[PDF] Transforming Schools Through Systems Change eBook
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Comprehensively describing systems that support teachers and students in a holistic and humanistic way, Transforming Schools Through Systems Change offers a road map for those in struggling schools who want to see real change resulting in improved student achievement. Building on a conceptual framework that combines academic press, social support, and relational trust, the authors describe how to create and implement systems at the district, school-wide, department, and classroom levels that support each person within the school.
The pressure is on. Throughout the country, educators and administrators are working hard to make sure students pass standardized tests and graduate. At the same time, teachers are overwhelmed by ever-increasing demands. Efforts at reforming schools often replicate the same approaches and net the same discouraging results. Staff at many schools feel defensive and powerless as a result of being unable to meet standards they didn’t set and don’t know how to achieve. This book describes a humanistic approach to implementing programs and systems that bring academic press, social support, and relational trust together in unique ways. Based on the understanding that old beliefs are changed by supporting new behaviors, the approach includes acquiring and using data in innovative and intentional ways. Properly conducted, the approach results in high morale, a sense of inclusiveness and success, increased efficacy, and improved metrics in all areas of education. The book includes the research and theory behind the approach, action steps for leaders, and lessons learned in the process—useful elements of success for any school.
The Change Leadership Group at the Harvard School of Education has, through its work with educators, developed a thoughtful approach to the transformation of schools in the face of increasing demands for accountability. This book brings the work of the Change Leadership Group to a broader audience, providing a framework to analyze the work of school change and exercises that guide educators through the development of their practice as agents of change. It exemplifies a new and powerful approach to leadership in schools.
How can a school become a place where all members of the staff are learning, growing, and working to increase student achievement? The answer lies in systems thinking and a focus on continuous improvement, two concepts that can transform staff development from something that people merely tolerate to something that they actively pursue to create lasting improvements in teaching and learning. Each chapter of Transforming Schools: Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement is grounded in a set of operating principles that provide practical guidance to school leaders. The story of a fictional school brings the ideas to life as the characters—a school principal, teachers, and district-level administrators—experience the shifts in thinking that are necessary to transform a school into a competent system. Through their story, the reader gains a clear understanding of the six steps of continuous improvement: Identify core beliefs. Create a shared vision. Use data to determine gaps between the current reality and the shared vision. Identify the innovations that will most likely close the gaps. Develop and implement an action plan. Endorse collective accountability. Thoughtful analysis of the fictional dialogue throughout the book gives readers an understanding of the dynamic nature of change, systems thinking, and continuous improvement. And questions at the end of each chapter help readers apply key concepts to their own schools. Whether your school improvement goals are clearly defined or still in development, Transforming Schools will help you tackle the many challenges of the change process.
Leadership is a continuous work in progress. Leaders must not only move toward success purposely and thoughtfully but also ensure that others are working toward their vision as well. When trying to incorporate system change, leaders will encounter obstacles that may divert their focus from the end goal. Staying on track toward success is difficult in the face of change and, at times, resistance, but assessment for learning provides the foundation and processes that leaders need in order to plan next steps and move from where they are to where they want to be. Using the same steps that enable students to achieve, leaders can employ assessment for learning techniques to plan for, implement, gather feedback about, and collect evidence of change for learning. The goal is organizational learning constant, informed change. Transforming Schools and Systems Using Assessment shows leaders how to engage in system change using the principles of assessment for learning by exploring subjects such as: systemic focus and alignment professional development resistance parents and community quality feedback standards-based reporting Whether the system is a school, a cluster of schools, or an entire district, this book will help leaders put into practice the principles and big ideas of assessment for learning to lead the way to system change at all levels of education.
