Journey to a High-Achieving School: Eliminate Destructive Excuses examines the range of devastating excuses often expressed for failure to attain significant improvement in our schools. Using the methods of systems thinking and leadership practices that are employed in high-performing organizations of all kinds, this book shows concretely and specifically that what is at the root of these excuses can be overcome. The core ideas at work in the volume are based on the authors' well-regarded Academy for Education Leaders, an intensive course of seminars conducted for school superintendents, principals, and other educational leaders for the past several years. This is not a "quick fix" manual offering magic wands or silver bullets. It is a carefully-structured guidebook that can clearly and demonstrably help educational leaders at all levels of accountability begin to build a serious culture of excellence within their schools and school districts. Improvement will take time, but as the processes become familiar, school leaders can uncover and address the complex, but confused assumptions that keep standing in the way of the substantial and measurable improvements that must be made for our society's educational future.
From Jacqueline Elliot, the passionate co-founder of the highly successful PUC charter school network in Los Angeles and a relentless advocate for excellence and equity in public education, comes a frank, inspirational memoir about her journey as a spirited activist for social justice who battles to reform the public education system. Jacqueline Elliot, often identified as an icon in the charter school movement in California, has a reputation of being a tenacious fighter who tirelessly defends the rights of all children to be provided with an education that provides them with the opportunity to achieve their potential and make their dreams a reality. Born in Glasgow, Scotland and emigrating to Los Angeles at age 13, Jacqueline experienced the anonymity that is often characteristic for students in large urban schools but emerged as an accomplished scholar and courageous warrior for educational equity. Her commitment to public school reform began in 1986 when she became a teacher in a public school in Pacoima, one of the most socio-economically challenged neighborhoods in Los Angeles, where the expectations for students and the conditions were abysmal. As a former public health care professional and new teacher, she did all she could to meet the needs of her students within the confines of the Los Angeles Unified School District system. Discovering California's charter school legislation in 1995, she ultimately galvanized one hundred families from the community as her partners in a relentless quest to create a better public school for their children. Rallying the support of others who believed in her vision, this fascinating memoir describes how Elliot was able to overcome a variety of daunting obstacles as a result of the positive relationships she developed. Her triumphant founding of the first public charter middle school in Los Angeles in1999, Community Charter Middle School, was historic and clearly demonstrated the power of what can be accomplished when a diverse group of individuals unite in one vision and refuse to give up until their dream is achieved. Drawn to the culture in the small school that was characterized by mutual respect, meeting the needs of all students, embracing of diversity, and high expectations for all, parents and community members beseeched Elliot to open more schools. Committed to meeting the needs of the community, Elliot responded accordingly.In this very personal, candid memoir, Elliot shares what led her to become a forward-thinking education entrepreneur and describes a number of the battles she fought and the seemingly insurmountable challenges she overcame in order to create and sustain the excellent schools she founded. Now, as the co-founder of a 20-year old network of high achieving schools in which over 100 former students serve as teachers and in other roles, Elliot addresses her struggles and battles, writing candidly about the people who have perpetuated failing public schools, the parents who desperately sought better schools for their children, and those who championed her cause and still fight by her side. Her leadership and accomplishments have served as an example and inspiration for a multitude of others who have followed. Elliot's insightful memoir is a passionate personal story and an urgent call to action for all who care about our children and future of America. Passionate Warrior: My Charter School Journey bluntly identifies forces that continue to work against efforts to improve the dysfunctional education system that has failed so many of our children. This memoir is sure to unify and inspire supporters, provide food for thought for teachers, parents and all who care about our public schools, and impact the national conversation about education.
In her new book, prominent professional developer Yvette Jackson focuses on students' strengths, rather than their weaknesses, To reinvigorate educators to inspire learning and high intellectual performance. Through the lens of educational psychology and historical reforms, Jackson responds To The faltering motivation and confidence of educators in terms of its effects on closing the achievement gap. The author seeks to "rekindle the belief in the vast capacity of underachieving urban students," and offers strategies to help educators inspire intellectual performance. Jackson proposes that a paradigm shift towards a focus on strengths will reinvigorate educators' passion for teaching and belief in their ability to raise the intellectual achievement of their students. Jackson addresses how educators can systematically support the development of motivation, reflective and cognitive skills, and high performance when standards and assessments are predisposed to non-conceptual methods. Furthermore, she examines challenges and offers strategies for dealing with cultural disconnects, The influence of new technologies, and language preferences of students.
