What Should I Do? Confronting Dilemmas of Teaching in Urban Schools
What Should I Do? Confronting Dilemmas of Teaching in Urban Schools

Author: Anna Ershler Richert

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2015-04-17

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 0807771023

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“Have you ever been waiting for THE book? This is that book. Anna Richert has held on to this book for many years because she wanted it to honor the profession and the work of teaching. It satisfies on two important levels—that of those who study teaching and those who do the teaching. At a time when the profession is suffering from a lack of support and criticism on all fronts, Richert elevates it without valorizing it. These are real dilemmas that real teachers struggle with everyday. We owe Anna Richert a big thank you for What Should I Do?” —Gloria Ladson-Billings, Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison What Should I Do? is a practical guide to the everyday dilemmas of the urban classroom. It offers a lifeline to both beginning teachers who are struggling to be successful and to the teacher educators who are trying to prepare them for these challenges. The author uses narratives of practice, written by novice teachers, to help readers experience a variety of dilemmas they are likely to encounter in the classroom. By engaging with and analyzing the cases, readers come to see that the “problems” of teaching are actually “dilemmas” that have no clear-cut right or wrong solution, thus reducing the potential for frustration and despair often felt by teachers. This practical resource will empower teachers to transform the unpredictable world of troubled schools into places of learning and hope, for both themselves and their students. As a former teacher said, “I wish I had read this book and realized that I wasn’t expected to have all the answers. I would probably still be teaching.” Anna Ershler Richert is a professor in the School of Education at Mills College in Oakland California where she is Director of the Master of Arts in Education with an Emphasis on Teaching (MEET) Program and Faculty Director of the Mills Teacher Scholars.

Teaching Music
Teaching Music

Author: Lisa DeLorenzo

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-04-01

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 042958962X

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This timely book explores teaching music in the urban setting along with interviews and journal accounts from urban music teachers in a variety of specializations. Written for pre-service music education students and music teachers new to urban teaching, this is a must-read for those considering teaching in the urban schools. Selected topics include culturally responsive teaching; White teachers working with students of color; nurturing pedagogy for at-risk youths; working with ESL students and immigrant families; creating a democratic and socially just music classroom; and developing habits of teaching that promote resilience and confidence in the emotional, social, and academic well-being of young musicians. A valuable resource for music teaching, this book features an accessible blend of theory and practice with authentic stories from the field.

Failing at School
Failing at School

Author: Camille A. Farrington

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 0807772747

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Roughly half of all incoming ninth graders across urban districts will fail classes and drop out of school without a diploma. Failing at School starts with the premise that urban American high schools generate such widespread student failure not because of some fault of the students who attend them but because high schools were designed to stratify achievement and let only the top performers advance to higher levels of education. This design is particularly detrimental for low-income, racial/ethnic minority students. To get different results, Farrington proposes fundamental changes based on what we now know about how students learn, what motivates them to engage in learning, and what kinds of educational systems and structures would best support their learning. “This is a groundbreaking and eye-opening study because it does what few studies of high school truly do: get inside the hearts and minds of teen-agers and show what their experience of school looks and feels like to them. The analysis of students who fail is revealing and powerful. There are poignant and revealing stories of just how a few student mistakes or teacher insensitivities lead to unfortunate and long-lasting results. More importantly, these case studies, their nuances, and their implications take us beyond the clichés and simplistic theories about schools and reform. Most importantly, we read of tangible and intelligent solutions that can be instituted, based on the facts on the ground. I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in getting beyond the typical talking points of school reform.” —Grant Wiggins, Authentic Education “Camille Farrington details how high schools trap students along developmental trajectories distorted by structural factors—resources, values and practices—beyond their control. Grounded firmly in research, she describes a better way forward. This book is an important contribution to the re-visioning of American high schools.” —Ronald F. Ferguson, faculty director, Achievement Gap Initiative, Harvard University "Why is there such a pattern of failure in urban high schools? This is a vital issue for every city in America. Camille Farrington’s analysis of the roots of this problem and suggestions for structural changes to break this cycle is the best I have seen. This book combines research and practitioner wisdom with common sense and heart, and for those of us engaged in this work, presents concrete directions for positive change.” —Ron Berger, chief academic officer, Expeditionary Learning Book Features: Offers concrete strategies for redesigning high schools based on four dimensions of student achievement—structural, academic, developmental, and motivational. Highlights the voices of students to illustrate fundamental problems with the way we currently “do school.” Addresses the new Common Core State Standards and the potential of this major reform effort to move us toward equity and excellence. Camille A. Farrington is a research associate (assistant professor) at The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and the Consortium on Chicago School Research and director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the Network for College Success.

