Re-Awakening the Learner: Principles and Tools to Create School Systems to Achieve Personalized Mastery

by Copper Stoll, Gene Giddings

Overview

Transformation of public education requires the reawakening of the sleeping giant in the room: the learners. Students, teachers, and principals develop a system of personalized mastery that challenges the current system. Re-Awakening the Learner, Second Edition guides to just such a learning environment. Continua and tools describe and assist in the journey of teachers, teacher leaders, and principals in partnering with learners.

Stakeholders identify a common moral purpose, create a culture of continuous improvement and commit to infusion of students in the learning in a learner improvement cycle. Common moral purpose is driven by beliefs and behaviors that support all learners to proficiency. These beliefs/behaviors include creating a school’s culture to be ready-to- change, trust one another to doubt current practices, and develop collective efficacy. This new culture supports the components of the learner improvement cycle (assessment, evaluation, planning, and learning) involving the learners in each step.

Updates include tools and processes to assist the readers in implementation. Directions, templates, and examples assist in realizing the future of public education. Public schools must awaken to a new reality.

Additional key features of this updated edition include:
Explore a new model that empowers learners in their educationEvolve through a developmental continua to becoming a personalized mastery systemDetermine the new skill and knowledge set needed to involve learnersUtilize tools and processes that will partner with learnersEnsure partnerships with learners through involvement in a new Learner Improvement CycleDiscover a methodology for inclusion of all stakeholdersHear the voices of stakeholders going through the processDiagnose school improvement through a gap analysis at the reader’s site

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475815627
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/22/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Copper Stoll has facilitated students’ learning as a teacher, principal and Chief Academic Officer in public school for 30 years across America. She is currently an educational reformer in personalized mastery practices with Gene as Don’t Ever Stop! LLC.


Gene Giddings has served thirty-two years in American public schools as a teacher and principal. He is currently an educational consultant and co-partner with Copper Stoll in Don’t Ever Stop, LLC and other educational reform businesses.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
Foreword by Robert J. Marzano, PhD
Acknowledgments
Part I: Public Education: Yesterday’s Answers to Twenty-First-Century Needs
Chapter 1: The Problem: Schools Are Not Structured to Prepare Learners for the Twenty-First Century Chapter 2: Creating the Schools Our Kids Deserve!
Part II: The Culture of Continuous Improvement
Chapter 3: Developing Moral Purpose
Chapter 4: Creating the Culture of Readiness for Change
Chapter 5: Creating the Culture of Trust-to-Doubt
Chapter 6: Creating a Culture of Learner-Centric, Collective Efficacy
Part III: The Personalized Mastery Cycle
Chapter 7: Assessing
Chapter 8: Evaluating
Chapter 9: Planning
Chapter 10: Learning
Part IV: Wide Awake in the Twenty-First Century: Proficiency for All
Chapter 11: Moving from Sleepwalking to Reawakening the Learner
Part V: A Toolkit to Reawaken Your Learners
Chapter 12: Introduction
Chapter 13: A Toolkit for Personalized Mastery
Progression from Teacher-directed to Learner-centered Systems
Developing Common Moral Purpose Tools
Note-catcher for Common Moral Purpose
Shared Vision
Code of Collaboration
Parking Lot (Plus/Delta)
Affinity Diagram
Priority Voting
Tools to Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Note-catcher for Developing a Culture for Continuous Improvement
Standard Operating Procedures
Gallery Walk
Classroom PDCA and Goal setting
Celebrations and Hurdles
Data Walls
Commit-o-gram
5 Whys
Increasing Student-to Student Talk
Clock Appointments
Think Pair Share
Using Experts
Celebrating the learning culture
Developing the Personalized Mastery Cycle: Assessing, Evaluating, Planning, and Learning
Personalized Mastery Cycle Chart
Note-catcher for Personalized Mastery Cycle
Assessing and Evaluating
Personal Learning Profile
Data-driven Dialogue
Using Rubrics
Using Exemplars
Planning and Learning
SMARTER Goal
Individual PLCA
Proficiency Ladders
Choice Boards
Bar charts
Intro to Reader’s SMARTER Goals
Common Moral Purpose SMARTER goal and PDCA
Culture of Continuous Improvement SMARTER goal and PDCA
Learner Improvement Cycle SMARTER goal and PDCA
Learner Improvement Cycle SMARTER goal and PDCA
References
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