What would make a dedicated public school teacher decide to homeschool her own children? In her new book, "Educating Your Gifted Child: How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling," Celi Trepanier shares her journey from a top teacher in traditional schools to a disillusioned parent struggling to get an appropriate and challenging education for her gifted sons. How is the current educational system failing our gifted and twice-exceptional students? How can parents fight for the education their children need and deserve? What options do parents and their gifted children have? Celi addresses these concerns and more in "Educating Your Gifted Child."
""You Got Into Where?"" is the first college admissions guide written by a student who is fresh out of the college admissions process. Learn how I was admitted to schools like the University of Southern California and New York University with full tuition scholarships. The guide features copies of my admissions essay, writing supplement, and activities resume that I used to apply to college the fall of my senior year. Get advice on all the secrets of the admissions process from start to finish. ""I can't believe that a 17 year-old has written a college admissions books that is so well-written, clear and accurate. No wonder USC jumped at the chance to have her become their student. My sense of things is that mostly parents read college admissions books; high school students just don't want to take the time. Given what she says and how she says it, I truly believe that teens will rush to read "You Got Into Where?" It is well worth their time."" -Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz Author, adMISSION POSSIBLE
Arguing against the tougher standards rhetoric that marks the current education debate, the author of No Contest and Punished by Rewards writes that such tactics squeeze the pleasure out of learning. Reprint.
Unlock your academic potential with tips, tools, and techniques from some of the best students in the country Discover the proven strategies utilized by high-achieving students to ace exams, skyrocket their grades, and stand out in their academic pursuits. With a focus on practicality and real-world application, this book equips you with the essential skills needed to excel in any subject, all while maintaining a healthy study-life balance. Key features include: Effective Study Techniques: Master the art of efficient studying, including time management, note-taking, and memory-enhancing methods. Say goodbye to all-night cram sessions and hello to confident, well-prepared test days! Exam Success Secrets: Gain insider knowledge on how top students approach exams, from conquering multiple-choice questions to acing essays and projects. Maximize your scores and minimize test anxiety. Personalized Learning Plans: Tailor your study routines to suit your individual learning style and academic goals. Whether you're a visual learner or an auditory processor, this book has the tools you need to optimize your learning journey. Effective Communication: Develop strong communication skills to enhance your class participation, presentations, and group projects. Express your ideas with clarity and confidence. Overcoming Procrastination: Learn how to overcome procrastination and stay motivated throughout your academic journey. Unleash your full potential and tackle assignments with a newfound sense of purpose. Balancing Academics and Life: Discover how top students maintain a healthy balance between academic commitments and personal interests. Thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Navigating College Admissions: For high school students aspiring to college, this book offers invaluable guidance on the admissions process, including crafting a standout application and acing college interviews. The Secrets of Top Students is not just another study guide; it's your roadmap to becoming a confident, successful, and well-rounded student. Whether you're striving for academic excellence, aiming for that prestigious scholarship, or preparing for your dream college, this book provides the winning formula for success.
Children in today's world are inundated with information about who to be, what to do and how to live. But what if there was a way to teach children how to manage priorities, focus on goals and be a positive influence on the world around them? The Leader in Meis that programme. It's based on a hugely successful initiative carried out at the A.B. Combs Elementary School in North Carolina. To hear the parents of A. B Combs talk about the school is to be amazed. In 1999, the school debuted a programme that taught The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleto a pilot group of students. The parents reported an incredible change in their children, who blossomed under the programme. By the end of the following year the average end-of-grade scores had leapt from 84 to 94. This book will launch the message onto a much larger platform. Stephen R. Covey takes the 7 Habits, that have already changed the lives of millions of people, and shows how children can use them as they develop. Those habits -- be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek to understand and then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw -- are critical skills to learn at a young age and bring incredible results, proving that it's never too early to teach someone how to live well.
Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.
