Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership

by Elaine K. McEwan

• ISBN13: 9780761946304
• ISBN10: 0761946306
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-20
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

Updated Edition of Best Seller! "You won't find a more practical, detailed guide to improving school effectiveness than is contained between the covers of this book!" Leonard O. Pellicer, Dean School of Education University of La Verne La Verne, CA "Few books on school leadership have effectively brought together the best of educational theory and practice for school administrators as Elaine McEwan's Seven Steps to Instructional Leadership." Michael Pladus 1999 MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year Have the courage and the vision to lead your staff to achieve their highest instructional goals! Make a substantive impact on the lives of your students and your staff. This practical, hands-on guide can help you become a more effective instructional leader. Here are research-based activities to help you lead your staff though McEwansa??s seven steps: Establish, implement, and achieve academic standards Be an instructional resource for your staff Create a learning-oriented school culture and climate Communicate your schoola??s vision and mission to staff and students Set high expectations for your staff and yourself Develop teacher leaders Develop and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, and parents Integrate these seven steps into your daily behavior. Chapters on each step include research data, discussion and advice from instructional leaders, and practical suggestions from dozens of leading principals that you can use right now in your own school. Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to: Assess your current level of instructional leadership Find out how your staff thinks youa??re doing Set goals for improving your instructional leadership practice Evaluate your progress toward your goals Attaining a new and higher level of instructional leadership will make a difference for each person in your school. Staff, students, and parents will get the message that all students matter. Everyone will start expecting that all students can learn, and your school will achieve its missiona??improving education.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Whom This Book Is For	xiii
Overview of the Contents	xiii
Acknowledgments	xiv
About the Author	xvii
Introduction	1	(2)
What Is Leadership?	3	(2)
How Does Instructional Leadership Differ?	5	(2)
What Does the Research Tell Us?	7	(3)
Can Any Principal Become an Instructional Leader?	10	(1)
What Are the Barriers to Becoming an Effective Instructional Leader?	11	(4)
Lack of Skills and Training	12	(1)
Lack of Teacher Cooperation	12	(1)
Lack of Time	12	(1)
Lack of Support From Superintendents, School Boards, and Community	13	(1)
Lack of Vision, Will, or Courage	14	(1)
What Are the Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership?	15	(4)
Step One: Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards	19	(14)
How Can You Establish Meaningful Academic Standards?	20	(1)
How Can You Ensure a Consistent and Coherent Program?	21	(2)
How Can You Ensure a Schoolwide Focus on Achievement and Continuous Improvement?	23	(4)
How Car You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step One?	27	(6)
Step One: Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards	27	(6)
Step Two: Be an Instructional Resource for Your Staff	33	(12)
How Can You Work With Teachers?	33	(3)
How Can You Share Research and Best Practices?	36	(2)
How Can You Keep Your Finger on the Instructional Pulse?	38	(1)
Is It Really Possible to Know What Is Going On?	39	(2)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Two?	41	(4)
Step Two: Be an Instructional Resource for Your Staff	41	(4)
Step Three: Create a School Culture and Climate Conducive to Learning	45	(22)
How Can You Establish High Expectations for Students?	46	(8)
Inclusive Classrooms	47	(2)
Extended Learning Opportunities	49	(1)
Teacher Expectations	49	(3)
Instructional Effectiveness	52	(1)
A Focus on Learning	52	(1)
Policies That Promote Progress	53	(1)
How Can You Make Sure Time Is Being Used Effectively?	54	(3)
How to Increase Student Attendance	54	(1)
How to Increase Allocated Learning Time	55	(1)
How to Increase the Rate of Success for Students	56	(1)
Does Your Schoolwide Behavior Plan Facilitate Learning?	57	(1)
How Can You Alter the Culture and Climate of Your School?	58	(3)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Three?	61	(6)
Step Three: Create a School Culture and Climate Conducive to Learning	61	(6)
Step Four: Communicate the Vision and Mission of Your School	67	(16)
How Can You Develop Communication Channels to Share the Vision and Mission?	68	(10)
Communicating Your Vision to Teachers	68	(4)
Communicating the Meaning and Value of Learning to Students	72	(3)
Getting Parents On Board	75	(3)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Four?	78	(5)
Step Four: Communicate the Vision and the Mission of Your School	78	(5)
