6 Principles That Advance Student Achievement in Highly Effective Schools
School improvement that lasts: find out how with this masterful guide! Common Core requirements, merit-based pay, new teacher evaluations, project-based learning-21st-century learning is a demanding and rapidly changing landscape. Advance from overwhelmed to empowered with Alan Blankstein's Failure Is Not an Option, used by more than 350,000 educators to create schools that sustain success for every student. New case studies and field-tested techniques uncover indispensable insights into successful school change. Develop high-performing leadership teams through Powerful engagement strategies and capacity-building questions to help staff and students leverage what's working and target measurable goals New real-world examples to help stakeholders maintain collaborative cultures in the face of new teacher evaluations and merit pay, sustain successful RTI and Common Core initiatives, thrive in diverse settings, and promote community engagement New tools, forms, and video segments on a companion website Use this handbook to discover what makes results-oriented, enduring school improvement models work! Praise for the Second Edition: "An overwhelming body of research shows that educational change and improvement must come from the inside. Here is a practical road map for improving the climate and culture of schools in ways that are meaningful and enduring. We must be open to new ideas, new strategies, and new opportunities. School transformation is something you do with educators, not to them. This book will show you how." -Dennis Van Roekel, President National Education Association
"Principals at all levels will find this book valuable. It translates espoused theories of climate and culture into practical ideas." -Boyd Dressler, Associate Adjunct Professor Montana State University "Focused, to the point, and direct-a quick read for a busy principal looking for ideas." -Leslie A. Standerfer, Principal Estrella Foothills High School, Goodyear, AZ Set the tone for educational success! School culture is one of the most important factors in student and staff performance. Positive climates foster superior achievement, while negative climates discourage learners, educators, and parents alike. Based on thirty years of combined experience as school principals, staff developers, and educational leaders, John F. and Sheila Eller present a wide spectrum of unique, practical, and proven strategies to improve school climate and culture. Divided into chapters that emphasize the main components of school culture, this guide allows busy school leaders to go directly to the section that best addresses their specific needs. The authors provide a clear definition of culture along with diagnostic tools to help readers determine the state of their school's culture. Chapters feature activities and ideas to: Foster personal rapport and collegiality between staff members Develop collaborative work relationships Improve staff meetings Address issues related to office operations Deal appropriately with conflict Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture offers fun and inventive ideas for school leaders who are working diligently to create a collaborative teaching and learning environment.
Education of America's school children always has been and always will be a hot-button issue. From what should be taught to how to pay for education to how to keep kids safe in schools, impassioned debates emerge and mushroom, both within the scholarly community and among the general public. This volume in the pointunterpoint Debating Issues in American Education reference series tackles the topic of alternative schooling and school choice. Fifteen to twenty chapters explore such varied issues as charter schools, for-profit schools, faith-based schools, magnet schools, vouchers, and more. Each chapter opens with an introductory essay by the volume editor, followed by pointunterpoint articles written and signed by invited experts, and concludes with Further Readings and Resources, thus providing readers with views on multiple sides of alternative schooling and school choice issues and pointing them toward more in-depth resources for further exploration.
This book is the definitive study on homeschooling in the United States, delving into a movement that impacts more students nationwide than the entire charter school movement. In 2010, more than 2 million students were homeschooled. This book explores: The history of homeschooling in America. How this movement has grown in credibility and enrollment exponentially The current state of homeschooling, including questions over who gets homeschooled, why, and what is the success-academically and in life-of students who are homeschooled The impact of homeschooling on the student and on American society In the most extensive survey and analysis of research on homeschooling, spanning the birth of the movement in the 1970s to today, Homeschooling in America shines a light on one of the most important yet least understood social movements of the last forty years and what it means for education today.