Mathematics Professional Development
Mathematics Professional Development

Author: Hilda Borko

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 0807773794

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This resource will help school leaders and other professional development providers conduct ongoing, structured learning opportunities for mathematics teachers (K–12). The authors present models for professional development and the preparation of PD leaders designed and field-tested as part of two research projects supported by the National Science Foundation. The Problem-Solving Cycle model and the Mathematics Leadership Preparation model focus on topics of primary interest to mathematics teachers—mathematics content, classroom instruction, and student learning. They are intentionally designed so that they can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of participating teachers and schools. Through engaging vignettes, the authors describe the models, summarize key research findings, and share lessons learned. The book also includes detailed examples of workshop activities for both teachers and PD leaders. Book Features: Supports teachers’ learning and teaching of math in line with current reform principles.Develops math teachers’ capacity to foster students’ learning of the CCSSM content and practices.Prepares teacher leaders to facilitate professional development.Illustrates the use of video as part of professional development.Includes examples of workshop activities for teachers and teacher leaders. “This book presents an approach to teacher professional learning that integrates many popular ideas in the field, such as teacher leadership, evidence-based practice, and teacher learning communities. It avoids the superficiality that plagues so many treatments of these themes, offering readers depth, substance, detail, and clarity. This will surely be a valuable resource for educational leaders and professional development specialists seeking research-based ways to assist teachers to engage effectively in ambitious mathematics instruction that enables students to understand mathematics deeply and to use it effectively to solve problems.” —Edward A. Silver, William A. Brownell Collegiate Professor of Education & Professor of Mathematics, University of Michigan “Mathematics Professional Development delivers the details we need but can rarely access. The authors detail a research-based, principled approach to school-based professional development that supports teachers in taking on the continual improvement of their practice.” —Megan Franke, professor, UCLA

Looking Together at Student Work, Third Edition
Looking Together at Student Work, Third Edition

Author: Tina Blythe

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2015-04-17

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 0807756466

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This bestseller provides teachers and administrators with strategies for examining and discussing student work, such as essays, math problems, projects, artwork, and more. New for the Third Edition: The Microlab Protocol, a relatively quick and easy way to introduce groups to protocol-guided conversation; a new case focused on understanding the Common Core; and more detailed notes and strategies for facilitators. Tina Blythe develops and facilitates online professional development courses for Harvard Project Zero and consults for schools, districts, and organizations both nationally and internationally. David Allen is an assistant professor at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York. Barbara Schieffelin Powell is a national and international educational consultant in curriculum development, teacher education, and evaluation.

Leading Educational Change
Leading Educational Change

Author: Helen Janc Malone

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2015-04-28

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 080777264X

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“You won’t find a better book on whole-system change that covers so much ground in such an accessible form than Leading Educational Change!” —From the Foreword by Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, OISE, University of Toronto “This book tackles critical issues and conundrums about how to create productive educational systems by a group of exceptionally knowledgeable thought leaders from the U.S. and around the world. Both policymakers and practitioners will benefit from these valuable insights.” —Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford University, author of The Flat World and Education “A well-edited and fascinating anthology with a wide variety of prescriptions, from the powerful to the improbable.” —Sir Michael Barber, Chief Education Advisor, Pearson “This book provides exactly what we need at this moment in the education enterprise: clear-eyed and far-reaching analyses from our brightest minds on the problems and potential solutions to delivering better educators and education amid a vastly changing, globally competitive, and interconnected 21st century.” —Gregory A. Patterson, Managing Editor, Phi Delta Kappan Magazine This collection features original essays from international superstars in the field of educational change. Each “think piece” draws on the latest knowledge from research, policy, and practice to provide important insights for creating systemic, meaningful reform. The authors directly address contemporary challenges, misconceptions, and failed strategies, while also offering solutions, ideas, and guiding questions for examination. Unique in its breadth of ideas and diversity of voices, Leading Educational Change is must-reading for education decision makers on all levels, frontline practitioners, and everyone involved with children and adolescent learning. Together with the online companion Instructor’s Guide, this is also a perfect text for educational leadership and policy courses. Contributors: Mel Ainscow, Stephen E. Anderson, Rukmini Banerji, Gabriel Cámara, Maria Helena Guimarães de Castro, Madhav Chavan, Amanda Datnow, Sherry L. Deckman, Lorna Earl, Patrick Griffin, Silvina Gvirtz, Andy Hargreaves, Alma Harris, Jonathan D. Jansen, Elena Lenskaya, Ann Lieberman, Helen Janc Malone, Barry McGaw, Pak Tee Ng, Pasi Sahlberg, Andreas Schleicher, Dennis Shirley, James P. Spillane, Louise Stoll, Esteban Torre, Yong Zhao Helen Janc Malone, Ed.D., is an educational researcher dedicated to connecting research, policy, and practice in support of student learning and positive development. Her work centers on educational change, whole-system reform, expanded learning, and K–16 pathways.