Educators, you are the hope you’ve been looking for. Have you ever wondered what it would look like for you and your colleagues to really change how things are done in your school? For over twenty-five years, Partners in School Innovation has empowered educators in doing just that, across twenty-two school districts and eight states, dramatically improving underperforming schools in the process. Their secrets? Specialized adult learning tools, a results-oriented cycle of inquiry, professional development systems focused on coaching and collaboration, implementing improvement science, understanding the roles of race, class, culture, and power in schools, and more. This book presents those time-tested, research-based practices through narratives chronicling the efforts of real-life educators. It presents thoughtful checklists and discussion questions to help educators strengthen the skill sets and mindsets needed to implement sustainable school improvement. A lot has changed in recent years, but the solution to turning schools into lively, loving, learning communities remains the same: you. This book provides a blueprint for you to become the change agent your students need.
Presenting a unique team-based problem-solving model, this book shows how to turn K-8 school change from a daunting prospect into an achievable goal supported by a concrete plan. A framework is provided for addressing any schoolwide academic or behavior issue, from reading or math problems to concerns about school safety or tardiness. Four clear-cut steps are described: problem identification, problem analysis, plan development, and plan implementation/evaluation. User-friendly features include procedures for navigating each step, extended case examples, frequently asked questions, and 13 reproducible forms; the large-size format and lay-flat binding facilitate photocopying. Purchasers get access to a companion website where they can download and print the reproducible materials, as well as online-only practice exercises with answers. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by T. Chris Riley-Tillman.
Author : Gene Hall Publisher : State University of New York Press Page : 404 pages File Size : 34,50 MB Release : 1987-03-06 Category : Education ISBN : 1438405545
This book summarizes nearly fifteen years of research in schools—research geared toward understanding and describing the change process as experienced by its participants. It addresses the question: "What can educators and educational administrators don on a day-to-day basis to become more effective in facilitating beneficial change?" The book provides research-based tools, techniques, and approaches that can help change facilitators to attain this goal. The authors contend that, in order to be more effective, educators must be concerns-based in their approach to leadership. Early chapters deal with teachers' evolving attitudes, concerns, and perceptions of change, as well as their gradually developing skills in implementing promising educational innovations. The authors next turn to examine the role of the school principal and other leaders as change facilitators, and present ways that they can become better informed about the developmental state of teachers as well as how to use these diagnostic survey and data as the basis for facilitating the change process. The emphasis is on practical day-to-day skills and techniques, showing administrators how to design and implement interventions that are supportive of teachers and others. Each chapter presents not only the concepts and research of the authors but also translates the concepts in concrete applications which illustrate the ways they can be applied to obtain genuine and lasting improvements. The book also contains an important discussion and description of the change process, focusing on teachers, innovations, and the schools.
Improve Schools and Transform Education In order for educational systems to change, we must reevaluate deep-seated beliefs about learning, teaching, schooling, and race that perpetuate inequitable opportunities and outcomes. Hatch, Corson, and Gerth van den Berg challenge the narrative when it comes to the "grammar of schooling"--or the conventional structures, practices, and beliefs that define educational experiences for so many children—to cast a new vision of what school could be. The book addresses current systemic problems and solutions as it: Highlights global examples of successful school change Describes strategies that improve educational opportunities and performance Explores promising approaches in developing new learning opportunities Outlines conditions for supporting wide-scale educational improvement This provocative book approaches education reform by highlighting what works, while also demonstrating what can be accomplished if we redefine conventional schools. We can make the schools we have more efficient, more effective, and more equitable, all while creating powerful opportunities to support all aspects of students’ development. "You won’t find a better book on system change in education than this one. We learn why schools don’t change; how they can improve; what it takes to change a system; and, in the final analysis, the possibilities of system change. Above all, The Education We Need renders complexity into clarity as the writing is so clear and compelling. A powerful read on a topic of utmost importance." ~Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, OISE/Universtiy of Toronto "I cannot recommend this book highly enough – Tom tackles long-standing and emerging educational issues in new ways with an impressive understanding of the challenging complexities, but also feasible possibilities, for ensuring excellence and equity for all students." ~Carol Campbell, Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto