Fanatically Formative

Bob Sornson, Ph.D. was a classroom teacher and school administrator for over 30 years, and is the founder of the Early Learning Foundation. His implementation of programs and strategies for early learning success, the Early Learning Success Initiative, serves as a model for districts around the country. He is committed to the belief that practically every child can have a successful early learning experience. The Early Learning Foundation is dedicated to helping schools and parents give every child an opportunity to achieve early learning success, which lays the foundation for success in life. Few things are so important to the future of our children and our society. Children who come to school without important language, literacy, numeracy, motor, and behavior skills are at a disadvantage for success in the first years of school. Children who have not developed solid skills by the end of the third grade are at a disadvantage for life. Bob is the author of numerous articles, books, and audio recordings, including Fanatically Formative (Corwin Press), Teaching and Joy (ASCD), Preventing Early Learning Failure (ASCD), Meeting the Challenge (Love and Logic Press), Creating Classrooms Where Teachers Love to Teach and Students Love to Learn (Love and Logic Press), and Number Facts and Jumping Jacks (Crystal Springs Books). Love and Logic on the Bus (Love and Logic Press), is his most recent audio training program. His assessment instruments include The Essential Skill Inventories, K-3 (Early Learning Foundation). Dr. Sornson works with schools and education organizations across the country, focusing primarily on developing comprehensive programs which support early learning success, building classroom and school culture to support the development of social and behavior skills, and offering parent training. He offers workshops and keynotes, and develops long-term training projects with selected organizations. Bob can be contacted at earlylearningfoundation.com. The below interviews are all about "Fanatically Formative." http://educationviews.org/an-interview-with-bob-sornson-when-good-people-work-within-lousy-systems/ http://educationviews.org/an-interview-with-bob-sornson-can-we-still-create-classrooms-where-teachers-love-to-teach/

Preface Publisher's Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Students at Risk 2. Responsive Instruction Versus Curriculum-Driven Instruction: Why Public Education's Race to Cover More Material and Test More Students Is Failing America's Children 3. Finding Focus 4. Essential Skills and the Whole Child 5. The Challenge of Formative Assessment and Responsive Instruction 6. The Importance of Classroom and School Culture 7. Instructional Support: Responding to Teacher Requests for Help 8. The Importance of Quality Preschool 9. The Importance of Parent Engagement 10. When Good People Work Within Lousy Systems 11. Pathfinders 12. Love of Learning 13. Critical Thinking Followed by Action 14. The Lives of Children in the Balance Appendixes References Index

"This book is a significant contribution to the early learning field-and deserves to be read, and heeded." -- David Lawrence, Jr., President "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." -- Jim Fay, Co-founder "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." -- Kathleen A. Robbins, Principal "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!" -- Janet Gottsleben, Principal "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." -- Richard L. Allington, Professor of Literacy Studies "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." -- Mark Tompkins, Superintendent 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. -- Dawn Kemp, Special Education Teacher 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. -- Carla Hannaford, Author 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. -- Glen Harris, Superintendent of Education and Debbie David, Principal 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. -- Danny Brassell, Professor Fanatically Formative is a compelling masterpiece that can save education as we know it. In a day and age where we are pushing students through standards at a rapid rate, yet have more students coming to us "at risk" than ever, something has to give! Sornson offers a model for quality teaching and early intervention that can lead us to school reform that will actually make a difference. -- Shannon Samulski, Educational Consultant and Founder Fanatically Formative is fantastically informative! Sornson's book 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, include parents, and make schools filled with joy. This book makes me believe we can! -- Derek Wheaton, Early Elementary Principal Fanatically Formative is another example of Bob Sornson's contributions to all educators who want to reach all students! The ideas are clear and compelling and if implemented, will positively affect young children everywhere! -- Kathy Donagrandi, Administrator With passionate conviction, Bob Sornson addresses a question we should all keep at the forefront of our discussions: How can we create schools that are responsive to students rather than driven by outside forces? Using an easy-to-read format of real life examples, Bob challenges us to slow down and assume personal responsibility for ensuring that our students become "good readers for life" from the earliest grades. It is my fervent hope that educators will heed Bob's call to focus on what really matters. -- Mary Howard, Author In an era of reform, Fanatically Formative teaches, reminds, and stretches what is right about education. Sornson, intricately, marries research with reality to make assessment and accountability relevant for all. His model is filled with heart and reminds us to not outsmart our common sense when it comes to educating, growing, and developing lifelong learners. -- Jennifer Jennings, Founder "Fanatically Formative is an excellent guide for both teachers and administrators who can no longer bear to see more children falling behind in the rigid "rush to cover" climate that characterizes the era of high-stakes testing. Do you want to change that climate and rediscover the craft of teaching in your school district? Sornson promises no magic tricks, but offers an inspiring model for meaningful instruction and early intervention that can actually make a difference." -- Suzanne Klein "The research in Fanatically Formative is sound and validates, to anyone who asks, why I do what I do and whether it has a best practice design. I believe meeting students at their level of understanding is the only way we will see a change in student success. Set all the standards and stipulations you want, developmentally appropriate, viewing the whole child, and offering support in all areas of development is the only recipe for success." -- Gail Kuhl, Teacher "Bob Sornson has not only successfully addressed a challenging topic in the world of educating young children, but has done so in a way that shows he understands! He understands early childhood curriculum. He understands formative assessment. He understands how to best help anyone reading this book make a difference by using a very simple, yet thorough, easily-managed process." -- Lynne Ecenbarger, Education Consultant "This is it! Teachers have known for a long time the standardized testing and content expectation train is taking our students in the wrong direction. This book is the roundhouse needed to help us turn the engine and take our students through essential skills heading straight for success." -- Catherine Hernandez, Teacher "Fanatically Formative offers not only a rich base of research into current policies and best practices, but portrays caring teachers trying to marry the two within a voluntary PLC." -- Sharon Jefferies, Retired Teacher "The best teachers are the ones who are hungry for knowledge, and are driven to make a difference for individual children. This important book merges theory and practice, and provides the reader with a template for improving everyday instruction." -- Mary Johnstone, Principal "This comprehensive book, Fanatically Formative, holds the key to assure that all students are given a rich foundation in the essential skills that will give them the foundation to be successful in school. I highly recommend Fanatically Formative to use in your district to make meaningful change. The foundation of Early Learning Success will impact the lives of students and increase student achievement in their district." -- Debra Krauss, Chief Academic Officer "Dr. Sornson has issued a challenge that no educator, parent, or legislator can ignore. It is time to adequately invest in the early education of children in order to create lifelong learners and raise them to the high levels of College and Career ready by the time they leave high school. Fanatically Formative draws from an extensive body of research to illustrate the need to flip this nation's prevailing practice of investing time and resources after a child's learning gaps are too significant. The benefits to children, schools, and society of investing in early education when the learning gaps first appear are numerous and long standing. Dr. Sorenson's book puts this transformation within reach through storytelling, applicable appropriate facts, and by presenting a clear blueprint for success. Now is the time for all to meet the challenge and reach for success." -- David Rabbideau, Director of Academic Accountability