"Alma Harris is a world leading writer on the thinking and practice of distributed leadership. This is undoubtedly the best book that she or anyone has yet written on the subject." -Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education Boston College "Alma Harris captures the essential challenges facing today's school and district leaders and summarizes, in precise and accessible language, important research-based lessons for practice. Her focus on building authentic relationships among all staff is both practical and a welcome antidote to an excessive focus on testing and standardization." -Karen Seashore, Professor University of Minnesota The benefits of distributed leadership are yours with this research-based change process. Distributed leadership-engaging the many rather than the few in school improvement-has long been a promising theory. But it must be implemented effectively before educators and students can reap the rewards, including improved learner outcomes and stronger organizational performance. Distributed Leadership Matters offers pragmatic approaches for realizing these benefits. First, Alma Harris shows why harnessing educators' collective expertise is an improvement strategy worth adopting. Then she details the collaborative processes that make it happen. Insights include: How to translate the research on distributed leadership into tangible results for your school Methods for building the social capital necessary for sustainable institutional change How to distribute leadership widely and wisely through professional collaboration The old-fashioned "top-down" leadership style no longer works for today's schools. Distributed Leadership Matters is a bold step into the future.
Part of a groundbreaking 7-book series, co-developed by Learning Forward and Corwin, this book closes the "knowing-doing" gap by guiding educational leaders through the process for implementing the Learning Forward Standard for Professional Learning: Learning Communities. Tackling the Learning Communities standard, it provides: Original essays written by leading experts in the field to promote deeper understandings of the meaning of the Learning Communities standard An array of templates, tools, and protocols to help you design and delivery quality professional learning in your own district or school Case studies of districts "getting it right" and educators who have realized the promise of effective professional learning.
Gretchen Bernabei and Judi Reimer present 95 craft lessons based on real student essays. The premise of the book is that "kids learn from each other faster and more deeply than they learn from us." These real tests are an "instructional gold mine" for modeling narrative, argument, and analytical writing techniques. These are the main kinds of writing taught, tested, and even outlined in the Common Core Standards. An innovative, fun, and easy-to-use resource for teachers looking to improve their writing instruction.
Connect Common Core, inquiry, and technology! While technology ushers in exciting and innovative educational opportunities, finding best practices for its complete integration remains a challenge. Christopher Moersch, founder of the internationally recognized and research-based LoTi Framework, provides a concrete tool for implementing digital age best practices. With discussions on how to promote networked collaboration, bolster purposeful inquiry, and anchor student decision-making and learning with technology tools and resources, Moersch uses research-based instructional strategies to deliver: A concrete road map for a smooth digital transition into new Common Core Standards Lesson plans, benchmarks, and instructional units to help bridge the link between 21st century skills, Common Core Standards, and student achievement Practical tips for classroom, building, and district implementation of digital age best practices Tools and guidance for successful PLCs Make the critical connection between effective implementation of 21st century skills/themes and student academic achievement part of your school's pedagogy! "When schools need to equip students with the skills to facilitate creativity, here is the blueprint. This carefully crafted advice has been road-tested and it works." -Neil MacNeill, Principal Ellenbrook Independent Primary School, Ellenbrook, WA
So much is expected to prepare today's students for success-academic achievement, career and college readiness, emotional and social competency, just to name a few. At least one in 5 children in the United States has some mental disorder, but few schools have the infrastucture in place to help these children. School counselors can make an enormous positive difference in children's lives. Yet, school counseling programs are in crisis because of undefined roles, skyrocketing student-counselor ratios, and decreasing budgets. Leaders and counselors must move away from outdated roles and embrace school counseling programs that ensure readiness for ALL students. In a succinct question and answer format, the authors provide affordable solutions to the increasingly complex systemic issues facing K-12 schools, students, and school counseling programs.
Collaboration between professionals of all generations is an essential factor in school success. What do Boomers need from younger generations? What do GenXers and Millennials have to offer Boomers? Each generation wants to contribute and to feel empowered. The youngest generation wants an equal voice; Boomers want to leave a legacy; GenXers want to make a difference. This book, based on a very popular workshop that Abrams has presented across the U.S. and Canada, will address how all educators can look through a generational filter to be more effective communicators, teachers and administrators; to help retain those who may be more easily frustrated at their lack of immediate success; and to plan for succession by future generations of leaders. Concrete tools are key elements of the book, helping readers to define the generations and their needs, to identify themselves on the continuum, and to plan ways to bridge generational differences.
Move from entrenched differences to common goals! All too often, key education initiatives collapse because leaders fail to anticipate and learn from the concerns of those charged with implementation. This illuminating book shows how education leaders can bring opposing groups to common ground, resulting in a solid plan built on diverse wisdom. Acclaimed education coach Jane Kise demonstrates how polarity thinking-a powerful tool for bridging differences developed by Barry Johnson of Polarity Partnerships-provides an alternative to endless debates and either/or thinking. Rather than seeing conflicting forces, the tools help us view them as equally important-even interdependent-concepts, approaches, or models. Readers will find: Ways to recognize polarities, map the positive and negative aspects, and channel energy wasted on disagreement toward a greater common purpose Tools for introducing and working with polarities Polarity mapping to help leaders improve processes for leading change and creating buy-in Ways to use polarity with students as a framework for higher-level thinking "Jane Kise provides guidance for educators engaged in deep change and implementation of initiatives in which stakeholders have opposing perspectives. Through authentic examples of significant changes educators face today, Kise guides educators to leverage polarity thinking to promote commitment, engagement, and investment." - Joellen Killion, Senior Advisor Learning Forward "The mind, entrenched in the rigidity of either/or thinking, dwells on the divisions and ignores the connections of both/and. This engaging and practical book helps our students (and their teachers) transcend those divisions in a journey toward enriched enlightenment and greater flexibility." -Arthur L. Costa, Emeritus Professor California State University, Sacramento
This straightforward guide helps school leaders and district stakeholders confidently translate the Common Core and the 21st Century Skills into a comprehensive K-12 instructional system.
Proven, brain-based techniques that build social and emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills! For a child to thrive in school today and succeed in life tomorrow, there's no more important quality than social and emotional intelligence. Since children's brains are still developing during the K-12 years, educators can positively influence students' development, including strengthening essential skills such as empathy, self-management and problem-solving. Dr. Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, one of the world's leading experts on children and brain development, shares award-winning techniques that connect with students' lives and concerns. Readers will find: A research-based approach refined through ongoing work in public schools Classroom exercises grouped by age, but adaptable for all grade levels Lively activities that keep students engaged Valuable content for anti-bullying initiatives and counseling programs This new guide is an essential resource for teachers, counselors and other K-12 educators, helping them to positively shape classroom dynamics and school culture. "The author has a way of clearly and succinctly stating how brain-based research relates to student decision-making that leads to higher levels of emotional stability, self-efficacy, and individual intelligence." -Laura Linde, Mentor/ Field Supervisor/ Coordinator District 77 and Minnesota State University