There has never been a greater sense of urgency for educational reform in our country than now. Today’s students cannot wait any longer for us to bring education into the twenty-first century. The major themes presented by Mr. Gene Giddings and Dr. Copper Stoll are the perfect blueprint for any district to move forward with real sustained educational reform.” —Brian Hanson, superintendent of schools, Mancos Re6 School District, Mancos, Colorado

“Re-Awakening the Learner is a rousing text that will be invaluable for any teacher, administrator, or parent. The book goes beyond describing small changes like introducing new instructional strategies and focuses on creating the conditions for students to 'reawaken' into interdependent learners. The book is invaluable to educators because it alone can be used as a step-by-step guide for making the dramatic changes necessary to shift into a true twenty-first century educational system. The insight provided by stories from students, parents, teachers, and administrators who have implemented this transformation provide real-world examples of successes and failures that are priceless. This book belongs on all educators' must-read list!” —Nikolaus Namba, chief academic officer, Ingenium Schools, Compton and Woodland Hills, California

“This is not a book for failing schools. It is a book that should join all of us: parents, students, policy makers, teachers, principals, school boards and businesses to the national dialogue about educating our next generation of citizens. It tackles educational reform, not classroom by classroom, or school by school but as a national system. The authors point out real problems in our school system and offer real solutions using a framework that can be implemented at all levels of the system. Finally, a book that blends the theoretical need for systemic change with real-life practical application! We owe it to our children to read Re-Awakening the Learner.” —Katheryn Keyes, assistant principal, Boulder High School, Boulder, Colorado

“Stoll and Giddings make a convincing argument for change from an antiquated educational system designed for proficiency for some to a system designed for proficiency for all. We can no longer allow learners to be passive bystanders in their education. Re-Awakening the Learner provides a comprehensive process to bring about the necessary change in public education.” —Alison Sholler Mund, elementary education teacher, Adams County School District 50, Westminster, Colorado

“Stoll and Giddings (both, Don't Ever Stop LLC) offer a compelling argument for today's struggling public schools. Working from a learner-centric, standards-driven platform, they walk the reader through the problems with today's schools, noting the need to align six critical systems: learner, classroom, school, central office, district board of education, state legislature, and state department of education. With ‘proficiency for all’ as their guiding light, Stoll and Giddings provide the steps for and discuss the challenges of creating a culture of continuous improvement from planning to implementation. Not surprisingly, significant changes in practices at the classroom and school levels are recommended, as well as the initiation of a national dialogue to support the transformation. Most impressively, and unlike many authors recommending substantial changes to public education, Stoll and Giddings have embedded their recommendations in the actual transformation of a school district, including reflections of principals, teachers, students, and parents. Given that all chapters begin with thought-provoking guiding questions and end with key points, the reader is assured of understanding the authors' recommendations on this critical topic. Given the current national agenda regarding Common Core State Standards, this book a must read for everyone concerned about the future of public schooling in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.” —Choice Reviews

From the Publisher

There has never been a greater sense of urgency for educational reform in our country than now. Today’s students cannot wait any longer for us to bring education into the twenty-first century. The major themes presented by Mr. Gene Giddings and Dr. Copper Stoll are the perfect blueprint for any district to move forward with real sustained educational reform.

