A constructivist leader facilitates professional dialogue and inquiry to enable all teachers to make sense of their work together and to reconstruct the major purposes of schooling. Illustrating their work with vignettes of the activities of such leaders, the authors of this book create a clear picture of constructivist teaching and leadership. They also formulate strategies for altering the school culture to accommodate constructivist leadership.
A constructivist leader facilitates professional dialogue and inquiry to enable all teachers to make sense of their work together and to reconstruct the major purposes of schooling. Illustrating their work with vignettes of the activities of such leaders, the authors of this book create a clear picture of constructivist teaching and leadership. They also formulate strategies for altering the school culture to accommodate constructivist leadership.
Structured journals serve as a valuable framework for supporting professional collaboration and learning within a school and ultimately for improving student achievement. In Journals as Frameworks for Professional Learning Communities, the author demonstrates how school teams can use the structured journal process to consider research, reflect on opportunities, and implement new practices that will also address accountability mandates and enhance teachers' instructional repertoire. The book presents five types of structured journals, each with a specific purpose, that can be used by professional learning communities (PLCs). PLC Journal: Facilitating School Reform; Action Research Journal; Teacher as Researcher; School Portfolios; Our School and Its Benefits; Professional Performance Portfolio; Highly Qualified Teacher PLC; Instructional Planning and Aligning Professional Development With Instructional Priorities. Each chapter includes a case study and sample journal illustrating the four-step journaling process: purpose, focus, process, and outcome. Readers will also find strategies for implementing the process, a set of blank journal templates, a glossary of key terms, and a bibliography. The accompanying CD-ROM contains additional templates, strategies, and implementation tools to assist educators in using the structured journal method.
"We successfully used the first edition and are especially excited about this revision, with updated journal designs and a CD-ROM. Now we have digital access and can easily share files and archive our efforts." -Aminda Gentile, Director UFT Teacher Centers Increase the power of professional learning communities through the use of structured journaling. Educators working together in learning communities share a common objective: to develop broader and deeper understandings about the work that they do. As professionals, these participants look for opportunities to reflect on research and consider new practices that will impact student learning In Journals as Frameworks for Professional Learning Communities, international consultant Mary E. Dietz demonstrates five types of structured journals expressly tailored to the scope and purpose of professional learning communities (PLCs). Each of the journals in this groundbreaking guide follows a clearly defined four-step process-purpose, focus, process, and outcome-and provides a framework that promotes collaboration, continuous learning, and improved student achievement. The standard PLC Journal supports a collaborative effort focused on facilitating school reform. The School Portfolio Journal aids those convened to study individual schools and their benefits. The Action Research Journal builds teachers' skills as researchers, and the Professional Performance Portfolio supports the development of highly qualified teachers. Finally, the PLC Instructional Planning Journal helps participants align professional development with instructional priorities. With each journal type, the author includes: Step-by-step instructions for using structured journals Illustrations of the four-step journaling process Case studies drawn from actual experiences with educators and school communities Opportunities for PLC participants to consider new practices that can boost student learning A section devoted to reflection and conversation This comprehensive resource provides teachers, administrators, and other PLC members with powerful support for change and growth. The book and accompanying CD-ROM include helpful hints and strategies, a learning communities readiness rubric, implementation tools, and blank journal templates.
Designing the School Leader's Portfolio provides school leaders with a practical guide to developing a data-based leadership growth plan. Linking leadership growth to school improvement goals, the author provides tools for: Creating a personal growth plan; Targeting goals and action steps; Defining a collaborative school assessment and action plan; and Incorporating standards.
