Strategies for Developing and Maintaining Good Relationships With Your Board
'The authors fill a gap in the literature by providing a practical, experience-based look at how superintendents should approach the most important relationship in their professional lives. Working effectively with school boards is what it is all about, and this book shows you how' - Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators 'This book provides practical insights and useful ideas to help district leaders who are serious about keeping the educational interest of children first among their priorities' - Pedro A. Noguera, Professor, New York University Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices helps governors and school management team members develop an effective team that prioritizes quality teaching and learning. Designed for practising and aspiring governors and school management team members, this exceptional book relates the everyday experiences and challenges faced by this important team. Combining 84 years of service in urban, rural, and suburban school districts, the authors offer: * Real-life vignettes that highlight problems, successes, key points, and useful practices * Indispensable information on building relationships, creating a team, managing conflict, and staying focused on priorities * Reflective practice questions and self-assessments throughout This rich resource offers knowledge, skills, and strategies to teach and inspire current and future leaders, based on the experiences of practitioners who have learned what works and what doesn't, leaving valuable time to focus on student achievement.
The tips and tools you need to provide high-quality instruction for students with exceptionalities! Teaching is most effective when certain general principles are followed; however, not all students are alike, and not all teaching methods are equally effective. Including a pretest, posttest, and key vocabulary terms, Effective Instruction for Students With Special Needs presents the key components of highly effective instruction and the accommodations and modifications that should be made for special-needs students when: Planning Instruction: deciding what and how to teach while communicating realistic expectations Managing Instruction: preparing for instruction, using time productively, and creating a positive environment Delivering Instruction: presenting content, monitoring student learning, and adjusting instruction Evaluating Instruction: monitoring student understanding and engaged time, recording student progress, using data to make decisions, and making judgments about student performance For cases in which more than slight adaptations may be necessary, this helpful guide also highlights special instructional aids and specific teaching methods proven to enhance the success of students with special needs.
The tips and tools you need to provide high-quality instruction for students with exceptionalities! Teaching is most effective when certain general principles are followed; however, not all students are alike, and not all teaching methods are equally effective. Including a pretest, posttest, and key vocabulary terms, Effective Instruction for Students With Special Needs presents the key components of highly effective instruction and the accommodations and modifications that should be made for special-needs students when: Planning Instruction: deciding what and how to teach while communicating realistic expectations Managing Instruction: preparing for instruction, using time productively, and creating a positive environment Delivering Instruction: presenting content, monitoring student learning, and adjusting instruction Evaluating Instruction: monitoring student understanding and engaged time, recording student progress, using data to make decisions, and making judgments about student performance For cases in which more than slight adaptations may be necessary, this helpful guide also highlights special instructional aids and specific teaching methods proven to enhance the success of students with special needs.
How to Energize Meetings and Manage Difficult Groups
Effective Group Facilitation in Education is designed for administrators who frequently are assigned to facilitate stakeholder groups - parents, site-based management teams, faculty and staff, accountability teams, and others - this book helps facilitators keep meetings positive, productive, and efficient by managing trouble areas, dissent, deviation from the task, and by energizing the group. Besides addressing the intuitive aspect of the facilitation process, John Eller includes many strategies and templates that help groups of people work together to complete tasks, generate new ideas, and solve problems. Effective Group Facilitation in Education serves as a practical guide that fills the gap that exists between traditional meeting facilitation and "best practice" in working with others.
How to Energize Meetings and Manage Difficult Groups
Effective Group Facilitation in Education is designed for administrators who frequently are assigned to facilitate stakeholder groups - parents, site-based management teams, faculty and staff, accountability teams, and others - this book helps facilitators keep meetings positive, productive, and efficient by managing trouble areas, dissent, deviation from the task, and by energizing the group. Besides addressing the intuitive aspect of the facilitation process, John Eller includes many strategies and templates that help groups of people work together to complete tasks, generate new ideas, and solve problems. Effective Group Facilitation in Education serves as a practical guide that fills the gap that exists between traditional meeting facilitation and "best practice" in working with others.
