Key components of practitioner inquiry provide an effective approach to lasting educational change. By including narratives of practice from across diverse early childhood settings, this book investigates issues that arise during implementation of inquiry-focussed professional learning cycles. It presents practitioner inquiry as a vehicle for empowering educators and educational systems. Research-based, this book brings together theory and practice from authors and internationally recognised commentators to inform and inspire early childhood educators. Chapters are thematically grouped in three focus areas. The first centres on background contextual information to set the scene, the second offers real-life stories based on authors’ experiences and the third provides insight into broader issues of leadership and professional learning. Voices of educators, teachers and leaders are included to provide multiple points of entry for readers with different interests, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. As a resource to support ongoing professional practice in the prior-to-school sector, this book is essential reading for early years educators, teachers and leaders of educational change. It is relevant for those investigating how educators in early childhood centres, executive offices and consultancy positions can use data-based, locally relevant investigations of practice to improve educational outcomes.
"Key components of practitioner inquiry provide an effective approach to lasting educational change. By including narratives of practice from across diverse early childhood settings, this book investigates issues that arise during implementation of inquiry-focussed professional learning cycles. It presents practitioner inquiry as a vehicle for empowering educators and educational systems. Research-based, this book collates the thinking and practical experiences of authors and internationally-recognised commentators to inform and inspire early childhood educators. Chapters are thematically grouped in three focus areas. The first centres on background contextual information to set the scene, the second offers real-life stories based on authors' experiences and the third provides insight into broader issues of leadership and professional learning. Voices of educators, teachers and leaders are included to provide multiple points of entry for readers with different interests, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. As a resource to support ongoing professional practice, the book focuses mainly on educators, teacher education and professional development for people in the prior-to-school sector. It is relevant for those studying educational change and considering the ways educators in early childhood centres, executive offices and consultancy positions can use data-based, locally relevant investigations of practice to improve educational outcomes"--
Make formative assessment work for you—and your math students! Finally, formative assessment that adds up! Bringing Math Students Into the Formative Assessment Equation is the ultimate resource for helping teachers implement formative assessment in the middle school mathematics classroom. And it’s much more than that. With this research-based, teacher-tested guide, you won’t just learn effective teaching strategies—you’ll turn your students into self-regulated learners. They’ll monitor and assess their own progress—and communicate to you about it! Features include: A clear and manageable six-aspect instructional model Detailed strategies for helping students own their successes Real-life examples from middle school mathematics teachers Useful resources and a companion website to help you implement formative assessment in your classroom Formative assessment isn’t just for teachers anymore. With the help of this essential resource, you’ll work together with your students toward a common goal of math success. "This book is outstanding. I would recommend it to any math educator. The depth of research integrated into practice is extensive and, as a result, it is the most practical book I have come across related to formative assessment and mathematics The self-regulation aspects, as well as the ownership and involvement emphasized in the book, went beyond the traditional cognitive strategies endorsed in most books." Marc Simmons, Principal Ilwaco Middle School, Ocean Beach School District, Long Beach, WA "The ideas in this book are brought to life with examples of teachers and students in the classroom. The teacher voices, comments, and quotes lend credibility and are a big component of the book’s strengths as well as the visuals and graphics." Rita Tellez, Math Coordinator Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, TX
How does practitioner inquiry impact education? Examining the experiences of practitioners who have participated in inquiry projects, the authors present ways in which this work has enabled educators to be positive change agents. They reveal the difference that practitioner inquiry has made in their professional practice, their understanding of student learning, their content area knowledge, and their career trajectories. Attesting to long-lasting changes in ways that these educators approach professional challenges, the authors identify the “ripple effect” of these changes through school communities and beyond. Impactful Practitioner Inquiry includes in-depth case studies as well as chapters specifically focused on the design and analysis aspects of inquiry. Book Features: An examination of how practitioner inquiry impacts professional practice, school culture, and career trajectories.The use of complexity and network theories to understand how practitioner inquiry is able to create its ripple effect.Testimonies from educators with up to 10 years’ experience as inquirers.Practices from early childhood and school settings, classroom and leadership roles, general education and specialist settings. “This in-depth reflective analysis will be invaluable to action researchers and school–university collaborations in designing inquiries that positively impact student lives and learning.” —JoBeth Allen, professor emeritus, University of Georgia “Incorporating extended examples, helpful frameworks and critical analysis, this will be a must-have book for teacher-researchers and educational professional learning communities internationally.” —Barbara Comber, research professor, University of South Australia and Queensland University of Technology
Informal Learning, Practitioner Inquiry and Occupational Education explores how practitioners in a variety of occupations perform their jobs and argues that working and learning are intricately connected. Drawing on theories around working and learning in informal, formal and lifelong settings, the book gives insights into how workers negotiate their occupational practices. The book investigates four related concepts – informal learning, practitioner inquiry, occupational education and epistemological perspectives. The combinations of theories and empirical case studies are used to provide a conceptual framework of inquiry where knowledge, abilities, experiences and skill sets play a significant aspect. It presents 11 case studies of professions ranging from conventional occupations of acting, detective work, international road transportation to emerging professions of boardroom consultancy, nutritional therapy and opinion leadership. This book will be of great interest for academics, scholars and postgraduate students who are engaged in the study of informal education, vocational education and occupation-related programmes. It will also offer significant insights for related education practitioners wanting to have greater understanding of their own journeys and practices.