Supercharge school improvement with instructional coaches!For instructional coaches, no two days are ever the same. This unique companion melds theory and practice to show how coaches can seamlessly integrate themselves into the fabric of the school and help teachers improve their practice from day one. Dean Spaulding and Gail Smith address common challenges of coaches and instructional leadership teams, including:Observing classrooms and providing formative feedback Reaching out to the hesitant or resistant teacherAdapting data and analysis into usable information for the teamRecruiting, training, and supporting new instructional coachesJournal entries based on the real-life experiences give an inside look at the day-to-day work of an instructional coach and the power of coaching to improve teacher effectiveness. The book also includes field-tested activities, materials, and forms for collecting data, navigating busy days, and organizing information. Instructional Coaches and the Instructional Leadership Team is ideal for those wanting to learn best practices to engage educators and support teacher evaluation reform.'This book would have made my life SO much easier. I highly recommend it to new and experienced instructional coaches alike!'uKathy Ferrell, Instructional CoachExcelsior Springs Middle School, MO'This is a wonderful resource. Even schools without instructional coaches will benefit from the strategies and suggestions included. ItAEs an excellent book even for those who shy away from data analysis!'uAnn Dargon, Assistant Superintendent of SchoolsWestport Community Schools, MA
This unique collaboration between a veteran educator and a psychotherapist shows that the educators who are most effective in teaching diverse student populations are the ones who can "see students clearly and respond to their needs without hesitation or bias." Framed around an original, eight-stage model of diversity development, this book provides readers with essential tools for building a sturdy foundation of mutual respect upon which schools without bias can be constructed. Included are specific strategies for creating a school environment that Gives voice and consideration to all students Shows interest, empathy, and respect for all staff members Advocates respect and reverence of individuality Adapts innovative policies-despite resistance-that best serve the total school community In addition to vignettes, anecdotes, and case examples, the authors provide worksheets for problem-solving, conflict resolution, clear communication, rules of engagement, reflection, and scenario study. This book will help educators boost student achievement by giving them how-to strategies that work across content areas to create a culturally considerate classroom and school climate that supports student success and reinforces the strength of individual teachers, administrators, and auxiliary personnel.
Shortlisted for the Standing Conference on Studies in Education (SCSE) book awards for 2001 In Schools and Special Needs, the authors provide a critical perspective on the dominant `inclusion' model of special needs education, in terms of implementation in schools and effectiveness of pupil learning outcomes. They take issue with the major ......
The authors participated in a bold, statewide school improvement initiative that re-examined the role of a critical variable in twentieth century educationutime. Progressive educational policy changes in New Hampshire have put into motion the most dynamic approach to the delivery of education of any state in America. This statewide effort to create a system of personalizedstomized learning cannot properly function in the 20th century model of teaching and learning where time is the constant and achievement is the variable. The steps that New Hampshire has taken will provide the foundation for a new delivery model where time is the variable and achievement is the constant.The New Hampshire vision is built on the assumption that students can learn through a variety of experiencesutraditional classroom instruction being but one mode of delivery. Out-of-classroom Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO's) provide alternatives to classroom instruction. These can include internships, private instruction, on-line learning and other forms of independent study. But, at the core of this vision, is the idea that student achievement (and, by extension, teacher effectiveness) should be measured in terms of mastering competencies, rather than the traditional measure of 'seat time.' Although competency-based models have been attempted, the New Hampshire story is unique in that it offers a unique case of large-scale implementation. Bramante and Colby offer the reader the ability to understand a new context for the reinvention of education and how these challenges affect all levels and aspects of our system of public education. Education professionalsufrom classroom teachers to policy makersuhave much to learn from the lesson of New Hampshire.
All students deserve a safe, respectful school environmentStudents who identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgendered are susceptible to being harassed by their peers and are at high risk of dropping out of school. This book provides professional development ideas and strategies that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students. Peter DeWitt provides specific strategies for school leaders that includeImplementing a student code of conduct and school board policies to safeguard studentsHelping staff members recognize and respond to overt and covert LGBT issuesProfessional development guidelines to equip staff to interveneWays to include appropriate LGBT topics in the curriculumSupporting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in middle and high school settingsThis practical and compassionate guide contains numerous cases and examples, proposed strategies and templates for codes of conduct (including the NY Code), book study questions, and links to pertinent articles, websites, and blogs for further information. Dignity for All helps inform educators of the issues and methods for building acceptance in a diverse world.
