Professional learning has been presented as a school improvement strategy for decreasing the achievement gap1. This is just the beginning, though, as educators come together in valuable learning work to meet student’s unique needs, better engaging and motivating students, to help prepare them to be productive and contributing citizens of the world2. Stakeholders may also be highly motivated to learn new knowledge, skills, and processes when they see how this learning will directly improve their effectiveness with students3. “Although conflicts frequently arise among competing individual interests within a school community, a commitment to the education and welfare of children must remain the primary concern.”4 Because ‘organizations are made up of conversations’5, it is important that this focus on what children need to succeed continues to be brought into discussions as conflicts threaten to sidetrack valuable learning work.
Soureces:
1: Lindstrom, P. H., & Speck, M. (2004). The principal as professional development leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
2: Hirsh, S., & Killion, J. (2007). The learning educator: A new era for professional learning. Oxford, Ohio: National Staff Development Council.
3: York-Barr, J., Sommers, W. A., Ghere, G. S., & Montie, J. (2006). Reflective practice to improve schools: An action guide for educators (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.
4: Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. (2003). Trust in schools: A core resource for school reform. Educational Leadership, 60(6), 40-45. (Quote: p. 42)
5: Lecture, Leadership for Professional Learning, 10/2/13
What are the best ways you've found to keep students and their best interests at the heart of conversations in schools? How can decisions be made and learning shaped around the needs of the students in a given class or school and not broader politics and fads?
***feel free to do your own post and/or build off of others' posts to create a discussion forum***
Soureces:
1: Lindstrom, P. H., & Speck, M. (2004). The principal as professional development leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
2: Hirsh, S., & Killion, J. (2007). The learning educator: A new era for professional learning. Oxford, Ohio: National Staff Development Council.
3: York-Barr, J., Sommers, W. A., Ghere, G. S., & Montie, J. (2006). Reflective practice to improve schools: An action guide for educators (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.
4: Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. (2003). Trust in schools: A core resource for school reform. Educational Leadership, 60(6), 40-45. (Quote: p. 42)
5: Lecture, Leadership for Professional Learning, 10/2/13
What are the best ways you've found to keep students and their best interests at the heart of conversations in schools? How can decisions be made and learning shaped around the needs of the students in a given class or school and not broader politics and fads?
***feel free to do your own post and/or build off of others' posts to create a discussion forum***