The A-Z of School Improvement

The A-Z of School Improvement
Author: David Woods
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2013-05-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1441151370

School improvement is an increasingly complex field with developments in policy, research, practice and language making it difficult to get a complete picture. Leading authors David Woods and Tim Brighouse pull together the approaches, characteristics and technical terms needed for busy school leaders, teachers, governors and parents to quickly get to grips with current approaches and best practice. Combining their extensive experience of school improvement in action, they provide an authoritative and up-to-date overview of the field and easy access to the wide range of information, ideas and practices on making schools the best they can be. A comprehensive A-Z introduces the characteristics, approaches and language of school improvement ranging from appreciative enquiry to zero tolerance. Quotations, case studies and 'butterflies' (little ideas with big impact) illustrate the entries and bring them to life through the experiences of real schools. They include discussion of key debates and controversies to stimulate discussion and guided reading by topic to help with further research.

The Next Big Thing in School Improvement

The Next Big Thing in School Improvement
Author: Ben White
Publisher: John Catt
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2021-10-22
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1914351681

This is a book about educational fads, why they arise, and how we might learn to live with them. Those working in schools are subject to perpetual waves of novelty in the name of school improvement. And yet, in the long term very little actually changes. Big ideas come and go, leaving only faint clues as to their existence. The trouble is that the appealing stories that take hold will never solve the fundamental problems of modern schooling. The school system is too complex, too diverse, and too uncertain to be fixed by any Big Idea. Before too long, the Next Big Thing replaces the Last Big Thing. The Next Big Thing in School Improvement brings together the unique perspectives of a policy analyst, a headteacher, and a classroom teacher, to explain why it is that the school system often resists our attempts to improve it. Drawing on the recent history of English education policy, a variety of disciplinary traditions, and the emerging field of complexity science, the authors present a new take on why the school system behaves in ways that defy our attempts to change it. This is a book about finding a better way to improve our schools. It is not the Next Big Thing, but it does explain why there will inevitably be one, and what to do when it arrives.

Handbook of School Improvement

Handbook of School Improvement
Author: Jo Blase
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2010-03-30
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452230765

Learn how successful principals make a difference in their school’s performance! Based on a ground-breaking study and numerous firsthand accounts, this illuminating book captures unique perspectives from 20 outstanding principals, representing a wide range of urban and rural schools. This resource includes: The nine personal characteristics that help principals lead high-performing schools Practical strategies for balancing both administrative responsibilities and instructional leadership Guidance on using a systems-development approach to support excellence at every level Discussion of the use of research and data for school improvement Tips and suggestions from effective principals, along with recommended resources for further learning

Innovation up Close

Innovation up Close
Author: A. Michael Huberman
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2013-06-29
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1489903909

School improvement, like motherhood, has many advocates. Everyone is for it, without having to campaign actively on its behalf. And just as the 100% of people who have had mothers think they know how mothering could be done better, so the (nearly) 100% of people who have been pupils in schools, or have even taught in or managed them, think they know how schools can be im proved. More precisely, they are sure that schools ought to be improved. The trouble is that they propose a staggering, conflicting range of methods of improving the schools, from ;'back to the woodshed" to teacher merit pay, a stiffer curriculum, a stronger tax base, reorganization, a more humane climate, "teacher-proof" innovations, community involvement-the list is nearly end less. Furthermore, the issues are not merely technical, but normative and po litical. The term improvement is itself problematic. One person's version of improvement is another's version of wastefulness or even of worsening the schools. Furthermore, the versions that win out in any particular school are not Improvement sometimes turns out to be merely a necessarily technically "best. " code word for the directives that administrators have successfully put into place, or for the agreements that teachers have lobbied into being. How much do we really know about school improvement? The available research literature is quite substantial, but not as helpful as it might be.

