Five Levers to Improve Learning

Five Levers to Improve Learning PDF Author: Tony Frontier
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 141661754X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 207

Get Book Here

Book Description
Why have decades of school reform had so little measurable effect on student achievement? Why have billions of dollars spent on technology, small-school initiatives, and school-choice options failed to improve our schools? Too often, educators are simply pulling the wrong levers, say Tony Frontier and James Rickabaugh. They explain that the various components of schooling fall into five categories: structure, sample, standards, strategy, and self. Understanding how these five “levers” work--and their relative power--can help unlock the potential for lasting improvements in teaching and learning. The authors show readers that changes to structure and sample (how schools are organized and how students are grouped) will not be effective without changes to standards (expectations for student learning), strategy (instructional strategies to engage students in meaningful learning), and self (the set of beliefs teachers and students have about their capacity to be effective). At the heart of this book is a simple message for teachers, administrators, board members, and education policymakers at all levels: the key to success is not doing more work and making more changes, but doing the right work, and making the right changes.

Tapping the Power of Personalized Learning

Tapping the Power of Personalized Learning PDF Author: James Rickabaugh
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416621601
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this powerful new book, James Rickabaugh, former superintendent and current director of the Institute for Personalized Learning (IPL), presents the groundbreaking results of the Institute’s half-decade of research, development, and practice: a simple but powerful model for personalizing students’ learning experiences by building their levels of commitment, ownership, and independence. Tried and rigorously tested in urban, suburban, and rural districts--and in different academic and economic settings--the IPL model has been proven to enhance student engagement and achievement at all levels. Rickabaugh provides principals and other top-level leaders with * Step-by-step guidance for implementing the model; * A detailed overview of the research and work behind the model’s development; * A complete introduction to the heart of the model—a comprehensive, multi-layered framework centered on the three core components of learner profiles, customized learning paths, and proficiency-based progress; * Tools and activities for assessing and adjusting the model to meet the specific needs of students and staff; * Strategies for increasing and reinforcing enthusiasm for the change process among everyone involved, from the classroom to the greater community; and * An abundance of real-life examples and reflections from students, teachers, principals, and superintendents whose schools have flourished in record time and with minimal additional funding or resources. Tapping the Power of Personalized Learning offers a blueprint that dramatically improves student outcomes and prepares today’s learners to meet life’s challenges in college and beyond.

The STEM Coaching Handbook

The STEM Coaching Handbook PDF Author: Terry Talley
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317230701
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 167

Get Book Here

Book Description
Learn how to promote STEM integration in your school district and increase student achievement. In this helpful, easy-to-read book, author Terry Talley sheds light on the key responsibilities and accountabilities of a successful STEM coach and offers a wealth of practical advice for those new to the position and for those who want to refine their skills. You’ll discover how to... Build positive working relationships with teachers and faculty Organize professional development opportunities such as PLCs and book study groups Develop hands-on instructional strategies based off the needs of your students and the strengths of your staff Promote technological and scientific literacy to prepare students for success in the 21st Century Enhance student engagement using project-based learning and growth-based assessment models Designed to be read either as a step-by-step guide or as a reference, The STEM Coaching Handbook is loaded with insights and accounts from experienced STEM educators across the country. No matter your level of expertise, these tips will help you make your district’s STEM program more effective for all students.

Learning Personalized

Learning Personalized PDF Author: Allison Zmuda
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118904796
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 246

Get Book Here

Book Description
A real-world action plan for educators to create personalized learning experiences Learning Personalized: The Evolution of the Contemporary Classroom provides teachers, administrators, and educational leaders with a clear and practical guide to personalized learning. Written by respected teachers and leading educational consultants Allison Zmuda, Greg Curtis, and Diane Ullman, this comprehensive resource explores what personalized learning looks like, how it changes the roles and responsibilities of every stakeholder, and why it inspires innovation. The authors explain that, in order to create highly effective personalized learning experiences, a new instructional design is required that is based loosely on the traditional model of apprenticeship: learning by doing. Learning Personalized challenges educators to rethink the fundamental principles of schooling that honors students' natural willingness to play, problem solve, fail, re-imagine, and share. This groundbreaking resource: Explores the elements of personalized learning and offers a framework to achieve it Provides a roadmap for enrolling relevant stakeholders to create a personalized learning vision and reimagine new roles and responsibilities Addresses needs and provides guidance specific to the job descriptions of various types of educators, administrators, and other staff This invaluable educational resource explores a simple framework for personalized learning: co-creation, feedback, sharing, and learning that is as powerful for a teacher to re-examine classroom practice as it is for a curriculum director to reexamine the structure of courses.

