In this book Bill Hanlon provides examples and recommends highly effective and practical instructional and assessment strategies that classroom teachers can immediately implement and that school administrators can readily observe. These high yield strategies build on accepted practices and directly address the needs of struggling students or students living in poverty. The common sense approach assists classroom teachers in organizing their instruction by connecting preparation and instruction to student notes, homework, test preparation, and assessments so students study more effectively and efficiently resulting in increased student performance. Hanlon also emphasizes the importance of student-teacher relationships and the implementing a success-on-success model.

Math unlike other subjects -- Belief systems and student achievement -- Protocols and expectations -- Preparation affects everything -- Instruction really matters -- Writing it down -- Making homework worthwhile -- Test prep, light at the end of the tunnel -- The test, where the rubber hits the road -- Cultivating parent and community support -- Teacher evaluations -- Closing summing it up.