I set-up this blog to introduce technology into the school leadership courses that I teach for the University; I hope it will increase communication and thinking about the topics we discuss and school leadership in general.
Best books for educational leaders
A brief guide to cloud computing by Barnatt
A whole new mind by Pink
Dealing with difficult teachers by Whitaker
Drive by Pink
Education nation by Chen
Failure is not an option by Blankstein
Focus by Schmoker
Getting things done by Allen
Leadership & the force of love by Hoyle
Leading school change by Whitaker
Mastery of management by Kahler
Playing for pizza by Grisham (just for fun)
Results now by Schmoker
School leadership that works by Marzano
Teacher evaluation that makes a difference by Marzano & Toth
The global achievement gap by Wagner
The manufactured crisis by Berliner
The wizard and the warrior by Bolman & Deal
Visible learning by Hattie
Where have all the leaders gone by Iacocca
The School House
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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Instructional Leadership
Love him or hate him, Mike Schmoker really puts it all out there when he talks about his walk-though study and does so again with the piece about the Caryloa curriculum. Is he crazy or do his ideas about good instruction make sense? What are his ideas about teaching and learning and could they be applied at a school near you?
Schmoker is right in line. I like what he has to say. It makes me think that he was actually visiting my school. I believe that a good education comes from good instruction. Good instruction comes from puttuing together useful lessons that would create a great learning experience. Schmokers ideas of "little research teams" (aka "PLC's) is terrific. What better way to plan than to be able to plan together on better ways to teach our children. Somehow,schools get caught up in the psycho-babble of vision and mission statements, that they loose the big picture. JUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!
Schmoker's ideas really make sense. His honesty needs to be shared by others. It is true that there are teachers who are doing the basic minimum. They are giving the students busy work. Teachers need to provide quality instruction so students will achieve and be successful. Does this sound like a school near me---YES! Can these ideas be applied to the schools near me---YES! There are those teachers who are busting their butts teaching and there are others who are reading emails and giving the students worksheets. The crazy thing is that there is a common curriculum, with common standards that should be taught by everyone. A huge part of the problem is that teachers are not held accountable until standardized test scores are released. If you are in teaching for the right reason, then you should teach and do what is right!
I think that Schmoker's ideas about good sintruction is corrct. I think some of his observations unfortunately come from teachers having low expectations of students in low performing schools and some of it is simply a result of teachers not being adequately trained. Students are never too young to learn especially once they enter school. In the early school years, students should be learning the basics of reading and writing, NOT coloring.
I agree that blocks of time that are set aside for a certain subject should be utilized for that purpose. Reading is a core essential to every aspect of life when you are an adult from working, buying items at the grocery store and especially if you go to college and continue in your education.
I think it is great that Schmoker noticed that children are coloring or doing other activities and that he is leading observation teams for a study Nationwide.
Just one word of caution though as outsiders observe it is easy to not see the relevance in the student tasks on hand during a certain block. So, not only talk to the teachers but the student's as well and check lesson plans to see if there is method to their madness and the things the students are doing.
As an art teacher it is hard for me to criticize coloring-grin and I do love it when teacher's integrate art within subject areas especially when art is being cut due to budgets. Art is another form of visual communication and is much like reading in many aspects. But again I do see Schmoker's ideas and understand his points.
Schmoker messages are clear and directing us to the right avenue. The avenue that leads us to a quality instruction which is data and goal driven.
He believes that the consistent delivery of lessons that include multiple checks for understanding may be the most powerful, cost-effective action we can take to ensure learning.
I agree that good lessons start with a clear, curriculum-based objective and assessment, followed by multiple cycles of instruction, guided practice, checks for understanding which is considered to be “the soul of a good lesson” by Schmoker.
Through variety of assessment tools, teachers can verify if they have reached to all learners in the class and make necessary adjustments if the expected learning has not occurred for some students. Differentiated instruction has been a widespread topic that produce satisfactory results and increase student learning.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSchmoker is right in line. I like what he has to say. It makes me think that he was actually visiting my school. I believe that a good education comes from good instruction. Good instruction comes from puttuing together useful lessons that would create a great learning experience.
ReplyDeleteSchmokers ideas of "little research teams" (aka "PLC's) is terrific. What better way to plan than to be able to plan together on better ways to teach our children. Somehow,schools get caught up in the psycho-babble of vision and mission statements, that they loose the big picture. JUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!
Schmoker's ideas really make sense. His honesty needs to be shared by others. It is true that there are teachers who are doing the basic minimum. They are giving the students busy work. Teachers need to provide quality instruction so students will achieve and be successful. Does this sound like a school near me---YES! Can these ideas be applied to the schools near me---YES! There are those teachers who are busting their butts teaching and there are others who are reading emails and giving the students worksheets. The crazy thing is that there is a common curriculum, with common standards that should be taught by everyone. A huge part of the problem is that teachers are not held accountable until standardized test scores are released. If you are in teaching for the right reason, then you should teach and do what is right!
ReplyDeleteI think that Schmoker's ideas about good sintruction is corrct. I think some of his observations unfortunately come from teachers having low expectations of students in low performing schools and some of it is simply a result of teachers not being adequately trained. Students are never too young to learn especially once they enter school. In the early school years, students should be learning the basics of reading and writing, NOT coloring.
ReplyDeleteI agree that blocks of time that are set aside for a certain subject should be utilized for that purpose. Reading is a core essential to every aspect of life when you are an adult from working, buying items at the grocery store and especially if you go to college and continue in your education.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that Schmoker noticed that children are coloring or doing other activities and that he is leading observation teams for a study Nationwide.
Just one word of caution though as outsiders observe it is easy to not see the relevance in the student tasks on hand during a certain block. So, not only talk to the teachers but the student's as well and check lesson plans to see if there is method to their madness and the things the students are doing.
As an art teacher it is hard for me to criticize coloring-grin and I do love it when teacher's integrate art within subject areas especially when art is being cut due to budgets. Art is another form of visual communication and is much like reading in many aspects. But again I do see Schmoker's ideas and understand his points.
Schmoker messages are clear and directing us to the right avenue. The avenue that leads us to a quality instruction which is data and goal driven.
ReplyDeleteHe believes that the consistent delivery of lessons that include multiple checks for understanding may be the most powerful, cost-effective action we can take to ensure learning.
I agree that good lessons start with a clear, curriculum-based objective and assessment, followed by multiple cycles of instruction, guided practice, checks for understanding which is considered to be “the soul of a good lesson” by Schmoker.
Through variety of assessment tools, teachers can verify if they have reached to all learners in the class and make necessary adjustments if the expected learning has not occurred for some students. Differentiated instruction has been a widespread topic that produce satisfactory results and increase student learning.
Sedat