Teachers can promote leadership in the classroom by, “taking responsibility for the progress of all students to ensure that they graduate from high school, are globally competitive for work and postsecondary education, and are prepared for life in the 21st century.” (NC Teacher Evaluation Process Document, 2009). Consequently, leading in the classroom is more than just planning lessons and presenting information. It involves making the students leaders in their own academic development by equipping them with the 21st century skills they will need to be successful. When asked what was meant by 21st century skills, Hammond-Darling stated, “…it means skills that, although they are not entirely new, are of increasingly great importance in the …show more content…
Marzano and Heflebower (2012) cite a quote in their book, Teaching and Accessing 21st Century Skills, that states, “The commission’s 1991 report, What Work Requires of Schools, contrasted the old requirements for success in America, defined as “a strong back, the willingness to work, an)d a high school diploma, with what students need in the new American workplace, defined as “a well-developed mind, a passion to learn, and the ability to put knowledge to work.” The report criticized schools, saying that “despite their best efforts, most schools have not changed fast enough or moved far enough” to prepare students for the demands of the new workplace.” The way children were instructed in years past with focus on the three R’s (i.e., Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic), are no longer sufficient to prepare students for the interactive, technological age in which they now live. With this in mind, I believe it is necessary for schools to begin focusing more on strategies and best practices that will address the shift that is taking place in our global …show more content…
These best practices are:
1) Inquiry-based learning: Focuses on “questioning, critical thinking, and problem solving” (Johnson & Lamb, 2000, 2007); the process involves presenting an opened question; engaging in research to investigate possible answers; presenting and discussing findings; and reflecting on learning (EdTech Team, 2010-2015)
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3) Problem-based learning: Focuses on the process of investigation and acquisition of knowledge to solve real world problems; this process involves presenting students with a real life problem with multiple solutions; organizing students into teams; listing knowns and unknowns; researching the unknowns; testing theories and hypotheses; analyzing data; reaching conclusions; and communicating results (EdTech Team,
According to Blase, Blase, and Phillips (2010) educational leaders in high preforming schools effectively balance administrative and instructional leadership and provide stability, predictability and support. The current paradigm of educational leadership is management of facility, budget, school safety, and student discipline. Administrators must place more emphasis on methods to balance the responsibility of instructional leadership. It will require effective leadership characterized by their ability to redesign their schools into an effective organization. This can be done by a leader’s willingness to take risk. Risk taking would involve the leaders’ commitment to work collaboratively with teachers to set school wide and classroom goals suited to meet the unique needs of the students. It would require educational leaders to refuse to adopt a manufactured educational program but to make a commitment to their students and teachers to create a learning environment that is unique and relevant. Educational leaders would evaluate teachers on the effectiveness of their instructional practices. Each teacher would be held accountable for data that supports the need for goals developed for their classroom and methods used to track progress, use of instructional strategies, how assessment will be incorporated to drive instruction and monitor learning, and the effective use of assessment
Ultimately, no teacher in any building became a teacher without being a leader first, and as I have looked back on my own past upbringing through scouting by other educators, I see the outpouring of wealth of experience from those teachers just waiting to make a As an administrator, I have the opportunity to mirror this same attitude in my performance. Through classroom visits, I have to take advantage of the lessons and instruction I see to what the most effective teachers do. Regular teachers and students are often enclosed in a box and don’t always have this opportunity to see the world outside those four walls, but it is important for them to see this as well. The transparency that social media and today’s technology brings us allows the teacher and student to be innovative in how they approach lessons, not only for ourselves, but for kids and adults all across the world. Ultimately, it’s important as a leader and building administrator to remember “what is best for kids” and to allow them to experience growth from everyone around them, even if it’s from the negative
Leadership training programs allow for teachers to use their professional experience as an educator and combine it with the academic and hands on experience of being a leader by providing a comprehensive program. Leadership “…is learnable by providing real world leadership training” (Ramsey, 2006, p.xx). The training program prepares educators to be leaders and equips them with the tools necessary to be an effective leader. There is a need for an “,,,infusion ...
Parr, Graham 2010, Inquiry-based professional learning : Speaking back to standard-based reforms, e-book, accessed 29 May 2014, .
...s bound to bring a sea of change in the future. The students of today are integral factors that tailor the bright future of tomorrow. Schools and colleges can have guest lectures and additional course outlines where the students be taught on Authentic Leadership, how it plays an important role on the way to success and where to implement it in their own lives from a very young age. Students if taught the merits of authentic leadership will most likely turn out to be great leaders in the future, if they start implementing the factors of authentic leadership from a very young age.
DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION OF A SHARED VISION: Education leaders facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision of learning and growth of all students, (1C) Implementing the Vision connection to my action plan. I collaborate with key stakeholders with the intention of fostering a shared vision, one that is proactive in nature. Proactive interventions, such as the development of a BIP will aid in a shared vision of learning and growth for all students regardless of ability levels. INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP: Education leaders shape a collaborative culture of teaching and learning informed by professional standards and focused on student and professional growth (2C) Supporting Teachers to Improve Practice (2D) Feedback on Instruction, directly relates to my action plan as I will engage in open collaborative conversations with teachers, administrators, and essential staff members. I will conduct informal classroom observations with the intension of providing feedback, constructing classroom materials, dispersing information. EXTERNAL CONTEXT AND POLICY Education leaders influence political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts affecting education to improve education policies and practices (6A) Understanding and Communicating Policy correlates with my action plan. I will inform all essential members of the current legal mandates established by federal law, as safeguarding student
The role of teacher leader has been defined as “teachers who aspire to stretch beyond their classrooms to engage in leadership roles that take many shapes and forms, both “informal and formal”. (ECS, 2010). Teacher leadership has also been described as “the process by which teachers, individually and collectively, influence their colleagues, principals, and other members of the school community to improve learning practices with the aim of increased student learning and achievement.” (ECS, 2010). In years past, a majority of teacher leadership roles took the form of department chair, committee chair, grade level chair, etc. It was more of a representative role versus a leadership role. Their responsibility primarily involved dispersing information from administration to their counterparts and taking information back to administration from the group. Their position lacked decision-making power and true leadership that brings about “real” change. These tasks are still viewed as opportunities for teacher leadership; however, recently, the
Principal Pettis has to come to the realization that it is not possible to “have all the competence, all the time, and all the information needed at any one time to get the job done.” (Sergiovanni, 2015, p. 12). She will have to empower and cultivate leadership skills in teacher-leaders to give her an equitable perspective on the needs of her school. In this way, learning is ongoing for all, making the important connection between leadership and learning that is so powerful in successful schools. With these few changes, the heartbeat of the school is
Touching lives and affecting the outcome of so many futures a teacher is the epitome of a leader. Just as a leader has his or her own style, a teacher’s way of motivating his/her students, also plays an important role for a students success. Spending more time children then most parents do, a teacher is crucial in shaping with children of the future. If teachers are poor leaders then children suffer. When they shine as leaders, children blossom and the universe is wide open. As a teacher must fine tune their leadership skills and find the best style of teaching for the students who they are teaching. The intrinsic characteristics of a teacher can be categorized into a few main teaching styles or leadership styles. Directing, participating, delegating, and combined styles are the main forms of teaching and leading. The qualities associated with these styles are necessary to any teacher. The purpose ...
Teachers and leaders work and communicate together to initiate changes that’s needed to build new ways of learning, sharing and accessing knowledge, then putting it to work in the lives of all students. At my school we have learned education, science, technology and hardworking devoted staff members are the key to preparing our students for a great global education and future.
middle of paper ... ... References Farr, S. (2010). The 'Standard'. Teacher leadership: The highly effective teacher guide to closing the gap. achievement gap.
Inquiry Learning is a way to make the student find their own answers for their questions (Lakes Matyas, Ph.D). Posing a question for the students is a way to get them started. Then, by guiding the students on their own different searches, they all come together in the end to share their findings to answer the question.
There are platitudes of issues and elements that pertain to the educational process as well as curriculum development that are addressed on a routine basis. As many researchers have discussed, and administrators and teachers alike have grown to understand, if this current educational model/system is to produce creative, productive, active, and technologically savvy students-citizens the worst actions are perhaps having no actions at all (Stansbury, 2013). In addition to the grandiose mistakes of becoming stagnant (progress), educators and administrators are faced with increasing demands at the highest levels; this of course is making reference to both federal and state legislation such as No Child Left Behind, perhaps the most groundbreaking legislation to date. These rigorous demands are curriculum based, creating definitive and innovative opportunities for educators, especially those in positions to promote and formulate new curriculum models as well as propose the implementation of a new curricula into the system, to better prepare students within their educational system/process exactly what the demands of a 21st century requires. These demands are in reference to an article written by Richard Long titled Career Success Demands Strong 21st Century Literacy Skills. Long states several skills that will be required if American students are to play catch –up with the rest of the world as well as perhaps attain their position at the top of the upper echelon of world educational rankings (Long, 2010).
Education is a very important aspect in the life of a child. The level of success a student has in the classroom is greatly influenced by their teachers. Students, as well as their parents, depend on the teachers to guide them through their education. But who guides a teacher to perform successfully in the classroom? Principals and teachers play an important role in schools. A good relationship among school leaders and teachers is necessary and play an important role in making improvements in the school. Leadership refers to the “process in which one person successfully exerts influence over others to reach desired objectives”. (Okoji, 2015) Good leadership involves honesty, vision, confidence and commitment. It is the ability to inspire a
Inquiry is an interactive way of learning. Students are actively engaged in their studies. Inquiry involves student-centered activities focusing on questioning, exploring, and posing explanations. The goal of inquiry is to introduce a new way of learning where students can learn about the world around them through active engagement in real-life examples. Inquiry based learning can be incorporated into all academic subjects throughout the curriculum. Science could possibly be the most effective subject to incorporate inquiry.