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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
Using insights gained from more than 100 interviews with school leaders, The Multiplier Effect pinpoints the five disciplines that define how Multipliers bring out the best across their schools.
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.