Brian Hanson

Stoll and Giddings (both, Don't Ever Stop LLC) offer a compelling argument for today's struggling public schools. Working from a learner-centric, standards-driven platform, they walk the reader through the problems with today's schools, noting the need to align six critical systems: learner, classroom, school, central office, district board of education, state legislature, and state department of education. With ‘proficiency for all’ as their guiding light, Stoll and Giddings provide the steps for and discuss the challenges of creating a culture of continuous improvement from planning to implementation. Not surprisingly, significant changes in practices at the classroom and school levels are recommended, as well as the initiation of a national dialogue to support the transformation. Most impressively, and unlike many authors recommending substantial changes to public education, Stoll and Giddings have embedded their recommendations in the actual transformation of a school district, including reflections of principals, teachers, students, and parents. Given that all chapters begin with thought-provoking guiding questions and end with key points, the reader is assured of understanding the authors' recommendations on this critical topic. Given the current national agenda regarding Common Core State Standards, this book a must read for everyone concerned about the future of public schooling in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

Stoll and Giddings make a convincing argument for change from an antiquated educational system designed for proficiency for some to a system designed for proficiency for all. We can no longer allow learners to be passive bystanders in their education. Re-Awakening the Learner provides a comprehensive process to bring about the necessary change in public education.

Alison Sholler Mund

Re-Awakening the Learner is a rousing text that will be invaluable for any teacher, administrator, or parent. The book goes beyond describing small changes like introducing new instructional strategies and focuses on creating the conditions for students to 'reawaken' into interdependent learners. The book is invaluable to educators because it alone can be used as a step-by-step guide for making the dramatic changes necessary to shift into a true twenty-first century educational system. The insight provided by stories from students, parents, teachers, and administrators who have implemented this transformation provide real-world examples of successes and failures that are priceless. This book belongs on all educators' must-read list!

Nikolaus Namba

This is not a book for failing schools. It is a book that should join all of us: parents, students, policy makers, teachers, principals, school boards and businesses to the national dialogue about educating our next generation of citizens. It tackles educational reform, not classroom by classroom, or school by school but as a national system. The authors point out real problems in our school system and offer real solutions using a framework that can be implemented at all levels of the system. Finally, a book that blends the theoretical need for systemic change with real-life practical application! We owe it to our children to read Re-Awakening the Learner.

Katheryn Keyes

Stoll and Giddings (both, Don't Ever Stop LLC) offer a compelling argument for today's struggling public schools. Working from a learner-centric, standards-driven platform, they walk the reader through the problems with today's schools, noting the need to align six critical systems: learner, classroom, school, central office, district board of education, state legislature, and state department of education. With ‘proficiency for all’ as their guiding light, Stoll and Giddings provide the steps for and discuss the challenges of creating a culture of continuous improvement from planning to implementation. Not surprisingly, significant changes in practices at the classroom and school levels are recommended, as well as the initiation of a national dialogue to support the transformation. Most impressively, and unlike many authors recommending substantial changes to public education, Stoll and Giddings have embedded their recommendations in the actual transformation of a school district, including reflections of principals, teachers, students, and parents. Given that all chapters begin with thought-provoking guiding questions and end with key points, the reader is assured of understanding the authors' recommendations on this critical topic. Given the current national agenda regarding Common Core State Standards, this book a must read for everyone concerned about the future of public schooling in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

Choice

Stoll and Giddings (both, Don't Ever Stop LLC) offer a compelling argument for today's struggling public schools. Working from a learner-centric, standards-driven platform, they walk the reader through the problems with today's schools, noting the need to align six critical systems: learner, classroom, school, central office, district board of education, state legislature, and state department of education. With ‘proficiency for all’ as their guiding light, Stoll and Giddings provide the steps for and discuss the challenges of creating a culture of continuous improvement from planning to implementation. Not surprisingly, significant changes in practices at the classroom and school levels are recommended, as well as the initiation of a national dialogue to support the transformation. Most impressively, and unlike many authors recommending substantial changes to public education, Stoll and Giddings have embedded their recommendations in the actual transformation of a school district, including reflections of principals, teachers, students, and parents. Given that all chapters begin with thought-provoking guiding questions and end with key points, the reader is assured of understanding the authors' recommendations on this critical topic. Given the current national agenda regarding Common Core State Standards, this book a must read for everyone concerned about the future of public schooling in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

CHOICE