Organized to help educators implement alternative discipline, this updated edition frames discipline in a practical and effective way that aligns with research, changes in educational law, and equity.
"There are other books on school culture, but the tell-it-like-it-is, no-holds-barred style of writing makes this a book I would recommend to others." -Frank Buck, Curriculum & Special Education Supervisor Talladega City Schools, AL "The clear, concise themes for each chapter are backed by research and provide an understanding of what needs to be done to improve school climate. This book could be used by a building or district team study to measure the cultural temperature, by teacher teams to start a grassroots movement to improve school climate, or by reflective leaders who want to continuously improve their organizations." -Edward J. Drugo, Principal Latrobe Elementary School, PA Improve school culture and relationships to ensure peak performance by students and staff! This practical how-to handbook clearly defines what school culture is, where it comes from, how it works, and why it is critically important. The author provides a total package with all the tools necessary for developing a school culture that maximizes student performance, empowers staff members, welcomes and engages parents, and energizes community support. Readers will find: A profile of a healthy school culture Tips for assessing how your school measures up Ways to spot warning signs and avoid pitfalls Frequently asked questions and common concerns about creating a positive school culture Through concrete, real-world examples, authoritative insights, and useful explorations, this compact volume for principals and administrators demystifies the concept of school culture and points the way toward building a strong, collaborative school community.
This book is a practical, 'how-to' handbook for creating an organizational school climate that brings out the best in students, staff, parents, and community members. Through concrete, real-world examples, insider insights, and down-to-earth explorations, this text demystifies the phenomenon of a school's culture. Without resorting to lofty jargon, the book clearly defines what school culture is, where it comes from, how it works, and why it is critically important. Best of all, the guide contains all the tools needed to 'grow' a school culture that maximizes student performance, empowers staff members, welcomes and engages parents, and energizes community support. Each chapter is packed with specific information, guidelines, skills, strategies, and techniques needed, as well as warning signs and pitfalls to avoid, to create a school culture that works for everyone. This is a total package, including foundations, structures, processes, and practices for developing an environment that is 'nutritious', challenging, supporting, rewarding, and inspiring for all those involved with the school.
"In my work, I see the power of good schools to change young lives for the better almost every day. This book takes us behind the doors of unusually high-performing high-poverty schools to show us how they do it and where they get the funding. The book is a valuable tool for educators who want to improve their results and a reminder to parents and policy makers that we should never expect less." -Kati Haycock, President The Education Trust Radically reform your school and improve academic achievement using readily accessible resources! At a time when the United States is struggling with far-reaching educational reform, school leaders need a blueprint for dramatically improving student success and supporting those efforts by effectively reallocating and managing available resources. Doubling Student Performance combines the latest research with the authors' national study of diverse schools that were able to significantly boost student achievement. Strategies focus on reducing class size, promoting professional development, locating necessary funding, and providing academic support to struggling students. School leaders will find: Examples and case studies that include high-minority and high-poverty schools 10 key strategies for dramatically increasing student achievement, such as setting ambitious goals and emphasizing a collaborative culture Clear steps and specific tools to successfully reallocate resources This book is a valuable tool for educators and policy makers who understand that reform is only possible when schools have the human and financial resources to do it.
Meets "the highest standard of evidence" for comprehensive school reforms that improve student achievement. Review of Educational Research, 2003 "This Field Guide to Comer Schools in Action provides exactly what its title offers: guidelines to curricula, instruction, and educational development necessary to implementing the Comer process. . . . This handbook will help enormously to keep alive what James Comer and his colleagues have so carefully crafted over the years." John I. Goodlad, President Institute for Educational Inquiry The tried, tested, and true approach to instructional leadership and staff development that support academic achievement and life success! Schools are the only universally accessible institutions where there are enough adults to provide continuous support for children's growth, development, and success in life. Using the process pioneered by renowned child psychiatrist Dr. James P. Comer and his colleagues at the Yale School Development Program (SDP), this unique field guide offers school leaders, school staff, and teachers a comprehensive and effective framework for providing curriculum and instruction that help all children grow and develop along the pathways that support success both in school and in life. Combining research; evidence-based best practices; essential tools for planning, data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation; and a generous collection of charts, tables, and graphics, Dynamic Instructional Leadership to Support Student Learning and Development offers educators a state-of-the-art guide to: Mobilizing all of the stakeholders in the learning community to support instructional excellence as a system responsibility Modeling of instructional excellence by school principals, district leaders, and university partners Aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment with standards and research-based best practices Linking child development to challenging and rigorous classroom instruction based on respect, trust, and high expectations for all students Teaching essentials of literacy, math, and science that provide positive developmental experiences for all learners Teachers helping teachers for professional development and school improvement Dynamic Instructional Leadership to Support Student Learning and Development is the first-ever published field guide to the tried, tested, and true methods used by the Comer Process to promote academic achievement and life success for all children.
A Practical Guide for Teaching Early Childhood (pre-K - 3)
One of a series of practical references for teachers, this handbook provides general information on the background of the early childhood curriculum in the United States. It also contains current information on publications, standards and special materials for the curriculum, and is designed to be adapted to suit particular schools.
Learn to plan instruction that engages early elementary children in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate and culturally relevant social justice topics.
A Tool for Review of Early Literacy Program Materials
Your all-in-one guide to selecting the very best early literacy materials! Learning to read and write is too important to be left to chance, so it's absolutely critical that the early literacy curriculum and literature you use in PreK and kindergarten environments reflect the very best research and instructional practices. But, with the proliferation of new products, what's the best way to start? What criteria should the curriculum meet? Which research-based best practices should be represented? Early Literacy Materials Selector (ELMS)-the first dedicated evaluation tool for early childhood literacy materials-provides all the answers. Step by step, this one-of-a-kind toolkit will help you: Recognize the characteristics of high-quality literacy materials Work in teams or individually to evaluate your resources Understand the importance of the research base Establish a baseline against which new literacy materials can be compared All in all, there's no better resource to ensure we put our youngest students on the right path to school readiness and success. "Teachers, administrators, and curriculum directors will appreciate the clear guidance for conducting a systematic review of core program materials. A highly effective tool for examining the quality of early literacy materials, ELMS is the first of its kind, and will be a welcome resource." -Susan B. Neuman, Professor University of Michigan "A much needed resource for considering features of curriculum materials in a systematic way. I know of no other tool like it for early childhood materials." -Judith A. Schickedanz Boston University
Foster young children's early literacy skills and build a strong foundation for reading! Emphasizing the importance of providing emerging readers with the skills for future literacy success, Early Reading First and Beyond is a comprehensive resource that helps early childhood educators develop children's readiness for kindergarten by providing creative learning experiences based on the most current literacy research. In reader-friendly terms, Susan E. Israel illustrates how to create rich learning environments, provide activities to engage young minds, and promote the important language, cognitive, and early reading skills necessary to encourage learners' self-confidence. Teachers will find proven practices, assessment tools, guidelines for meeting individual learning needs, examples, advice for professional development sessions, and connections to International Reading Association standards. This book presents essential information for understanding and implementing the core components of an Early Reading First program: Designing early childhood programs of excellence School-parent partnerships Oral language development Phonological awareness Print awareness Alphabetic knowledge Early metacognitive thinking Advocating strong connections between home and school, this accessible text offers teachers, early childhood education specialists, literacy coaches, administrators, and parents the appropriate tools to make a significant, positive difference in young children's futures.
