Teachers Leading Educational Reform explores the ways in which teachers across the world are currently working together in professional learning communities (PLCs) to generate meaningful change and innovation in order to transform pedagogy and practice. By discussing how teachers can work collectively and collaboratively on the issues of learning and teaching that matter to them, it argues that through collective action and collaborative agency, teachers are leading educational reform. By offering contemporary examples and perspectives on the practice, impact and sustainability of PLCs, this book takes a global, comparative view showing categorically that those educational systems that are performing well, and seek to perform well, are using PLCs as the infrastructure to support teacher-led improvement. Split into three sections that look at the macro, meso and micro aspects of how far professional collaboration is building the capacity and capability for school and system improvement, this text asks the questions: Is the PLC work authentic? Is the PLC work being implemented at a superficial or deep level? Is there evidence of a positive impact on students/teachers at the school/district/system level? Is provision in place for sustaining the PLC work? Teachers Leading Educational Reform illustrates how focused and purposeful professional collaboration is contributing to change and reform across the globe. It reinforces why teachers must be at the heart of the school reform processes as the drivers and architects of school transformation and change.

This book explores the concept of the "best-loved self" in teaching and teacher education, asserting that the best-loved self is foundational to the development of teacher identity, growth in context, and learning in community. Drawing on the work of Joseph Schwab, who was the first to name the "best-loved self," the editors and their contributors extend this knowledge further through the collaboration of their group of teacher educators, known as the Faculty Academy, who have been involved in examining teacher education for over two decades.

It is now widely accepted that improving schools invest in teacher leadership and build the capacity for improvement by distributing leadership responsibilities to teachers. In primary, secondary and special schools, teachers are uniquely placed to influence the quality of teaching and learning and they are important gatekeepers to development and change. This book explores how teacher leadership is an intrinsic and important part of school and classroom improvement. It investigates teacher leadership in action and considers the roles, responsibilities and influence of teachers who lead. It considers the implications of teacher leadership for teachers’ professional development and focuses on ways in which this important form of leadership can be fostered and enhanced. The central message in this book is that teachers play a critical role in leading improvement in the classroom and school level and that this form of leadership contributes directly to raising achievement among learners. This book is crucial reading for all those who are concerned with teacher and school development, school leadership and school improvement.

Practical and forward-thinking, Developing Teacher Leaders in Special Education is the administrator's essential guide to growing special educator leadership in any school, district, or program. Special educators need to be flexible, proactive, and collaborative – qualities that make them uniquely suited to roles in school leadership – but these skills are often overlooked when choosing effective teacher leaders. Featuring helpful tips and detailed examples to demonstrate the concepts in action, this book breaks down the qualities that special educators can bring to your school leadership team and explores how you can leverage those skills to create a more inclusive and successful community.

The international attempt to expand schooling despite dealing with an insufficient number of trained teachers has placed significant pressure on teacher education. Continued effort to change all aspects of teacher education, including ways of learning, methods of practice, institution interaction and assessment of teaching ability, in order to fulfil the desire to offer inclusive and equitable teaching for all, is a serious consideration. In response to this increased attention on cross-national campaigns, Leading Change in Teacher Education features discussions covering what has been done, how and why the change has happened, the journey itself and the challenges encountered along the way, alongside contributions from international academics who share their reflections and suggestions for a way forward, despite a global shortage of teachers. Strategies surrounding the design and delivery of education now centre on improving how teachers are prepared, supported and evaluated. Leading Change in Teacher Education captures the stories of international change leaders by: Providing details of both the successes and challenges faced Presenting innovative practices in teacher education from around the world Describing the strategies put in place to ensure that teacher education is developing The topics discussed are relevant for educators, policymakers and international organizations involved in the design and implementation of programmes in teacher education. Leading Change in Teacher Education is also an invaluable resource for those looking to increase the changes occurring within teacher education.

