Improving Your School One Week at a Time

by Zoul, Jeff

• ISBN13: 9781596670273
• ISBN10: 1596670274
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-31
• Publisher: Eye on Education

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Free Downloads	p. v
Foreword	p. ix
About the Author	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Index of Themes	p. xix
Introduction	p. xxiii
The First Quarter	p. 1
Opening Day	p. 3
Relationships and Expectations	p. 3
The First Friday	p. 5
What Makes a Good Teacher?	p. 7
Command of Subject Matter	p. 7
The Second Friday	p. 8
Effort-Based Ability	p. 10
Effort-Based Ability	p. 10
The Third Friday	p. 11
The Dreaded Homework Dilemma	p. 14
Small Amounts of Meaningful Practice	p. 14
The Fourth Friday	p. 15
The Impact of a Teacher	p. 17
The Fifth Friday	p. 17
Effective Listening	p. 20
Active Listening	p. 20
The Sixth Friday	p. 21
Bullying Prevention	p. 23
The Far-Reaching Effects of Bullying	p. 23
The Seventh Friday	p. 23
School Safety	p. 26
Do I Feel Safe at Our School?	p. 26
The Eighth Friday	p. 27
Questions, Questions, Questions	p. 30
Effective, Efficient, and Relevant Instruction	p. 30
The Ninth Friday	p. 31
The Second Quarter	p. 33
Parent-Teacher Conferences	p. 35
Plan for a Successful Outcome	p. 35
The 10th Friday	p. 37
Student-Led Conferences	p. 40
Holding Students Accountable for Their Own Learning	p. 40
The 11th Friday	p. 41
Teacher Observations	p. 44
Designing, Managing, Monitoring	p. 45
The 12th Friday	p. 46
Learning How to Learn	p. 49
CRISS	p. 49
The 13th Friday	p. 50
Teaching: Art or Science?	p. 54
The 14th Friday	p. 54
Giving Thanks	p. 58
The 15th Friday	p. 58
In the Middle	p. 61
People and Programs	p. 61
The 16th Friday	p. 62
K.I.S.S.	p. 66
The 17th Friday	p. 67
The Big Rocks	p. 69
The 18th Friday	p. 69
God Bless Us, Every One!	p. 73
The 19th Friday	p. 73
The Third Quarter	p. 77
Managing the Classroom	p. 79
A Fresh Start	p. 79
The 20th Friday	p. 80
Strategies for ESOL Students	p. 85
The 21st Friday	p. 85
Working with Special Needs Students	p. 89
The 22nd Friday	p. 89
More Classroom Management	p. 93
The Paradox of Time	p. 93
The 23rd Friday	p. 95
Responding to Learners	p. 98
The 24th Friday	p. 98
Striving for Great	p. 101
Leading or Managing?	p. 101
The 25th Friday	p. 102
ESOL Revisited	p. 105
The 26th Friday	p. 105
Differentiation: Inconvenient but Inescapable	p. 110
Teaching Them All	p. 110
The 27th Friday	p. 110
Test Time	p. 115
The 28th Friday	p. 115
PIRATES	p. 120
The 29th Friday	p. 120
The Fourth Quarter	p. 125
Professional Learning Communities	p. 127
Context, Process, and Content	p. 127
The 30th Friday	p. 129
Choosing Positive	p. 133
The 31st Friday	p. 133
Extraordinary Teachers	p. 135
The 32nd Friday	p. 135
Making the Connection	p. 139
The 33rd Friday	p. 139
"I" Messages	p. 143
The 34th Friday	p. 143
Teaching People, Not Content	p. 147
The 35th Friday	p. 147
My Parents' Expectations	p. 151
The 36th Friday	p. 151
A Culture of Success	p. 155
Recognizing and Celebrating Success	p. 155
The 37th-and Final-Friday	p. 156
Overtime!	p. 159
References	p. 161
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