Learning to Teach and Teaching to Learn Through Practitioner Inquiry
This book helps educators everywhere to understand the importance of teacher inquiry and data analysis as pathways to amazing results in the classroom. It provides a step-by-step description of the classroom research process covering methods of formulating action research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and using it to create lasting solutions. It includes a range of real-life examples, practical exercises in every chapter and an accompanying website with extra resources. New to this edition: * Clear links between teacher inquiry and the creation of more equitable classrooms. * enhanced coverage of data analysis * using teacher inquiry to promote collective efficacy * the emergence of Professional Practice doctoral programs (a new market for Dana's work)
A complete rewrite of best-selling and award-winning text The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development: Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities, this revamped text will show teachers the ways being a productive and active member of a PLC can help them reclaim their own profession and create a successful PLC to improve student learning.
Strengthening Practice Through Knowledge, Story, and Metaphor
"Uses metaphor to connect the reader in a personal way with the intricacies of mentoring-a powerful catalyst for reflection." -Hal Portner, Educational Consultant "Sets the stage for the reader with a thoughtful, proactive context for carrying on the work of mentor." -Tom Ganser, Director, Office of Field Experiences, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater "What the text does so well is enable mentors to deeply consider their role and how they live this role within their interactions with new teachers." -Debra Pitton, Associate Professor of Education, Gustavus Adolphus College Deepen your mentoring practice with this innovative new approach! Effective mentoring requires planned and mindful attention to the ways in which one's knowledge, skills, and experience can be passed on to new teachers. Stressing the importance of deep reflection on one's mentoring practice, the award-winning authors offer eight models/metaphors that mentors can customize to meet the individual needs of their mentees. Proven strategies and real-life stories help teacher educators, trainers, and mentors to: Meet the diverse needs of mentor/mentee relationships Develop helpful mentoring tools Continue to reflect, learn, and grow as mentors This resource is sure to inspire critical conversation and fresh insights among all mentors committed to professional growth for themselves and their fellow teachers.
Building Expertise Within the Four Walls of Your School
"I love, love, love this book! This smorgasbord of professional development strategies maximizes time and on-site expertise. From the perspective of educators hungry for cost-effective, proven ways to promote ongoing, job-embedded professional learning, this is an a la carte menu for building healthy professional development 'meals' based on specific needs and available resources." -Gail Ritchie, Instructional Coach Fairfax County Public Schools, VA "This book offers a menu of practical, integrated, research-based tools and processes that engage and empower teachers and administrators in co-constructing a powerful form of job-embedded professional development that is relevant, focused, and organic, and allows schools to transform themselves into a self-sustaining learning organization." -Pedro R. Bermudez, Professional Development Support Ready Schools Miami, FL Achieve effective, on-site teacher development without breaking the budget! This essential guide to job-embedded staff development helps schools and districts move away from reliance on outside expertise, instead drawing on and developing the experience and skills of their own faculty. The authors provide a complete toolbox of school-based professional development (PD) strategies, with recommendations on which tools to use for different times and settings, guidelines for implementation, and extended examples of each tool in action for a full spectrum of proven, cost-effective PD models, including: Book study and lesson study Action research and professional learning communities Coaching and co-teaching Webinars, podcasts, Open Space Technology, online communities, and much more
"A tool box overflowing with ideas that will help every staff developer craft a school culture hospitable to adult and student learning." -Roland S. Barth, Author, Lessons Learned "The book speaks to many audiences, including instructional coaches, PLC leaders, action researchers and group leaders, and university professors working with action researchers and PLCs." -Gail Ritchie, Coleader, Teacher Researcher Network Fairfax County Public Schools, VA "A terrific resource for connecting teacher networks and action research to create powerful professional development opportunities. This book is a joy to read." -Ellen Meyers, Senior Vice President Teachers Network Powerful tools for facilitating teachers' professional development and optimizing school improvement efforts! Professional learning communities (PLCs) and action research are popular and proven frameworks for professional development. While both can greatly improve teaching and learning, few resources have combined the two practices into one coherent approach. The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development provides educators with strategies, activities, and tools to develop inquiry-oriented PLCs. Nationally known school reform experts Nancy Fichtman Dana and Diane Yendol-Hoppey cover the ten essential elements of a healthy PLC, provide case studies of actual inquiry-based PLCs, and present lessons learned to help good coaches become great coaches. With this step-by-step guide, readers will be able to: Organize, assess, and maintain high-functioning, inquiry-oriented PLCs Facilitate the development of study questions Establish the trust and collective commitment necessary for successful action research Enable PLC members to develop, analyze, and share research results Lead successful renewal and reform efforts By combining two powerful training practices, coaches, workshop leaders, and staff developers can ensure continuous, robust school-based professional development.
"A tool box overflowing with ideas that will help every staff developer craft a school culture hospitable to adult and student learning." -Roland S. Barth, Author, Lessons Learned "The book speaks to many audiences, including instructional coaches, PLC leaders, action researchers and group leaders, and university professors working with action researchers and PLCs." -Gail Ritchie, Coleader, Teacher Researcher Network Fairfax County Public Schools, VA "A terrific resource for connecting teacher networks and action research to create powerful professional development opportunities. This book is a joy to read." -Ellen Meyers, Senior Vice President Teachers Network Powerful tools for facilitating teachers' professional development and optimizing school improvement efforts! Professional learning communities (PLCs) and action research are popular and proven frameworks for professional development. While both can greatly improve teaching and learning, few resources have combined the two practices into one coherent approach. The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development provides educators with strategies, activities, and tools to develop inquiry-oriented PLCs. Nationally known school reform experts Nancy Fichtman Dana and Diane Yendol-Hoppey cover the ten essential elements of a healthy PLC, provide case studies of actual inquiry-based PLCs, and present lessons learned to help good coaches become great coaches. With this step-by-step guide, readers will be able to: Organize, assess, and maintain high-functioning, inquiry-oriented PLCs Facilitate the development of study questions Establish the trust and collective commitment necessary for successful action research Enable PLC members to develop, analyze, and share research results Lead successful renewal and reform efforts By combining two powerful training practices, coaches, workshop leaders, and staff developers can ensure continuous, robust school-based professional development.
Strengthening Practice Through Knowledge, Story, and Metaphor
"Uses metaphor to connect the reader in a personal way with the intricacies of mentoring-a powerful catalyst for reflection." -Hal Portner, Educational Consultant "Sets the stage for the reader with a thoughtful, proactive context for carrying on the work of mentor." -Tom Ganser, Director, Office of Field Experiences, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater "What the text does so well is enable mentors to deeply consider their role and how they live this role within their interactions with new teachers." -Debra Pitton, Associate Professor of Education, Gustavus Adolphus College Deepen your mentoring practice with this innovative new approach! Effective mentoring requires planned and mindful attention to the ways in which one's knowledge, skills, and experience can be passed on to new teachers. Stressing the importance of deep reflection on one's mentoring practice, the award-winning authors offer eight models/metaphors that mentors can customize to meet the individual needs of their mentees. Proven strategies and real-life stories help teacher educators, trainers, and mentors to: Meet the diverse needs of mentor/mentee relationships Develop helpful mentoring tools Continue to reflect, learn, and grow as mentors This resource is sure to inspire critical conversation and fresh insights among all mentors committed to professional growth for themselves and their fellow teachers.
