Adaptive leadership focuses on helping leaders act in a way that encourages others to adapt and embrace change. Adaptive leaders engage in activities that "mobilize," "motivate," "organize," "orient," and "focus the attention of others." Instead of single-handedly trying to solve all problems and…

To build collective teacher efficacy, teams must agree to (constructively) disagree, say assistant superintendent B.C. Preston and educator-author Jenni Donohoo. Leaders who mindfully organize team actions, alongside the team itself, empower teachers through processes and protocols to confront ineffective instruction and assessment practices--and…

Being creative always involves risk, and educators need to support students in taking "beautiful risks"--actions that have the potential to make a positive, lasting contribution to other's lives. To offer such support, educators must take risks too. Beghetto describes three "beautiful risks" educators can take to foster…

In a study of highly innovative young people in their 20s, the author found that although many people in the millennial generation want to do meaningful work and make a difference in the world, conventional high schools and colleges are not preparing their graduates to be innovators and entrepreneurs. This is a serious problem, he asserts, because…

One of the most persistent barriers to student achievement resides in the collective mindset of the students we teach. Too many students have become compliant workers instead of engaged learners. This is due, in part, to nine misunderstandings about what it means to learn. These include such misconceptions as "What the teacher wants me to say is…

The (media-induced) aura of failure surrounding schools is so pervasive that even friends of education misinterpret data. Four Bracey reports published in "Phi Delta Kappan" amassed substantial positive evidence, but the media choose to accentuate the negative. Given the severe decline in other social institutions, schools are performing…

Seniors enrolled in a humanities course at an exemplary New Jersey high school were surveyed about critical issues, needed changes, and factors affecting student failure. Critical issues included racism, problem kids from other schools, boring teachers, inconsistent discipline, crowded halls and classes, and violence. Students' reasons for student…

Only when the organizational structure and staff are aligned with the school vision can productive and exciting change happen. Change is thwarted when the school vision is uninspiring, developed incorrectly, not used immediately, or misaligned with staff or organization. Values, missions, outcomes, and visions have a short shelf-life; they must…

An independent study of Baltimore City's Tesseract schools analyzes why the privately managed program failed. Results showed no gains on Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills scores. Baltimore was paying about 11% more per student than in comparison schools. EAI has succeeded in establishing the supremacy of Wednesday afternoons for staff development…

When closely examining America's children, we see that even basic needs for care, shelter, food, and love are going unmet for millions. Family, society, and school are failing children barraged with conflicting consumer messages. The restoration of childhood demands creation of enlightened social policy and child-friendly islands of decency.…

Three high schol teachers in Tempe, Arizona, have improved students' speaking and writing proficiency by applying the principles of outcome-based education to their ninth grade English classes. These teachers abolished "D" grades, clearly defined expectations and offered expanded opportunities to master material. (MLH)

Attempting to capture the complexity of learning on standardized state assessments severely limits student knowledge and expression. Inevitably, schools reduce the curriculum to what is covered on tests. Students control their learning. Constructivist teachers structure lessons around big ideas, value relevance, and strive to challenge students'…