Practical Strategies to Prevent Failure, Recover Credits, and Increase Standards-Based/Referenced Grading
Enact innovative grading systems that more accurately describe student progress! This book challenges traditional grading practices and provides alternatives that can have direct impact on student success. By making subtle shifts toward standards based grading systems, schools can reduce unnecessary course failures, provide students and their families a more accurate picture of current progress, and increase opportunities for success. The author offers a range of grading reform strategies that are built from practical frameworks that are effective and simple to adapt. Among the many strengths of this book are: Practical application of existing research and evidence base for effective secondary grading reforms A framework for schools and districts to apply and adapt failure prevention strategies such as early failure detection, Amnesty Days, and meaningful stipulated second chance opportunities for students to reach mastery Functional strategies and actions for shifting toward standards-based (referenced) grading without entirely abandoning letter grades Countering resistance to change through a-clearly-articulated plan for conducting school-wide and classroom level action research around the effectiveness of new or adjusted grading practices "Informative and pragmatic, this book is spot on with analysis of this elephant in the room issue. Nagel uses both empathy and humor in getting to the heart of a process to generate real solutions while underscoring the ultimate need for teacher voice in any successful implementation. He provides ready-made strategies for real, impactful change. I'm left hopeful that feedback will rule the day!" -Bruce Potter, Superintendent Berkshire UFSD "Nagel offers an insightful and articulate voice to secondary improvement and alignment through grading practices. His tried and true methods through working with real districts provides a starting place and examples for others to follow. A must-read for anyone serious about ensuring student engagement through meaningful feedback." -Debra K. Howe, Superintendent Tri-Creek School Corporation ?
"The authors eloquently capture the tasks and interconnections of school and community professionals who share the responsibility of developing healthy environments so that all children have the opportunity to learn." -Renee H. Lacey, Supervisor of Alternative and Summer Programs Prince William County Public Schools, VA "Finally, a practical look at how professionals from different disciplines can work together and blend their skills and talents to address the developmental needs of all students." -Robert N. Ianacone, Associate Dean Graduate School of Education and Human Development The George Washington University Educate the whole child by building a culture of collaboration in your school! It takes a team of professionals working together to support a child's emotional, physical, and academic development. Effective Collaboration for Educating the Whole Child examines collaboration between educators to successfully teach children with complex learning needs, both with and without identified disabilities. This book for K-12 general and special education teachers, administrators, and student support specialists explores how to make collaboration and coordination work, who takes responsibility for the process, and why collaboration is central to improving outcomes for students considered at risk. Focusing on coordinating across systems to improve education, the author: Discusses the roles, responsibilities, and relationships between school professionals, community agencies, and service providers Offers case examples in each chapter as windows into schools and classrooms Emphasizes important developmental transitions from the elementary years through high school and after Presents personal reflections from parents, students, and professionals Developmentally responsive school environments depend on constructive relationships between the adults in a student's life, making this a vital resource for anyone who interacts with children.
At last, a practical guide to the what, how, when, and where of effective assessment! When determining whether or not a student should receive special education services, what the specific nature of the student's instruction should be, or the extent to which a student is making educational progress, it is critical to know not only what sort of assessment method is most appropriate, but how, when, and where it should be administered. Including a pretest, posttest, and key vocabulary terms, Effective Assessment for Students With Special Needs helps educators make these weighty decisions with highly practical information such as: Formal and informal methods of data collection When to use various assessment practices and what they can show an evaluator Standards for conducting assessments to ensure accuracy Using data to make decisions about the education of students with disabilities and those who are gifted and talented
At last, a practical guide to the what, how, when, and where of effective assessment! When determining whether or not a student should receive special education services, what the specific nature of the student's instruction should be, or the extent to which a student is making educational progress, it is critical to know not only what sort of assessment method is most appropriate, but how, when, and where it should be administered. Including a pretest, posttest, and key vocabulary terms, Effective Assessment for Students With Special Needs helps educators make these weighty decisions with highly practical information such as: Formal and informal methods of data collection When to use various assessment practices and what they can show an evaluator Standards for conducting assessments to ensure accuracy Using data to make decisions about the education of students with disabilities and those who are gifted and talented
