Learnership: Invest in Teachers, Focus on Learning, and Put Test Scores in Perspective

by Cathy A. Toll

Overview

Put the focus of education back where it belongs—on learning!

Do you feel bogged down by endless administrative tasks? Do you wish you could focus more on what truly matters—learning? Learnership provides both insight and solutions for moving past distractions and becoming a learning leader. Cathy Toll illustrates how the practice of learnership can be implemented every day through activities, real-life stories, and narrative bibliography. This book offers:

• Practices to help teachers improve their effectiveness using problem-solving techniques
• More effective ways to approach data, testing, and accountability
• Strategies for supporting Professional Learning Teams (PLT) and educational coaches

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452216461
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/18/2012
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Cathy A. Toll is a consultant and author who supports learning by helping professional learning teams, educational coaches, and school leaders to invest in teachers’ capacity to make a difference for students.. She has published widely for teacher leaders, including four books for coaches and numerous articles in professional journals. She has served as a teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, a reading specialist, a curriculum coordinator, a principal, director of literacy research and development, university professor, grant director, consultant, and educational coach. Her Ph D is from Pennsylvania State University, with a focus on curriculum and instruction, language and literacy education, and teacher professional growth.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Introduction to Learnership
Felicia Robertson, Washington Intermediate School
Gordon Fielding, Centerville High School
The Difference
2. Look for Learning
Teacher Learning as a Path to Student Learning
How to Look for Learning
Principals as Learning Leaders
Conclusion
3. Understand Learning
Systems Learn
Shifts in Identity
Shifting Perspectives
Conclusion
4. Inquire into Learning
Information
Sources of Information
Contradictory Claims
Differing Viewpoints
Data
Problems
Data Redux
A Role for Principals
Conclusion
5. Put Test Scores in Perspective
Mile Markers on the Journey
What Information?
Information of Greater Value
So What?
Principal Attention to Student Learning
Teacher Learning
Teacher Supervision
These Curious Times
Conclusion
6. Influence Learning
Disequilibrium
Tune In to Disequilibrium
More on the Question
Prompt Disequilibrium
Processes that Enhance Learning
Conclusion
7. Support Learning
Educational Coaching
Professional Learning Teams
Principal Leadership
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Narrative Bibliography
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

In Learnership, Cathy Toll reminds us that we didn’t get into the teaching profession to make 'data-driven decisions' and shows how starting with an issue and 'thinking data' can enhance learning. This book came at the perfect time in my career. It’s a book I’ll keep around to reference & refuel.”

Andrew Goodin

Cathy Toll makes a contribution in the professional field and calls educators to focus on student learning instead of data and instruction as the tools for student learning.

Patricia J. Burke

Administrators will find this book to be a useful tool in working with their staffs to encourage 'Learnership' throughout their buildings.

Nancy M. Betler