson has elegantly put forth an answer that is at once both simple and profound, and takes the reader through the steps that assure every student and educator will succeed. Bob's compelling book, Fanatically Formative, is a must for all educators, especially those working with early learners. I consider it vastly important to the future of education and the success of our nation and the world to solve the multitude challenges we face today.
Fanatically Formative describes the process that closely parallels the remarkable transformations that we experienced at Simpson Central School upon implementation of the Early Learning Success Initiatives (e.g. use of essential skills inventories, instructional match time in literacy and numeracy, motor skills instruction, and development of a positive school culture). This book is the roadmap that will lead to success for young learners.
This may be the education book of the decade. Rarely does an academic work grip the reader so powerfully. Educators will come away inspired and appalled. It is my hope that Sornson’s book prompts leaders in education to prioritize authentic early learning success policies that can help more children become motivated learners for life.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Appendix G. Reflection on Classroom Culture
Appendix H. Reflection on School Culture
Appendix I. Reflection on Home-School Connections
Appendix J. Reflection on the Early Learning Success Initiative in Our School
Appendix K. Sample District Plan for Early Learning Success
Appendix O. Building Essential Skills: Parent Support Request