This book helps mentors working with beginning teachers of religious education to develop their own mentoring skills and provides the essential guidance their mentee needs as they navigate the roller coaster of their first years in the classroom. Offering tried-and-tested strategies, it covers the knowledge, skills and understanding every mentor needs. Practical tools offered include approaches for developing subject knowledge and lesson planning, as well as guidance for the effective use of pre- and post-lesson discussion, observations and target setting to support beginning religious education teachers. Together with analytical tools for self-evaluation, this book is a vital source of support and inspiration for all those involved in developing the next generation of outstanding religious education teachers. Key topics covered include the following: Models of mentoring Your knowledge, skills and understanding as a mentor Developing mentees' religious literacy through classroom practice Supporting the planning of effective and creative RE lessons Developing mentees' knowledge and skills in the RE curriculum Supporting the delivery and evaluation of lessons Observations and pre- and post-lesson discussions and regular mentoring meetings Helping new religious education teachers develop their professional practice Filled with the key tools needed for the mentor’s individual development, this book offers an accessible guide to mentoring religious education teachers with ready-to-use strategies that support, inspire and elevate both mentors and beginning teachers alike.

Teaching primary computing without computers? The Computing curriculum is a challenge for primary school teachers. The realities of primary school resources mean limited access to computer hardware. But computing is about more than computers. Important aspects of the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science can be taught without any hardware. Children can learn to analyse problems and computational terms and apply computational thinking to solve problems without turning on a computer. This book shows you how you can teach computing through ‘unplugged’ activities. It provides lesson examples and everyday activities to help teachers and pupils explore computing concepts in a concrete way, accelerating their understanding and grasp of key ideas such as abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. The unplugged approach is physical and collaborative, using kinaesthetic learning to help make computing concepts more meaningful and memorable. This book will help you to elevate your teaching, and your children′s learning of computing beyond the available hardware. It focuses on the building blocks of understanding required for computation thinking.

Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and relationships, (sex) and health education (R(S)HE) are often undervalued in school and are frequently seen as an add-ons. But when taught well, PSHE and R(S)HE can enhance not only other subjects but strengthen school safeguarding, develop pupil well-being and improve pupils' progress and resilience in learning. Underpinned by a range of contemporary research and illustrated through examples of classroom practice, the expert team of teacher educators look at a range of curriculum areas and contemporary issues to explore how PSHE and R(S)HE education can enhance other curriculum areas. As well as showing how pupils' life skills can be developed, they also explore how teachers' understanding of how PSHE and R(S)HE can be implemented without additional planning or expensive resources. The book takes an inclusive understanding of both diverse families and relationships throughout. Topics covered include: -social media, online presence and critical literacy skills -mental health coping strategies -plastic reducing -topical, sensitive, controversial issues (TSCIs) Covering the whole primary spectrum from Early Years to Key Stage 2, case studies from each phase are included within each chapter to help practitioners to relate the material to their own classroom. Points to consider for your setting are included and guidance on further reading provides reliable direction for additional information.

This collaborative volume offers an in-depth portrait and valuable reference for the development of clinical or school-embedded partnerships in teacher preparation by drawing on the decades-long partnership between a university and set of schools in an urban neighborhood. In the midst of a national movement towards partnership-based clinical teacher education, this book explains and illustrates the roles, commitments, and collaborative practices that have evolved. Divided into three parts, contributors outline the theory and practice of the clinical teacher preparation model and its neighborhood focus, covering topics such as: The social and institutional context of partnership development and teacher education; Key collaborative and learning practices; Challenges and questions that have emerged, and what can be learned from the experience. Written with voices of university faculty, school educators, program graduates, and students from partner schools, Thomas Del Prete offers a volume perfect for those looking to be inspired by an example of clinical teacher education and partnership in an urban community and to learn what can be achieved with conviction and perseverance over time.

"The contributions are authoritative and of high quality. This is an important resource." -The Teacher Trainer A seminal, 'state-of-the-art' critical review of teacher and school development which touches upon and discusses issues at both policy and practice levels.