Full Description
To make a lasting impact, start with your own learning.
What's better: a rigorous system that emphasizes traditional academics, or an innovative one that prepares students for tomorrow's world? With McDowell's new model of educational leadership, you don't have to choose. You can create an impactful system that ensures growth for all students in both core academic content and 21st-century skills.
The Lead Learner shows you how starting with your own professional learning helps you plan for and meet the unique learning needs of staff and students—while getting the biggest impact from your limited time. You'll also find ways to:
Ensure clarity in strategic planning
Establish coherence throughout the system
Enact system-wide capacity-building processes
Craft your personal leadership skills
With practical examples, stories from the field, and numerous activities and reflective questions, this insightful book takes you step-by-step through the work of the learning leader—so you can ensure engaged learning for all.
The enduring contribution of this book is in the guidance it provides leaders to recognize that they are part, an important part, but just a part, of a networked system. As such, their decisions and actions send messages throughout the system about what is valued and what is not. Take heed to McDowell's advice and you'll have a healthy, growth-producing system that will be the envy of those around you. The work is possible, the information is available, and the results are clear.
Douglas Fisher
San Diego State University
Contents
Foreword
Preface: Lead the Learning
A Perspective From a Lead Learner
Author's Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1. Setting the Stage
Are We as Leaders Ready to Prepare All Learners for the 21st Century?
The Driving Question: Are Our Decisions Leading the Learning?
A New Leadership Focus
Ensuring Clarity, Coherence, and Capacity: Crafting Improved Leadership Skills
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Chapter 2. Clarity: Strategic Planning
Three Questions That Ensure Clarity in Strategic Planning
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Resource
Chapter 3. Coherence (Part I): Learning System Infrastructure
Setting the Stage for Coherence
Establish Progress and Proficiency Expectations
Establish Standardized and Customizable Features
Coherence: Bringing It All Together
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Chapter 4. Coherence (Part II): Ensuring Inspired and Passionate Teachers in Schools
Linking Learner-Centered Beliefs and Behaviors
Unmasking Beliefs and Behaviors
Hiring and Developing Educators for Impact
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Chapter 5. Capacity: Community Learning
Building Capacity Through Continuous Improvement
Standardized Success Criteria
Customizable Organizational Routines for Learning
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Chapter 6. Crafting: The Lead Learner
Facing Competing Beliefs in Learning
Lead Learner Practices That Move Learning Forward
Establishing Common Agreements for Learning
Leverage Protocols for Dialogue
Model Current Initiatives in Daily Practice
Conclusion
Reflection Questions
Activities
Next Steps
Chapter 7. Conclusion
Moving Beyond Stark Differences
Influencing Educators
Recognizing the Rate of Change
Epilogue
References
Appendix
Sample Strategic Plans
Protocols
Sample Evaluation Tools
Sample Unit Plan
Demonstration Scenario
Index
