Discover how to be a successful school leader and manager! Exploring 15 vital topics, as well as offering strategies and examples, Jane L. Sigford demonstrates how effective schools are a marriage of management and leadership. Organized into three sections-management and leadership theories, managing the school, and managing yourself-this resource helps administrators understand the complexity of leadership and addresses the application of effective management skills to create successful learning communities. Written for new and veteran school leaders, this essential guide: Acts as a handbook, which contains an overview of individual components of school leadership normally scattered among many textbooks and resources Provides suggested resources for more in-depth study Offers individual reflective practice questions throughout for personal use Suggests questions to help facilitate professional development group discussions, especially among peers The Effective School Leader's Guide to Management illustrates how school administrators can run a school efficiently, balancing their roles as instructional leaders and effective school managers, while still having time to improve professional development, foster parent and community relationships, make data-driven decisions, and nurture personal growth and leadership.
Recognize and promote exceptional teaching based on how students learn! To improve teaching, school leaders must understand how students learn. Authors P. Karen Murphy and Patricia Alexander explore key psychological dimensions of learners and explain how these dimensions can be incorporated into more effective teaching strategies. Their accessible overview of classic and current educational research is part of the Leadership for Learning initiative of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Understanding How Students Learn provides guiding principles that school leaders can use to help their teachers develop a learner-centered approach to instruction that enables all students to learn at high levels and do well on common measures of academic achievement. Concepts explored in-depth include: Learner growth and development Acquiring knowledge and understanding Cultivating learner motivation Strategic teaching and strategic learning The power of shared learning In addition to outlining specific guidelines for research-based action, the authors provide leaders with an understanding of student learning that empowers them to work more productively with teachers, parents, community leaders, and students. Designed for principals and school administrators who have assumed the role of instructional leader, this book will also be an invaluable resource for those contemplating a career in school administration or teachers concerned with improving academic performance.
Modeling Effective Writing, Reading, and Thinking Strategies for Student Success
Everybody wins when you practice the workshop approach in high school English! Do you find that preparing for standardized tests interferes with teaching advanced thinking, reading, and writing skills in a meaningful way? Do you want to balance test preparation with more creative activities? Success in school and beyond depends on one's ability to read fluently, write coherently, and think critically. This handbook uses the workshop model for exponentially increasing adolescents' abilities in these three key areas. This practical guide addresses the daily running and practice of a workshop-based classroom, using research and the author's own experiences to illustrate how to establish a workshop that: Fosters lasting learning while reinforcing the skills needed for standardized tests Teaches audience and purpose as a vehicle to style and structure Provides a supportive and lively environment in which students are comfortable enough to take risks and share original ideas Try Urbanski's approach to teaching literacy analysis and mentoring student writers, and discover just how rewarding the workshop experience can be!
What's Necessary, What's Nice, and What's Got to Go
Dig out from your desk and discover a refreshing new world of school leadership! Do you find yourself so busy digging a ditch with a spoon that you don't have time to go back to the tool shed and fetch a shovel? Are your in-box and daily schedule at maximum capacity? Does it seem impossible to include those extras that would make your job more enjoyable and satisfying? Conquering overload is a constant challenge for 21st-century school administrators. This book breathes fresh air into the often murky world of priority management. Setting Leadership Priorities teaches busy professionals how to distinguish between information, activities, and situations that must be retained, those that might be refined, and many that should be relinquished. Drawing on more than twenty years of experience as a teacher and administrator, Lovely understands that reducing frustration and overload helps administrators by: Increasing retention rates and improving success on the job Allowing them to redistribute leadership by delegating Creating balance in their daily lives and in their long-term professional journey When the emergencies outnumber the victories and you can't see the door over your towering in-box, it's time to reshuffle your priorities and let clarity emerge.
"Purposeful, realistic . . . and clearly written....the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners' needs." -Julia Weinberg, Instructor University of Nevada, Reno Give students the power to express their thinking in writing and to use writing as a process for learning! How can we improve students' ability to write "constructed response" to high stakes content area test items? How can we open for them the writing pathway to exploring and understanding informational texts? How can we help them develop the essential traits of proficient writing? Nationally recognized experts in literacy with experience in elementary, middle school, and university classrooms as well as consulting expertise, Barone and Taylor meld theoretical and practical considerations about writing instruction to explain how to teach each child to: Self-monitor to improve writing skills Grow in ability to write successful constructed response Use writing to process and stretch their own thinking Prepare for high stakes writing assessment Improving Students' Writing, K-8 brings together real-life examples, rubrics, reproducible aids and how-to's for getting the most out of your writers.
A Guide for Teachers and Parents of Children Ages 5 to 14
Formerly published by Peytral Publications Educate the whole child with these fun and thought-provoking activities that promote and maintain physical, cognitive, and emotional/social balance in children. Using the authors' flexible guidelines, teachers can help children develop attributes such as kindness and courage, love and joy, and a sense of meaning and interconnectedness.
