Schools as professional learning communities : collaborative activities and strategies for professional development /: collaborative activities and strategies for professional development. (2008)

• Record Type: Book
• Further Information: Note: Sylvia M. Roberts, Eunice Z. Pruitt ; foreword by Susan Sullivan.
• Other Names: Roberts, Sylvia M (Sylvia Mae), 1937-; Pruitt, Eunice Z (Eunice Zita)
• Contents: Foreword by Susan Sullivan; Preface; About the Authors; 1. The Professional Learning Community: An Overview; Preview of the Chapter; What is a learning community?; What are the characteristics of a learning community?; What is the role of the learning community in an age of accountability?; What are the key elements of the school improvement framework for learning community schools?; How is student achievement affected by the learning community model?; How are teachers affected by the learning community?; How do refelection and reflective practice contribute to the building of learning communities?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; 2. Learning Through Shared Leadership; What are the roles of educational leaders in a learning community?; What steps must a principal take to develop a shared mission and vision?; What strategies can educational leaders use to communicate and sustain the vision?; What about emotional intelligence and leadership?; How do principals build the trust that contributes to improved student achievement?; What communication skills do leaders need to successfully lead learning communities?; What do leaders need to know about the change process?; How do you begin the process of building a learning community?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; 3. Learning Through Ongoing Professional Development; What are the guiding principles for professional development in learning communities?; What strategies meet the needs of adults as learners?; How can we find enough time for professional development?; How do we assess the effectiveness of professional development?; How do we get started with professional development?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; 4. Learning Through Teamwork; How can we overcome barriers to effective teamwork?; What behaviors promote effective teamwork?; What are the stages of group development?; How may conflict among team members be effectively managed?; What are effective ways for teams to make decisions?; How should meetings be conducted to promote team development in learning communities?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; 5. Learning Through Study Groups; What is a study group?; What are the purposes and benefits of study groups for a community of learners?; How do you initiate a study group?; How can teacher book study groups be planned and conducted?; Conclusion; Making it Work; 6. Learning Through Classroom Observation; What is the purpose of classroom observation?; How does the standards-based walk-through for teachers contribute to a culture of collaborative instruction?; How does conferencing with teachers set the stage for the calssroom observation process?; How does clinical supervision improve learning and foster collaboration?; What about the observation of the differentiated classroom?; Conclusion; Making it Work; Activities; 7. Learning Through Collaborative Approaches; How may issues of equity and diversity be addressed in a collaborative learning community?; What is the role of collaboration in the learning community?; How do mentoring and coaching enhance the learning community?; How does collaborative assessment of student work build learning communities?; How may we collaborate with parents in the learning community?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; 8. Learning Through Professional Portfolios; What is the role of professional portfolios in the learning community?; What goes into a professional portfolio?; How do you get started developing the portfolio?; How should the portfolio be organized?; What about electronic portfolios?; How may the portfolio be evaluated?; What strategies support the development and use of portfolios in the learning community?; Conclusion; Making it Work; Activities; 9. Sustaining the Professional Learning Community; How do we sustain a culture that supports a collaborative approach to improving instructional practice and student outcomes?; How do we sustain the structures that support learning community schools?; What must we do to maintain the focus on continuous student learning that characterizes learning communities?; How do we maintain a focus on the school's mission and shared vision statements that stress student achievement?; What steps must be taken to ensure that shared leadership is sustained in learning community schools?; Conclusion; Making It Work; Activities; References; Index;
• Edition: 2nd ed
• Publisher Details: Thousand Oaks : Corwin
• Publication Date: 2008
• Extent: 1 online resource (272 pages)
• Subjects: 371.14/8; Group work in education -- United States; Activity programs in education -- United States; Teachers -- In-service training -- United States
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9781452295800; 1452295808
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.