This book is a practical guide for principals and other school leaders to use as they work to improve literacy instruction in order to increase student achievement. It provides school leaders with an understanding of literacy instruction in the context of the commonly used balanced literacy framework; explores the role of the principal in the improvement process, a role characterized by shared leadership; and then guides school leaders through the process of developing effective school teams, creating a literacy plan, supporting classroom instruction, and implementing the literacy plan.
Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Setting the Stage Defining Literacy A Brief, Recent History of Literacy Instruction The Principal's Role: Instructional Leader Summary 2. Foundations of Balanced Literacy Staring With an Understanding of Literacy Instruction Stages of Literacy Development Components of Balanced Literacy The Balanced Literacy Diet Summary 3. Meeting the Needs of All Students Understanding Student Needs Differentiated Instruction Summary 4. Instructional Leadership in Action Identifying a Need for Change Establishing a Set of Literacy Core Values Summary 5. School Improvement: The Literacy Plan Developing a Literacy Plan Planning for Literacy Instruction Summary 6. Working Together: Promoting Home/School/Community Partnerships Understanding the School Community Analyzing the Data Summary 7. Sharing Leadership Using a Team Approach Teachers Learning From Teachers Summary 8. Building Effective Teams Creating Teams Teams Need a Purpose Collaborative Team Intervention Summary 9. Supporting Classroom Instruction Professional Development Walking-About-the-School Strategy Staff Supervision Summary 10. Resolving Time Issues Give Up Some Time, You Get Some Time The Balanced School Day Summary Afterword: Are You Up to the Challenge? Must Reads Glossary References Index
"This series of publications addresses some of the most important improvement challenges facing school leaders today. The authors of the series bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges. The series should be required reading for all school leaders." -- Ken Leithwood, Professor "At last, a series of outstanding books by practicing administrators, for practicing principals. Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere lists of bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer-intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship. Getting down from the ivory tower and stepping out of the principal's office, these authors offer some of the most important and useful books about leadership that principals can buy." -- Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education "This series of little volumes offers a plethora of rich ideas ranging from practice and specific methods right down to easy-to-use worksheets. It provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and also for seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity." -- Roland S. Barth, Former Teacher and Principal "This is a great series that allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!" -- Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
