Improving Your School One Week at a Time: Building the Foundation for Professional Teaching and Learning / Edition 1

by Jeffrey Zoul

Overview

This book displays 37 “Friday Focus” memos, each of which provides insight into a specific aspect of teaching and learning for all to reflect on throughout the year. Friday Focus memos address the principal’s responsibility to shape the school culture, provide intellectual stimulation, and communicate effectively. The memos are organized around the school year and provide educators with a wide variety of insights into how to improve our schools. They are typically between 500–1,000 words in length and can be sent out via e-mail to each staff member – not only to the teachers but also secretaries, custodians, and cafeteria workers. A vehicle for school improvement, the Friday Focus memos provide a step-by-step plan for staff members and principals to work together as change agents for school improvement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596670273
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/21/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jeffrey Zoul is a lifelong teacher, learner, and leader. During Jeff’s distinguished career in education he has served in a variety of roles, most recently as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning with Deerfield Public Schools District 109 in Deerfield, Illinois. Jeff has been recognized as a local teacher of the year and as an outstanding principal in the State of Georgia. He also served as principal at a national School of Excellence in Illinois.

Spiri Diamantis Howard has been a dedicated educator for over 25 years. Currently, she serves as a Reading Interventionist at Commonwealth Charter Academy, one of Pennsylvania's largest public cyber charter schools. Spiri's commitment to fostering a love for reading and learning in her students is at the heart of her work. Her dedication to education and her community continues to inspire those around her.

Table of Contents

Foreword

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Index of Themes

Introduction

Part 1 The First Quarter

* Opening Day

* What Makes a Good Teacher?

* Effort-Based Ability

* The Dreaded Homework Dilemma

* The Impact of a Teacher

* Effective Listening

* Bullying Prevention

* School Safety

* Questions, Questions, Questions

Part 2 The Second Quarter

* Parent-Teacher Conferences

* Student-Led Conferences

* Teacher Observations

* Learning How to Learn

* Teaching: Art or Science

* In the Middle

* K.I.S.S.

* The Big Rocks

* God Bless Us, Every One!

Part 3 The Third Quarter

* Managing the Classroom

* Strategies for ESOL Students

* Working with Special Needs Students

* More Classroom Management

* Responding to Learners

* Striving for Great

* ESOL Revisited

* Differentiation: Inconvenient but Inescapable

* Test Time

* PIRATES

Part 4 The Fourth Quarter

* Professional Learning Communities

* Choosing Positive

* Extraordinary Teachers

* Making the Connection

* "I" Messages

* Teaching People, Not Content

* My Parents' Expectations

* A Culture of Success