Publications
Jeffrey is an internationally known author of a variety of publications and articles geared toward educators, administrators, and even parents of students. He articulates missions, plans, and strategies for schools to be inclusive for all students. Below are Jeffrey’s books as well as other published writing.
Books
Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL
Jeffrey Benson draws from his 40-plus years of experience as a teacher and an administrator to provide explicit, step-by-step guidance on how to incorporate social and emotional learning (SEL) into K–12 lesson planning—without imposing a separate SEL curriculum.
Teaching the Whole Teen: Everyday Practices That Promote Success and Resilience in School and Life
Developing independence and shared responsibility. Collaborating and communicating effectively. Establishing valuable work habits. Harnessing emotions. Finding motivation. We all want teens to acquire these vital skills and engage meaningfully in academics.
Hanging in: STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING THE STUDENTS WHO CHALLENGE US MOST
Instead of providing yet another recipe or formula for how to teach challenging students, this book takes the more realistic path of helping you develop a mindset that honors the individuality of each student and his or her own best way forward. Veteran educator Jeffrey Benson draws from real-life scenarios to explain how to create a patient and supportive environment that helps students to learn.
10 STEPS TO MANAGING CHANGE IN SCHOOLS: HOW DO WE
As change initiatives come and go, you can handle each one with this guide’s 10-step management plan. ASCD author and veteran educator Jeffrey Benson provides you with a change model that can be successfully adapted to almost all program initiatives.
Articles
- The Best Time of Year
Inspiration for coming back to work after the winter break - Getting a Foothold on Differentiated Instruction
Important steps for schools to take in order to embed differentiated instruction into their cultures - Designing Advisory for Resiliency
Written with Rachel Poliner, an exploration of how the lessons of resiliency apply to students and school programs - 100 Repetitions
The importance of supporting challenging students through their uneven growth and learning - Mathematics Through The Looking Glass
What it might look like if math class was the place to have opinions, make hypotheses, and design projects - I Love To Watch Tucker When He Is Learning
Why I still love being in schools, despite all the ways it could be so much better - Four Ways To Help Students From Giving Up Before They Even Begin
The nuts-and-bolts of giving directions so that students are most likely to find their entry into the task - Don’t Be Bored…Or Boring
I ask teachers to challenge themselves when their lesson plans compel them to say, “This is the boring part.” This is an edited version of the original article that appears on my blog. - Creating Our Most Compliant Generation of Workers Yet
A satirical look at how schools could function if we just wished our teachers and students would do what they were told to do, This is an edited version “Schools that Work and Work Don’t Work”: found on my blog - Four Frames For Principals
I summarize four approaches that principals can take to manage their work and build community - Finding Common Ground
I look back at my very first full-time teaching job, tracking what has and hasn’t changed in the relationships between special education teachers and the regular education staff they work with. - With Structures, Schools Can Help Save Students’ Lives
Schools as systems of care can build in protocols, structures, and routines that create meaningful adult-student relationships, and allow students to know the various ways their schools can be supports in times of individual crises.
- Radical Empathy
How we can view almost every person in the school as our ally for a better future - Principals: Intentions and Questions At Staff Meetings
Advice on how to navigate the waters of staff reactions–both supportive and critical–when a school leader proposes a course of action - A Process for Responding to Your Most Challenging Students
How teams of teachers can work together to identify strengths and share strategies - Why Atheist Love the Common Core
An argument that hangs between satire, blasphemy and concern - No Student is Unreachable
A framework for finding traction with students who may only seem to be totally shut down - That’s Not Mainstreaming!
A quick look back at the roots of special education and a list of recommendations to do our work better. This also appears on my blog with its original title, “Be Special, Educator!” - How Not To Be A Mountain Troll
Some advice to allow our most traumatized and wary students pathways to trust their teachers - What does “personalized learning” mean, & what can it look like in the classroom?
This post first appeared in Larry Ferlazzo’s Education Week Teacher column, as part of a series of responses to the concept of personalized learning. - The Power of Positive Regard
Originally titled “Praising and Loving Students,’ this ASCD on-line article asks all of us to recognize and support every student as a member of the community for doing no more than crossing the threshold into the school and the classroom - Turning Fixed Mindset into Growth Mindset
A quick overview of Carol Dweck’s work, all pointing towards very specific strategies for giving students supportive and motivating feedback - When Teacher Self-Care Is Not Enough
We need better structures to sustain teachers who work with students with mental illnesses. - The overabundance of rules in middle and high schools creates conflict
This article provides a path out of that problem. - I was lucky and determined to keep teaching as a school leader and instructional coach
This article explains why that matters.
Work with Jeffrey Benson
Want to learn more about how Jeffrey can support your school or organization? Contact Jeffrey directly to learn more about customized workshops and other services.