The Challenge of Change

The Challenge of Change
Author: Michael Fullan
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2009-04-09
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452207682

A cohesive, multi-level approach for sustainable educational reform! This completely revised edition of The Challenge of School Change addresses the concerns behind the school change movement, examines theories and implementation strategies, and analyzes a new framework for change. Designed for educational leaders, this collection: Focuses on tri-level reform—school, district, and state/national levels working together to build and strengthen capacity for change Features notable experts, including Richard F. Elmore, Andy Hargreaves, Elizabeth A. City, Pedro A. Noguera, Carmel Crévola, Jim Knight, and Kenneth Leithwood Provides practical implementation examples for tri-level reform Looks at the essential role that hope and emotion play

The Data Toolkit

The Data Toolkit
Author: Robert T. Hess
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 161
Release: 2012
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1412992974

The authors provide ten easy-to-use data analysis tools that facilitate problem-solving at school and district levels. Included are instructions, sample scenarios, and case studies.

Instructional Coaches and the Instructional Leadership Team

Instructional Coaches and the Instructional Leadership Team
Author: Dean T. Spaulding
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 161
Release: 2012-08-07
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452284245

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 teacher Adapting data and analysis into usable information for the team Recruiting, training, and supporting new instructional coaches Journal 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!" —Kathy Ferrell, Instructional Coach Excelsior Springs Middle School, MO "This is a wonderful resource. Even schools without instructional coaches will benefit from the strategies and suggestions included. It′s an excellent book even for those who shy away from data analysis!" —Ann Dargon, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Westport Community Schools, MA

Educational Authorities and the Schools

Educational Authorities and the Schools
Author: Helene Ärlestig
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2020-05-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 3030387593

This book describes and analyses the organisation, functions and development of national educational authorities and agencies and the influence they have on local schools in 20 countries around the world. It examines the governing chain in the respective countries from both a theoretical and descriptive perspective. It does so against the background of the stability and rigour of the governing chains having been challenged, with some researchers considering the chain to be broken. However, the view that comes to the fore in this book is that the chain is still present and contains both vertical implementation structures and intervening spaces for policy interpretation. How schools become successful is important for the individual students as well as the local community and the national state. A vast quantity of research has looked at what happens in schools and classrooms. At the same time, national governance and politics as well as local prerequisites are known to exert influence on schools and their results to a high degree. Societal priorities, problems and traditions provide variety in how governance is executed. This book provides an international overview of the similarities and differences between educational agencies and how their work influences schools.

Technology Leadership for School Improvement

Technology Leadership for School Improvement
Author: Rosemary Papa
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2011
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1412972108

Technology Leadership for School Improvement is a practical textbook that prepares primary and secondary educational leaders with the skills and knowledge to manage and administer technology in their school settings. The text focuses on helping educational leaders learn what they need to know about technology standards, data-driven decision making, and creative leadership in this digital environment. To effectively cover the many facets of technology each chapter is written by a specialist following a similar structure and pedagogy for ease of use by the learner.

Improvement Science in Education

Improvement Science in Education
Author: Brandi Nicole Hinnant-Crawford
Publisher: Myers Education Press
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2020-07-10
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1975503570

Improvement Science in Education: A Primer provides a comprehensive overview of improvement science as a framework to guide continuous improvement and reconceptualizes improvement by centering equity and justice as the purpose of improvement. This Primer is designed to introduce improvement science, a methodology with origins in manufacturing, engineering and healthcare, to educational audiences. The book first explores the philosophical and methodological foundations of improvement science, juxtaposing it with traditional forms of research so that clear distinctions can be drawn. Chapters in the latter half of the book introduce the principles of improvement, give guidance and tools for operationalizing the principles in practice, and conclude with questions to ensure you are improving with equity in mind. Constantly reminding readers to think about who is involved and impacted, the Primer makes improvement science accessible to novices and adds critical dimensions for experienced practitioners to consider. Perfect for courses such as: Educational Research, School Improvement, and Program Evaluation