Drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in community to raise the professional stature of educators. The authors, experts in their field, provide clear steps and real-school examples with a focus on collaborative adult learning for student gains,…

Like many other people, teachers resist change out of habit, fear, and a sense that change is futile. Principals can enhance change by timing innovations appropriately, involving all those affected by the change, convincing those involved that the change is "theirs," and demonstrating serious commitment through adequate support. (PGD)

Describes personal teaching efficacy. Notes that a positive personal teaching efficacy is fundamental in accomplishing change, and is a powerful influence in altering classroom practice. Discusses four strategies for enhancing efficacy in schools. (SR)

This article presents educators with guidelines for responding to change in a professional manner: identify and assess the change being suggested; evaluate its impact; analyze the advocates of the change and their influence tactics; and respond in a way that maximizes flexibility and information gathering. (SJL)

Teachers' personal concerns related to the tension between a bureaucratic and a professional conception of teacher evaluation are seen as a major roadblock to school reform. Suggests strategies for using the Stages of Concern Model to address the concerns of teachers as they implement an educational innovation. (16 references) (MLF)

Maintains that the division of opinions in a staff can determine an educational innovation's success or failure. Teacher empowerment can help forge widespread agreement and consensus for the innovation. These principles are exemplified by the Sizer initiative in the Delaware schools, which is described. (BB)

Describes how one resource person demonstrated and discussed whole language teaching methods in five elementary and middle schools to start the process of educational change. (MG)

Argues that an adaptive-generative development framework, based on constructivist learning principles and knowledge of organizational dynamics, can be helpful in managing the introduction of academic change in higher education institutions. A strength of the model is its capacity to help decision makers identify concerns and engage academics in…

This manual provides directions for administering, scoring, and interpreting the 44-item Change Facilitator Stages of Concern Questionnaire (CFSoCQ), which measures types of concerns that persons have in relation to their change facilitator role. Section 1 provides background information about earlier research (describing concerns, initial…

The case for multiage education is examined and an effort is made to provide answers to the most commonly asked questions about its implementation. The questions are organized into eight groups. The first group tries to clarify the concept of multiage education and its components. Concepts such as multiyear placement, looping classrooms, split…

This text aims to provide information, strategies, techniques, innovative ideas, and encouragement for teachers, administrators, and parents in implementing a diversity perspective to education for children ages 3 to 8 years. Major focuses are on ethnic, gender, and social-class differences, but issues related to special needs children, including…

Designed to provide teachers and administrators with suggestions for innovative approaches to providing vocational education to handicapped high school students, this report contains first person descriptions of six model programs in vocational education. In chapter 1 four administrators and instructors comment on their Related Vocational…

This collection of comments consists of four chapters of informal remarks by trustees, educators, and students from various types and sizes of institutions with innovative mainstreaming programs for handicapped students in postsecondary vocational education programs. Chapter 1 contains comments by nine individuals (students and administrators) on…

Invitational education is a general framework for thinking and acting about what is believed to be worthwhile in schools. It centers on five basic principles: (1) people are able, valuable, and responsible, and should be treated accordingly; (2) educating should be a collaborative, cooperative activity; (3) the process is the product in the…

This book on middle school uses a very free-form structure to encourage educators to think about middle school's philosophy and purpose, and about how to create a successful middle school. The preface claims that it is not a book "about" teaming, advisory, interdisciplinary units, intramurals, parent-teacher conferences, and other middle school…