Drawing upon a range of practical and theoretical knowledge, the authors explore all aspects of the leadership role. Professional development, collaboration and self-knowledge are at the centre of their approach, in the belief that people prefer to be led rather than to be managed and that leadership applies equally to the work of classroom teachers, as well as to the head. The purposes and processes of leading and managing primary schools, like processes of teaching and learning are complex. They defy generalized prescriptions, easy analysis and simplistic solutions. In this book the authors explore the intricate processes involved in helping people to be, and to perform, at their best, believing that excellent leaders are judged not only by outcomes, but also by the quality of their vision, their relationships, plans and policies and their commitment to growth and achievement for children and staff.
Professional Issues for Primary Teachers deals with the key professional issues faced by students on teacher training courses and practicing primary teachers. The authors set out the nature of primary education in England and the professional demands made on primary school teachers by parents, the children themselves, government agencies, society ......
`Not only does this book offer a great deal of insight into evaluating early childhood services, it also provides a focal point for those interested in establishing goals, objectives and evaluation criteria for their own early childhood programmes' - Early Years `Quality' has become a priority issue for all concerned with early childhood care and education services. Starting from the premise that `quality' is a relative and dynamic concept based on values and beliefs, Valuing Quality in Early Childhood Services examines how the definitions of quality are established and who is involved in their establishment. The book advocates that the process should involve a range of stakeholder groups, including children, parents, staff, care providers, researchers, employers and the community. A key issue that emerges is the need for new and creative approaches to the development of an inclusionary process in the definitions and attainment of quality care.
This selection of carefully chosen articles invites teachers to explore their own professional development and review their practice in schools. It draws together the multifaceted nature of primary teaching through a focus upon historical, cultural and political influences and considers the impact this has upon the way primary teachers develop ......
Improving Student Achievement Through Parent Involvement
Dianne Mierzwik, a long-time teacher and teacher trainer, has put together a book based on her own best practices of ways to motivate K-8 students and connect with their parents. Her ideas have been classroom-tested by herself and by the many teachers she has trained at in-service workshops. Quick and Easy Ways to Connect with Students and Their ......
Technology and the Diverse Learner is a practical guide for K-12 teachers to use the latest technology to assist them in meeting the needs of the diverse population of learners in their classrooms. This book is designed specifically for the inclusive K-12 classroom teacher. It addresses inclusion from a very broad perspective that covers special ......
Technology and the Diverse Learner is a practical guide for K-12 teachers to use the latest technology to assist them in meeting the needs of the diverse population of learners in their classrooms. This book is designed specifically for the inclusive K-12 classroom teacher. It addresses inclusion from a very broad perspective that covers special ......
This text examines the many purposes of assessment in early literacy development. Issues in early literacy assessment, assessment material, the purposes of literacy assessment, government policy, practice in schools, baseline assessment of literacy, and the need for new research measures of early literacy are all recurrent themes in the book. The author reviews and discusses three decades of policy and practice in assessing literacy development in the years three to five - from recognizing in the late 1960s that literacy in these years exists, to proposals in 1997 for official assessment of literacy at five years. "Recognising Early Literacy Development" reviews and evaluates a large number of existing texts and assessment instruments, and some LEA baseline assessment documents. The author considers the theoretical, political and educational purposes of literacy assessment, and discusses assessment practices as found in an original survey of assessment practice in one LEA. She explores the need for a new approach to measurement for research, which is more attuned to assessment for teaching, and the importance of appropriate approaches to finding out what young children know about literacy. The book includes the Sheffield Early Literacy Development Profile.
'This is an invigorating and very thought-provoking text, that I would recommend to all early years professionals, parents and citizens interested in developing their understanding of early years philosophy in action, which is directly linked to a compelling research paradigm and deep reflection alongside a sound theoretical base' - Early Years 'I ......
