The reform movement is, more often than not, viewed as chaotic. What is meant by fundamental change in one school or district is seen as superficial somewhere else. Even to would-be advocates, what passes for reform is too frequently a fluidly changing river of differing goals, curricula, pedagogy, and organization. With everyone pushing their own vision of educational reform, no one has stopped to look at the "common ground." This new book pulls together the common themes of the many attempts at reform. It looks particularly at today's American high school, where reform seems less tenacious compared to elementary and middle schools, and its scope is both broad and deep. The authors link the big ideas to concrete school examples, and thus the book will be helpful to practitioners on site. This book is designed for the leadership of reform at the high school, district, and state levels; for policymakers instrumental in these reforms; and to university faculty and graduate students in education. It will be a valuable resource in courses on leadership, administration, policy, curriculum and instruction, and change facilitation.
The reform movement is, more often than not, viewed as chaotic. What is meant by fundamental change in one school or district is seen as superficial somewhere else. Even to would-be advocates, what passes for reform is too frequently a fluidly changing river of differing goals, curricula, pedagogy, and organization. With everyone pushing their own vision of educational reform, no one has stopped to look at the "common ground." This new book pulls together the common themes of the many attempts at reform. It looks particularly at today's American high school, where reform seems less tenacious compared to elementary and middle schools, and its scope is both broad and deep. The authors link the big ideas to concrete school examples, and thus the book will be helpful to practitioners on site. This book is designed for the leadership of reform at the high school, district, and state levels; for policymakers instrumental in these reforms; and to university faculty and graduate students in education. It will be a valuable resource in courses on leadership, administration, policy, curriculum and instruction, and change facilitation.
"This resource is extremely timely and well thought out. Wouldn't it be great if all principals gave their new hires this book along with their classroom keys?" -Andrea Ziembia, Fifth-Grade Teacher, Morton Elementary School, Hammond, IN "An indispensable companion for any new teacher, this book gives excellent advice for avoiding many hurdles and pitfalls and focusing on what's important-becoming outstanding teachers of young children." -Carol A. Tateishi, Director Bay Area Writing Project, University of California at Berkeley "The book's lists, charts, tables, diagrams, and the narrative are amazingly helpful and insightful. This is more than a survival book; it is inspirational and affirming." -Mary Ann Sinkkonen, Assistant Professor Dominican University of California Everything a new elementary teacher needs for getting started is right here! This comprehensive guide from veteran educators gives first-year teachers a multitude of classroom-tested strategies for those critical first days of school. Written in a reassuring tone, this authoritative handbook walks you through setting up your classroom, managing behavior, planning lessons, assessing students' performance, and partnering with families. Thoroughly updated to meet the needs of today's classrooms, this new edition includes the latest tips on: Teaching with technology Differentiating instruction for students from diverse backgrounds, including English Language Learners Preparing effective standards-based lessons Achieving professional growth through job-embedded professional development Teachers will find resources, samples, templates, homework contracts, strategies, checklists, and proven solutions to everyday challenges. Rest assured that you are not alone, and you will succeed!
"The most helpful and practical resource I own! It has aided me in increasing my efficiency and therefore my confidence in the classroom. This is a must-read for all first- year teachers!" Jennifer Jackson, First-Grade Bilingual Teacher Landels Elementary School Mountain View, CA "A blockbuster book for the beginning teacher-chock-full of practical and imaginative suggestions. A source book of fine educational practices." Mary B. Roberts, Principal (retired) University of San Francisco College of Education, CA "Kathleen Jonson has designed an excellent road map to guide new teachers during their beginning years." Gail Adams, Program Administrator Curriculum Improvement and Professional Development San Francisco Unified School District, CA The ultimate how-to reference-here's expert teaching advice at your fingertips anytime you need it! An invaluable companion for any beginning teacher, this definitive resource has been updated to offer even more tried and true techniques to foster triumphant teaching. Drawing upon more than 27 years' experience as an educator, the author highlights the most effective strategies that lead to powerful results in the classroom. The New Elementary Teacher's Handbook Flourishing in Your First Year, second edition, provides desperately needed, yet often unavailable, practical advice. This easy-to-read, jargon-free guide empowers new teachers with the tools necessary not only to feel prepared, confident, and comfortable, but also to succeed, maintain enthusiasm, and remain committed to the profession. It is teeming with helpful hints, red flags to watch for, examples of best practices, and time-saving solutions for some of the most common questions and concerns practitioners face. Among the numerous strategies and survival skills the book promotes are time and stress management, effective organization, quality lesson plans, and professional development. It deals with such issues as assessment, preventive discipline, homework, and motivation. Jonson offers sound advice on building positive relationships with parents and conducting school events, including a parent conference, open house, and back-to-school night. Resources include sample homework and behavior contracts, model letters to parents, and examples of programs for students with special needs. This enhanced second edition offers the following new features: Classroom-tested techniques for overcoming the challenges of a multicultural, demographically diverse student population, including limited-English-proficient students Tips for maximizing technology Twelve additional "Resource" sections that provide quick-reference ideas easy to implement in any classroom Tactics for coping with-and even embracing-the pressures of accountability, high standards, and high-stakes testing Resources include sample homework and behavior contracts, model letters to parents, and examples of programs for students with special needs.