Step Five: Set High Expectations for Your Staff and Yourself	83	(18)
How Can You Set High Expectations for Teachers?	83	(1)
How Can You Assist Teachers in Setting Goals?	84	(2)
Where Can You Find the Time?	86	(1)
How Can Observation and Feedback Be Used?	87	(3)
What Are the Best Conferencing Techniques?	90	(1)
What Is the Importance of Direct Teaching?	90	(1)
How Can You Set High Expectations for Yourself?	91	(1)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Five?	92	(9)
Step Five: Set High Expectations for Your Staff and Yourself	92	(9)
Step Six: Develop Teacher Leaders	101	(16)
What Is a Teacher Leader?	101	(3)
Why Are Teacher Leaders Important?	102	(1)
Growing and Learning as a Professional	103	(1)
Improving the Quality of Student Learning	103	(1)
Winning the Battle but Losing the War	104	(1)
Burnout	104	(1)
How Can You Develop Teacher Leaders?	104	(4)
Teachers as Trainers	106	(1)
Teachers as Curriculum Writers and Authors	107	(1)
Teachers as Decision Makers	107	(1)
Teachers as Members of Committees, Task Forces, and Teams	107	(1)
Teachers as Researchers	108	(1)
How Can You Keep Your Team Focused?	108	(1)
How Can You Build Consensus?	109	(2)
Give People Time to Build Relationships	111	(1)
Work With Important Issues	111	(1)
Give Teachers Support and Affirmation for Their Decisions	111	(1)
How Can You Maximize Your Time With Staff ?	111	(2)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Six?	113	(4)
Step Six: Develop Teacher Leaders	113	(4)
Step Seven: Establish and Maintain Positive Relationships With Students, Staff, and Parents	117	(16)
How Can You Serve as an Advocate for Students?	118	(2)
Discipline	119	(1)
Grading Practices	119	(1)
Community	119	(1)
Instructional Issues	120	(1)
Counselor, Listener, and Friend	120	(1)
What Are the Key Human Relations Skills?	120	(1)
How Can You Develop Morale?	121	(2)
How Can You Acknowledge the Achievements of Others?	123	(1)
Celebrate Success	123	(1)
Golden Apple Awards	123	(1)
Parent Hall of Fame	123	(1)
Get It While It's Hot	124	(1)
Congratulations	124	(1)
Crackerjack Job	124	(1)
On-the-Spot Bonuses	124	(1)
How Can You Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to Assess Step Seven?	124	(9)
Step Seven: Establish and Maintain Positive Relationships With Students, Staff, and Parents	124	(9)
Conclusion	133	(8)
What Are the Seven Steps?	133	(2)
Step One: Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards	133	(1)
Step Two: Be an Instructional Resource for Your Staff	133	(1)
Step Three: Create a School Culture and Climate Conducive to Learning	134	(1)
Step Four: Communicate the Vision and Mission of Your School	134	(1)
Step Five: Set High Expectations for Your Staff and Yourself	134	(1)
Step Six: Develop Teacher Leaders	135	(1)
Step Seven: Establish and Maintain Positive Relationships With Students, Staff, and Parents	135	(1)
What Can You Do to Get Started?	135	(4)
Self Assess Your Instructional Leadership Behaviors	135	(1)
Ask Your Staff to Assess Your Instructional Leadership Behaviors	136	(1)
Work and Network With Colleagues	136	(1)
Attend Classes	136	(1)
Read Books	137	(1)
Subscribe to Journals and Newspapers and Read Them	137	(1)
Set Goals	137	(1)
Take Risks	137	(1)
Volunteer to Teach a Class or Workshop	138	(1)
Join Professional Organizations and Become Active	138	(1)
Think and Reflect on Your Own Practice of the Principalship	138	(1)
Challenge for the Future	139	(2)
Resource A: Instructional Leadership Checklist	141	(36)
Step One: Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards	141	(5)
Indicator 1.1	141	(1)
Indicator 1.2	142	(1)
Indicator 1.3	143	(2)
Indicator 1.4	145	(1)
Step Two: Be an Instructional Resource for Your Staff	146	(3)
Indicator 2.1	146	(1)
Indicator 2.2	147	(1)
Indicator 2.3	148	(1)
Step Three: Create a School Culture and Climate Conducive to Learning	149	(5)
Indicator 3.1	150	(1)
Indicator 3.2	151	(1)
Indicator 3.3	152	(2)
Step Four: Communicate the Vision and Mission of Your School	154	(3)
Indicator 4.1	154	(1)
Indicator 4.2	155	(1)
Indicator 4.3	156	(1)
Step Five: Set High Expectations for Your Staff and Yourself	157	(7)
Indicator 5.1	157	(1)
Indicator 5.2	158	(1)
Indicator 5.3	159	(1)
Indicator 5.4	160	(1)
Indicator 5.5	161	(1)
Indicator 5.6	162	(1)
Indicator 5.7	163	(1)
Step Six: Develop Teacher Leaders	164	(4)
Indicator 6.1	165	(1)
Indicator 6.2	165	(2)
Indicator 6.3	167	(1)
Step Seven: Establish and Maintain Positive Relationships With Students, Staff, and Parents	168	(9)
Indicator 7.1	168	(1)
Indicator 7.2	169	(1)
Indicator 7.3	170	(1)
Indicator 7.4	171	(1)
Indicator 7.5	172	(2)
Indicator 7.6	174	(1)
Indicator 7.7	174	(3)
Resource B: Instructional Leadership Checklist Response Form	177	(4)
Resource C: ElizaBeth McCay's Assignment	181	(4)
From the Syllabus for Administration 601: Processes of Instructional Leadership	181	(1)
Instructional Leadership Assessment and Plan of Improvement	181	(1)
Instructional Leadership Assessment and Plan of Improvement, Sample Format	182	(3)
Step One: Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards	182	(1)
Step Two: Be an Instructional Resource for Your Staff	183	(2)
References	185	(7)
Index	192