Leverage Leadership

Leverage Leadership PDF Author: Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118238923
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 417

Get Book Here

Book Description
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo (Managing Director of Uncommon Schools) shows leaders how they can raise their schools to greatness by following a core set of principles. These seven principles, or "levers," allow for consistent, transformational, and replicable growth. With intentional focus on these areas, leaders will leverage much more learning from the same amount of time investment. Fundamentally, each of these seven levers answers the core questions of school leadership: What should an effective leader do, and how and when should they do it. Aimed at all levels of school leadership, the book is for any principal, superintendent, or educator who wants to be a transformational leader. The book includes 30 video clips of top-tier leaders in action. These videos bring great schools to you, and support a deeper understanding of both the components of success and how it looks as a whole. There are also many helpful rubrics, extensive professional development tools, calendars, and templates. Explores the core principles of effective leadership Author's charter school, North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey, received the highest possible award given by the U.S. Department of Education; the National Blue Ribbon Print version includes an instructive DVD with 30 video clips to show how it looks in real life. E-book customers: please note that details on how to access the content from the DVD may be found in the e-book Table of Contents. Please see the section: "How to Access DVD Contents" Bambrick-Santoyo has trained more than 1,800 school leaders nationwide in his work at Uncommon Schools and is a recognized expert on transforming schools to achieve extraordinary results.

Teaching with Clarity

Teaching with Clarity PDF Author: Tony Frontier
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416630090
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 211

Get Book Here

Book Description
Rather than more programs, strategies, assessments, and meetings, teachers need more clarity, which emerges when we prioritize our efforts to do less with greater focus.

Conducting Productive Meetings

Conducting Productive Meetings PDF Author: Teruni Lamberg
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1475841329
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 135

Get Book Here

Book Description
Successful leaders have excellent communication with their team and stakeholders. Learn strategies used by highly effective leaders who have led teams to innovate. Eight innovative leaders whose work has made an impact nationally and internationally and seven K-12 leaders who have amazing track records share how they communicate with their team and stakeholders. The author also shares her insights on leading a statewide professional development project in Nevada. A leader must structure activities such as meetings and informal interactions to create optimal conditions to generate and refine ideas. Readers will gain specific strategies to use in meetings to move ideas from the brainstorming stage to more refined ideas that result in innovative theories, products or services. Considering the needs of the customer and engaging them in the design process is an important part of innovating. Readers will also learn how to structure meetings and activities to generate and refine ideas. The author also presents a framework that is backed up by research in business and creativity.

Leading with Focus

Leading with Focus PDF Author: Mike Schmoker
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416621385
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 147

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book shows school administrators, principals, and other education leaders how to apply the author's model to the work of running schools and districts. It offers an overview of the case for simple, focused school and district leadership; examples of real schools and districts that have embraced focused leadership; and a practical implementation guide for ensuring focused leadership in schools and districts.

School Leader's Guide to Tackling Attendance Challenges

School Leader's Guide to Tackling Attendance Challenges PDF Author: Jessica Sprick
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416626832
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 250

Get Book Here

Book Description
"For students to be successful in school, they first have to be in school." With that simple statement, Jessica Sprick and Randy Sprick launch a compelling case for prioritizing student attendance. This comprehensive guide provides school and district-level administrators and teams with the background information, strategies, and tools needed to implement a multitiered approach to improving attendance and preventing chronic absence. The authors use the results of their work in schools throughout the United States to dispel the myth that educators have little control over student attendance and provide success stories from elementary and secondary schools that have reversed longstanding patterns of absenteeism. Citing extensive research, Sprick and Sprick share details about the shocking prevalence of chronic absence in U.S. schools and its effects on students, teachers, families, and the school community. They explain how to replace punitive approaches to absenteeism with effective methods that begin with universal supports and continue through Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for students with more persistent problems. Specifically, they explain how to Build an effective school team to address absenteeism . Create systems to collect accurate data and set priorities. Develop an attendance initiative that generates student enthusiasm as well as staff, parent, and community support. Design and implement strategies that are tailored to specific schoolwide concerns and demographics that reach all students. Equipped with the information and tools presented in this book, educators can ensure wise use of staff and other resources—and create a culture of attendance that is the foundation of successful schools. This book is a copublication of ASCD and Ancora Publishing.

Fighting for Change in Your School

Fighting for Change in Your School PDF Author: Harvey Alvy
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416624163
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 234

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this indispensable book for K–12 leaders, Harvey Alvy offers a thoughtful roadmap and guidance to help educators select, implement, and assess school- or districtwide initiatives that actually work. The book is filled with a wealth of resources—action checklists, principles to guide educators, and in-depth questions and protocols—for engaging in collaborative professional development activities that strengthen teaching and learning practices and improve student achievement. Alvy discusses in detail the six "red flags" that educators confront daily and a set of countervailing strategies (six practical guidelines) to pursue meaningful reforms, initiatives, and innovations: Red Flags The Narrative Trap Overpromising and Overloading Minimizing the Enormous Difficulty of Implementation Eyes off the Prize Historical Amnesia The Business “Solution” Guidelines Building a Collaborative Learning Community Effectively Using Human, Fiscal, and Material Resources Respecting the Change Process Sustaining a Coherent School Mission and Vision Embracing Timeless and Eclectic Teaching Practices Championing and Empowering the Underserved Selecting and implementing reforms, initiatives, and practices wisely is key if we truly want the best for our students--and skipping the necessary planning and forethought can be catastrophic. Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance is the book every educator needs to ensure the former and prevent the latter. The time to address these challenges is now.