Assessing Elementary and Secondary School Teachers
"The New Handbook of Teacher Evaluation" is a comprehensive look at the process of selecting, assessing and developing teachers. Successor to the "Handbook of Teacher Evaluation", this volume expands on its predecessor in many ways. In the decade since publication of the first handbook, the profession of teaching has undergone major changes, including a greater awareness and insistence on teacher accountability, increases in teacher testing and certification requirements, and the development career ladder plans and other incentives toward excellence in the profession. At the same time, the political, social and organizational factors that affect the performance and evaluation of teachers have been the subject of intensive scrutiny. Reflecting these changes in the field, the new handbook includes the contributions of over 30 of the leading experts in this area, and reflects current practices, issues and controversies related to evaluation of teachers at the elementary and secondary level.
Achieve success step by stepThe topic of management by wandering around is not new, but the authorsAE approach is fresh and timely. This current rendition based on the original work by Frase and Hetzel gives new and seasoned administrators smart, practical advice about how to owander aroundoe with purpose and develop a more interactive leadership style. This text cites more than 20 well-constructed research studies that show how management by wandering around produces desirable outcomes, including:Higher student achievementImproved school culture Higher teacher efficacyManagement by wandering around is not a rigid, linear process: it is a combination of proven methods and a flexible, organic approach to the whole of leadership. Topics covered include developing meeting agendas, supervising instruction, dealing with marginal teachers, and creating safe campuses. The bottom line? If you want to accomplish more, start by getting out moreuand this book shows you how to make it count.
6 Vital Practices for Thriving and Responsive Schools
The rate of economic, social and technological change has increased rapidly in the last century and industrial-age organizational models are no longer capable of keeping up. Self-organization is a set of principles and practices that allow for organizations to evolve with purpose through more individual ownership, accountability, and transparency. This book is filled with examples and stories showing how organizations in other industries and education have adopted self-organization models, as well as how some school districts are implementing the structural changes required to become more agile. These types of changes are rooted in organizational culture, a refreshed mindset, and the creation of a shared consciousness. Districts working through this will feel uncomfortable, but implemented thoughtfully, they will realize more effective ways to get things done. The authors provide concrete tools that anyone in education can use in designing their teams for success. This book will also address the issue of teacher recruitment and retention.
Changing Education for a New Generation of Learners
It's time to throw out the old rulebook. Today's classroom demands teacher innovation, embracing of new technology, and rejection of outdated practices, especially when someone tells you it's "always been done" a certain way. Meet Josh Stumpenhorst, recently named Illinois Teacher of the Year. Stumpenhorst's orthodoxy-challenging methods have produced outstanding student outcomes, and in these pages he details how to maximize teacher effectiveness by thinking outside the box: Build student relationships on trust and respect rather than fear and punishment Rethink homework and letter grades, which-in their current forms-are harming learning Leverage technology by not treating it as a "shiny toy", but rather understand its power as a tool for rapid progress Educators who welcome large-scale change are about to pull ahead of those who don't.
Praise for the first edition: "Mandel has written a very practical, informative manual for new teachers. His examples for classroom standards, incorporating a variety of activities for diverse students, and teaching test-taking skills are right on target. For answers to fundamental questions and stress relief, Mandel's manual is a must!" -Johanna K. Lemlech, Professor Emerita University of Southern California "An extremely practical and user-friendly time-saver. Rather than beating around the bush with pages of statistics, philosophies, best practices, and methodologies, this toolbox cuts to the heart of real questions burning inside new teachers. New and experienced teachers can benefit from the quick fixes presented in this plentiful toolbox." -Leslie Gaillard, First-Year Teacher Pacoima Middle School, Los Angeles, CA A one-stop resource for all your first-year teaching needs! This second edition is a concise yet complete guide for novice teachers, covering all the essentials for getting off to a good start. With new tips for everything from establishing an ideal classroom environment to making it through teacher evaluations, this revised edition helps you plan ahead with confidence, keep your perspective, and prepare for the unexpected. The author introduces techniques by grade level, making the book easy to read sequentially or as a reference for specific situations. Written in a conversational tone, this completely revised edition includes an expanded section on Internet use and provides field-tested strategies on how to: Encourage student participation and critical thinking Establish fair grading practices Modify instructional methods and curriculum for students with special needs Increase parent involvement Manage stress and maintain sanity