This text focuses on learning about primary PE and its potential to contribute not only as a discrete curriculum subject but also across the whole curriculum and to some of the many strategies and initiatives that have been set up to enhance primary practice and achievement.
Scholars and educators worldwide are grappling with the challenge of translating innovative research findings into tangible improvements within their classrooms. The chasm between theory and practice hinders the progress of education and leaves a wealth of untapped potential. The need for a process or approach to bridge these elements is urgent. Practitioner Research in College-Based Education serves as this much-needed resource for scholars seeking to overcome this enduring challenge. This innovative book offers a roadmap for academic scholars, providing insights into practitioner-led research across the global landscape of college-based education. This book is more than a collection of theoretical frameworks; it is a solution-oriented guide that illuminates the intricacies of research practices, methodologies, and their real-world applications within the context of academic institutions.
"Like the little train that said ′I think I can, I think I can,′ this book tells school counselors, ′You can, you can′ do research. The text encourages and guides school counselors who have very little time and resources for research, enabling them to show and tell the differences that result from their programs." —Angie Stansell, School Counselor Hatton High School, Town Creek, AL "This text can help any school counselor develop the observation and analytical skills to become a practitioner-inquirer. However, the book is much more than a collection of research techniques—it is a celebration of what is possible when school counselors pursue answers to their own questions about the students with whom they work. I predict this groundbreaking book will become a classic." —Ruth Shagoury Author, The Art of Classroom Inquiry Become an advocate for underserved students by using data from inquiry projects! This practical and timely book is ideal for school counselors unfamiliar with the process of practitioner research, from framing research questions and gathering authentic data to using results that can benefit students and create lasting schoolwide change. The authors use the American School Counselor Association′s National Model to build practitioners′ inquiry skills on issues of achievement, opportunity inequities, school culture, and community partnerships. The text covers: Practical methods for formulating the questions on which inquiry projects are based A step-by-step process for collecting, analyzing, and using data Guidelines for developing counselors′ advocacy, leadership, and collaboration skills
How do teachers and schools create meaningful learning experiences for students with diverse skills, abilities, and cultures? How can teachers authentically assess the learning of their students and build on their strengths and interests in ways that enrich the larger community? How can schools be turned into places where everyone is learning from each other? These are the big questions that guide the work of teachers at the well-known Mission Hill School in Boston and that are addressed in this book. Teaching in Themes will help schools incorporate a whole-school, theme-based curriculum that engages students across grade levels K–8. The authors provide detailed descriptions of four thematic units: What’s Baking? Learning Together About Bread and Bakeries; The Impact of Nature and Play; The Struggle for Justice: U.S. History Through the Eyes of African-Americans; and Astronomical Inquiries. Readers will see how teachers and students design “emergent inquiries” within the themes and create artwork, music, presentations, and a variety of hands-on learning experiences that support differentiated instruction across the curriculum. Book Features: Examples of whole-school projects designed to create a deep sense of immersion in a curricular theme and to build a multi-age learning community. Details of how teachers developed rich curriculum tailored to their unique students. The insights of legendary educator Deborah Meier on how whole-school thematic units were used to encourage collaboration among teachers. An afterword by teachers (and film makers) about the thinking behind their work featured in the widely-viewed film series “A Year at Mission Hill.” “The schools Deborah Meier created in New York and Boston are outstanding examples of democratic education in action. I will never forget the first time I visited one of Deborah’s schools in East Harlem and saw the joy and curiosity on the faces of children and teachers alike. I took time then to carefully describe the school’s practices, including its portfolio-based assessment system, because I believed the word needed to be spread. I still do. Happily, this new book from Deborah and her colleagues at the Mission Hill School adds to the literature on creative and collaborative teaching and on building trusting and powerful learning communities.” —Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University “Here is a book that shatters the prevailing definition of a ‘good’ school as one with high test scores. Teaching in Themes makes clear the often hidden fact that there are many kinds of ‘good’ schools for children, adults, and a democratic society, past and present. Experienced teachers tell a fascinating story about Boston’s Mission Hill School, its goals, curriculum, classroom lessons, and assessments that will knock the socks off many true believers in only one kind of a ‘good’ school.” —Larry Cuban, Professor Emeritus of Education, Stanford University “Real student engagement is not the result of entertaining instruction; it is borne from students being passionate about their own learning—about becoming young experts. This book gives a behind-the-scenes look at Mission Hill, a remarkably successful public school where the quality of student thinking and student work takes precedence over test scores, and where thematic learning builds powerful intellectual bridges within classrooms and across the school.” —Ron Berger, chief academic officer, Expeditionary Learning
