Small Changes, Big Impact

“What is student success? In this powerful and practical book, Small Changes, Big Impact, Anthony Reibel and Matt Thede identify student success, not in the traditional sense of academic achievement, but as student self-efficacy and agency. They identify ten small changes schools can make to impact culture, learning, and relationships in order to foster self-efficacy and agency. Ideally, schools would implement all ten of these changes over a period of time, but what makes this book so valuable is that schools could choose to implement only one or two of these changes and still see very positive results. This book is a must-read for teachers and administrators who want to prepare students to be reflective, independent, lifelong learners so they are successful in whatever they choose to do in school and beyond.”

“Small Changes, Big Impact is one of the few books that lives up to its title. Authors Anthony Reibel and Matt Thede assert that the smallest changes to already-existing practices and processes can bring about monumental improvements to culture, learning, and relationships. They detail ten ways teachers can put students at the center of the educational experience. By redefining student success around efficacy, this book offers a substantive examination of how student agency can thrive in any classroom.”

“Small Changes, Big Impact details ten changes educators can implement to create significant school improvement. Whether it is embracing evidence-based grading practices or creating a student-centered mission and culture, this book helps schools take immediate action to increase student efficacy. The authors detail practical strategies for educators to reach organizational goals by increasing student voice and agency.”

“In Small Changes, Big Impact, Anthony Reibel and Matt Thede have crafted a thorough, highly defensible, and broadly applicable prescription for transformative change in schools. This is a compelling, well-researched guide grounded in high-quality practices employed at the authors’ respective schools. At the core of their work is the shifting of our collective lens to a redefined definition of success focused on student efficacy, positive relationships, growth-based assessment and, ultimately, transferability of skills to lifelong learning. Progressive thinkers in education have been endorsing these concepts for years, and my enthusiasm for this book stems from so much important information and practical advice, articulated so well, in so few pages. I can’t wait to get this ‘buffet of small changes with a big impact’ into the hands of my students.”