The Charged Classroom
The Charged Classroom

Author: Judith L. Pace

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-02-11

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 1317816625

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At a time when debate over school reform commands unprecedented attention, Judith L. Pace argues we must grapple with the underlying challenges of classroom teaching and, at the same time, strive to realize the ideals of democratic education. Building on three qualitative studies in grades four through twelve, The Charged Classroom examines the deeply embedded tensions, escalating pressures, and exciting possibilities of the contemporary American public school classroom. Through detailed descriptions and analyses of social studies and English language arts classrooms, Pace disentangles how teachers and students navigate three charged arenas: academic expectations, discussion of provocative topics, and curricular demands. In each domain, democratic learning opportunities, such as promotion of positive student identity, dialogue across differences, and exploration of conflict, are both opened up and closed down. A passionate and persuasive call for education reform, the book offers crucial insights about the realities of teaching and key recommendations for advancing democratic education in a multicultural society.

Embracing the Social and the Creative
Embracing the Social and the Creative

Author: Miriam Ben-Peretz

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 206

ISBN-13: 1475802927

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The guiding idea of this book concerns the nature of teacher education in the future, viewing the understanding of the history of teacher education in different context as the basis for future development. Special emphasis is given to matters of race and gender as well as on the special status and roles of teacher education in a globalized, uncertain, and anxiety-ridden world. Viewing teacher education as drama provides lenses and insights for the construction of teacher education. The book is divided into two parts. Part I is entitled Teacher education in the service of change. This part presents cases of the role of teacher education in reform movements in different cultures, and the impact of social changes across time on teacher education. Part II, A look into the future: societal issues in teacher education, focuses on several critical societal issues such as racism, feminism and environmental sustainability.

The First Year of Teaching
The First Year of Teaching

Author: Jabari Mahiri

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0807773174

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For first-year teachers entering the nation’s urban schools, the task of establishing a strong and successful practice is often extremely challenging. In this compelling look at first-year teachers’ practice in urban schools, editors Jabari Mahiri and Sarah Warshauer Freedman demonstrate how a program of systematic classroom research by teachers themselves enables them to effectively target instruction and improve their own practice. The book organizes the teachers’ research into three broad areas, corresponding to issues the new teachers identified as the most challenging: Crafting Curriculum—how to engage students in learning curricular content, develop their abilities to meet standards, and prepare them for college or careers. Complicating Culture—how to build on the different languages and cultures found in contemporary schools. Conceptualizing Control—how to manage a classroom of 30 or more teenagers and create a climate where learning can take place. The First Year of Teaching offers an array of classroom scenarios that will spark in-depth discussions in teacher preparation classes and professional development workshops, particularly in the context of problem-based, problem-posing pedagogies. “The First Year of Teaching offers us knowledge about urban schools which we could only get by academics and teachers working together. Documenting three themes concerning the complications of curriculum, culture, and control, we learn significant practices that make a difference for new teachers and their students. This is a must-read for teachers, researchers, and policymakers who want to improve urban education now.” —Ann Lieberman, senior scholar, Stanford University “This volume marvelously demonstrates how teaching and learning can be improved by positioning new teachers as researchers within a systematic process for increasing their effectiveness in complex, diverse city schools. Through each seamlessly integrated chapter the authors show us how critical teacher inquiry can provide the meaningful insight and stance needed to inspire engaged pedagogical practice. The First Year of Teaching will serve as a tremendous resource for preservice teacher education, professional development programs across the career span, and university classes on urban education and teacher learning.” —Ernest Morrell, director, Institute for Urban and Minority Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

Teach with Confidence
Teach with Confidence

Author: Alexandra Miletta

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2024-08-26

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 1538194996

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Teach with Confidence aims to inspire new teachers to trust their ability to reflect and grow and have an improved sense of their own agency in managing dissonance. The exploration of domains weaves in stories and research from practitioners and scholars to show how beliefs, knowledge, and skills in building relationships are critical elements of excellence. Like the stone pines depicted on the cover with their timeless beauty, stability, and strength, teachers need to take a long view, knowing that improvement will come with hard work and a responsive, nuanced approach to practice.