Full Description
"In this highly readable book, Allan Odden vividly illustrates many of the most important practices for creating strong professional communities. From the organization of time to the development of productive curriculum and instruction, school leaders will learn how to create a framework for school reform grounded in research and the wisdom of practice."
—Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education
Stanford University
"Odden not only thinks big, he provides specific examples from real school districts to support his ten-step program. His systemic analysis of school district improvement and specific examples create a road map for the nation."
—Jack D. Dale, Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
"Odden offers a sound program of ten steps school leaders can implement to significantly improve student academic achievement in their districts."
—Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director
American Association of School Administrators
A road map for school improvement with dramatic, measurable results!
This companion book to Doubling Student Performance by Allan R. Odden and Sarah J. Archibald brings to life ten strategies for achieving significant, measurable gains in student performance. School and district leaders can use the examples, stories, and resources in this book to create a research-based school improvement plan. To guide educational leaders in their improvement work, the book:
Focuses on issues over which schools and districts have control, such as setting ambitious goals, changing the curriculum, using data to make decisions, and using time effectively and efficiently
Offers detailed case studies from real schools that provide clear steps and specific tools for putting the strategies into action
Provides an entire chapter devoted to recruiting and developing top talent, especially for high-needs schools
10 Strategies for Doubling Student Performance helps educators drive substantial gains in student achievement and effectively use resources to invest in what works in education reform.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About The Author
1. Understanding the Performance Challenge
Pressure to Improve Performance
Analyzing State Student Test Data
Conducting Curriculum Standards Audits
Summary
2. Set Ambitious Goals
Beyond Motivational Theory
Beyond the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations
Setting Very High Goals
Thinking Big Is Quintessentially American
Summary
3. Change the Curriculum Program and Create a New Instructional Vision
Adopting New Textbooks and Instructional Visions
Assessing Effectiveness of Curriculum and Instructional Approaches
Collaborative Work
Summary
4. Benchmark and Formative Assessments and Data-Based Decision Making
Overview of Benchmark and Formative Assessments
Benchmark and Formative Assessments in Montgomery County, Maryland
A Comment on Value-Added Measures
Summary
5. Provide Ongoing, Intensive Professional Development
The Features of Effective Professional Development
Examples of Professional Development Programs
Summary
6. Using Time Efficiently and Effectively
Extending the School Year and Day
Better Uses of Time
Summary
7. Extend Learning Time for Struggling Students
Some Contextual Points
Time During the Regular School Day
Time Outside the Regular School Day but Within the Regular School Year
Time Outside the Regular School Year
Summary
8. Collaborative Cultures and Distributed Leadership
A Collaborative School Culture
Structuring Collaborative Cultures
Distributed Leadership
Summary
9. Professional and Best Practices
Indicators of Acting Professionally
Not Doing It Alone
Summary
10. The Human Capital Side of Doubling Student Performance
Overview
First, Recruit Top Talent
Second, Develop Top Talent
Sometimes Initial Talent Turnover Is Required
Summary
11. Putting It All Together: The Dramatically Improving School
The 10 Core Elements of the Improving School
Summary
The Kennewick Approach to Dramatic Improvement
References