Experiential Learning That Builds Character and Motivation
'Interesting, captivating, thought-provoking. Thomsen's explanations and examples of service learning show us that students can engage in higher and more complex thinking skills while they serve others, address learning standards, meet the expectations of the curriculum and -oh, by the way-find out that school can be fun!' - Dr. Richard Castallo, Chair, Deparment of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, California State University Northridge 'Teachers and site administrators will find their "how" and "why" questions answered in this inspirational and motivational book. The research behind the efficacy of service learning is a highlight of the book. In addition, it contains plenty of complete, useful examples of service learning projects for those educators who don't want to invent their own. Kate Thomsen's book is a great addition to the conversation on community learning!' - Neal A. Glasgow, Educator//Author 'Service Learning is a compelling work which addresses a universal need often overlooked in school curricula-the need to practice compassion and generosity. Kate Thomsen provides eudcators with a practical handbook for teaching wisdom and empathy along with math, language arts, social studies, and science. This book is a testament to our faith in the promise of all of our children, and in the capacity of teachers to transform lives through thoughtful instruction and example' - Lauri Pepe Bousquet, Professor of Education, LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY Kate Thomsen wrote about the power of service learning to promote resiliency in her book Building Resilient Students. In Service Learning in Grades K-8, she explores in greater depth the positive effects of service learning on youth, different types of successful programs, and how to start a service learning program. Service learning-making community service part of the school's educational program-can be used at all grade levels; however, some high schools require that students earn a certain number of credits in service learning in order to graduate. One type of service learning program is curriculum related and tied directly to what the students are learning in school. For example, students may work on a beach cleanup during an oceanography unit. In another type of program, students are required to serve the community for a set number of hours, for example working at a homeless shelter, retirement community, hospital, or animal shelter. In this case, the students may reflect on their experiences through a journal or paper, but the program is not connected to a class or specific curriculum.
What's Necessary, What's Nice, and What's Got to Go
Dig out from your desk and discover a refreshing new world of school leadership! Do you find yourself so busy digging a ditch with a spoon that you don't have time to go back to the tool shed and fetch a shovel? Are your in-box and daily schedule at maximum capacity? Does it seem impossible to include those extras that would make your job more enjoyable and satisfying? Conquering overload is a constant challenge for 21st-century school administrators. This book breathes fresh air into the often murky world of priority management. Setting Leadership Priorities teaches busy professionals how to distinguish between information, activities, and situations that must be retained, those that might be refined, and many that should be relinquished. Drawing on more than twenty years of experience as a teacher and administrator, Lovely understands that reducing frustration and overload helps administrators by: Increasing retention rates and improving success on the job Allowing them to redistribute leadership by delegating Creating balance in their daily lives and in their long-term professional journey When the emergencies outnumber the victories and you can't see the door over your towering in-box, it's time to reshuffle your priorities and let clarity emerge.
'The High Achiever's Guide to Happiness is a very practical book that provides both a strategic framework to understand why high achievers do what they do as well as plenty of real life examples on how to achieve the right work//life balance in your own life. I found this to be a refreshing reminder of what's really important in my own life as well as what I need to do to keep it all in perspective. Highly recommended reading.' -Kip Knight, Vice President, Marketing eBay, Inc. '...a great reference to get people thinking about themselves and their professional happiness. A school leader could use this information with teachers, students, parent groups, and community groups.' -Gwen Gross, Superintendent Manhattan Beach Unified School District, CA 'This book makes a contribution to the entire world. From educators to professionals in any work organizations, all would benefit from putting the practices in this book into their lives.' -Kim Boelkes, Principal Eastview Elementary School, Canton, IL 'The authors got me thinking about my own life purpose, for whom I am living, and my vision. I found the strategies useful and positive!' -Gail Houghton, Chair//Associate Professor Department of Educational Leadership School of Education & Behavorial Studies Azusa Pacific University Do you feel that happiness and fulfillment are still missing even after reaching the high goals you set for yourself? You're not alone. According to research by well-known educator and life coach to Fortune 500 leaders, Vance Caesar, only 8 percent of high achievers feel happy and fulfilled. This simple, straightforward, easy-to-reference guide explores the profile of a high achiever and provides tools throughout for improving one's own leadership style and incorporating more happiness along the way. The authors provide leaders and aspiring leaders with seven keys to gain fulfillment in all areas of life, including one's career: Discovering and articulating your life Purpose Possessing a Vision to set your direction Attitudes and beliefs for finding Meaningful Work Developing Energizing Relationships Creating Peace in your life Reviewing, Renewing, and Recommitting to your purpose Forming the habits of Discipline Filled with personal anecdotes, thought-provoking examples and questions, reflection exercises, and easy-to-implement models, this inspirational resource is a must for those interested in more deeply connecting personal values, vision, and satisfaction to life and work and modeling that connection for others. This is a book you will return to again and again as your personal life coach!
