Leading a team means more than running meetings. It's leading collaborative learning for continuous improvement. In this long-awaited follow-up to her best-selling book, The Skillful Team Leader, acclaimed educator Elisa MacDonald presents nearly 150 effective moves, organized by intention, for any educator who leads a team.
Part 1: Foundations Chapter 1: Skillful and Intentional Leadership Chapter 2: Don't Settle for High-Functioning Teams Chapter 3: The Real Work of Collaborative Inquiry Part 2: Essential Understandings Chapter 4: The Psychology of Groups Chapter 5: Five Must-knows About Adult Learners Chapter 6: The Upsides (and Downsides) of Being a Peer Leader Part 3: Ten Primary Intentions with Moves Primary Intention #1: Optimize Learning Conditions: Time, Space and Accommodations Primary Intention #2: Establish Expectations and Responsibilities: Norms and Roles Primary Intention #3: Nurture Group Culture: Community and Trust Primary Intention #4: Design and Plan Learning: Work Plans, Agendas and Protocols Primary Intention #5: Engage and Interact: Participation, Conflict-Resolution and Decision-Making. Primary Intention #6: Set Purpose and Direction: Priorities, Inquiry Questions and Goals. Primary Intention #7: Use Data to Advance Learning: Assessments and Data Talk Primary Intention #8: Cultivate Diverse Perspectives in Problem Solving: Assumptions and Bias Primary Intention #9: Implement New Learning: Peer Observations, Resistance and Change. Primary Intention #10: Assess: Feedback, Reflection and Growth for Teams and Leaders.
"It's refreshing to read a book that discusses high functioning teams within the context of moving the needle on student learning. No longer do we have the luxury of defining success based on whether teams follow norms, stay on task, and get work done. Rather, this book frames how we can be intentional about impacting student learning, teacher practice, and school culture and climate through skillful team collaboration. " -- Diane Sweeney, Founder and Lead Consultant "The beauty of this book rests in its authenticity. MacDonald draws from research and extensive experience to identify 10 essential goals for skillful team leaders and specifies explicit moves and targeted strategies for realization of each. The result is an engaging, user-friendly, encyclopedia of wisdom and hands-on practices. All team leaders who desire to produce results that matter will treasure this book." -- Jackie Walsh, Author and Independent Consultant "This comprehensive book is rich with strategies for district, school and teacher teams ready to make decisions and improvements that will positively affect students' success. Whether you are new to leading teams or a veteran, this is sure to be your go-to resource to take on the challenging work of leading collaborative learning. The stories and examples are universally relatable and the color coded sections make it a very accessible read. This book is sure to leave you feeling empowered and recharged with hope and possibility." -- Dr. Debbie Zacarian, Consultant and Author
