This case study focuses on researching the connections between policy and teaching practices in the context of English further education. It describes how an ethnographic approach was used to examine how teachers navigate policy directives in their day-to-day work, focusing particularly on quality improvement directives. It shows how two linked…

In August 1992, I began teaching elementary school in Pickering, Louisiana, to a class full of energetic fifth graders. I floundered my first few weeks, but quickly developed some effective skills. Over the next few years, I continued to hone my skills and began to notice there were differences in teachers in the various schools in which I worked.…

During the 2014-2015 academic year, WestEd hired us as research interns at the West Comprehensive Center in Phoenix, AZ. As PhD students, our task was to conduct a collective case study on two local education agencies in Arizona that participated in a 2-year school turnaround specialist program. The goal of the project was to gain a deeper…

For my dissertation, I was interested in examining the warnings about the preparedness of a new generation of students arriving on college campuses across the United States. For the past 12 years, these students have attended public schools under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the purpose of my study was to investigate the influence…

In 2011, I started my first research project that involved institutional review board-approved interviews. My initial goal was to understand novice teachers' experiences with bullying that involved lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students, but over the course of the 2-year project, I realized that what I was attempting to…

This report describes the methods used in an exploration of the challenges and issues faced by Teach First teachers in their first year of teaching in a culturally diverse school, and the strategies they employ to overcome them. Using a mixed-methods tactic, both qualitative and quantitative data are collected, focusing on the perspectives of the…

Redefine leadership in your school, and create capacity through school leadership teams that successfully coordinate professional learning. "Change, Lead, Succeed" shows school leaders and teachers in leadership roles what they need to know to effectively create a culture for change. Find out what distinguishes a school leadership team from other…

Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in New Orleans, LA in April 2011. The current study examined the differential validity of the SAT for predicting cumulative GPA through the second-year of college by college major, as well as the differential prediction of cumulative GPA by college major among…

From setting the stage to engaging the community in understanding the purpose of collaborative professional learning teams, this volume covers what leaders need to know to implement more effective professional learning. Chapters focus on changing school culture, scheduling time, planning, using data, designs for professional learning, facilitating…

Based on the bestselling book "Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning", and its companion volume, "Data Wise in Action", this DVD and Facilitator's Guide offer insight into one of the most challenging steps in capturing data about school performance: observing and analyzing instructional…

As the key communicators for schools, principals write a wide range of correspondence--from thank-you letters and congratulations to best wishes and other personal notes. Yet, this critical responsibility can easily fall victim to every administrator's busy schedule. This updated and expanded collection of letters is truly a timesaving starter…

This comprehensive set of materials is designed to facilitate the development of skills and knowledge needed to be a successful learner and a successful teacher. The materials include: two videotapes, each featuring four 15-minute programs; viewer guides for each program segment which contain a summary of the program, goals, expected outcomes, key…

Showcasing the "Downey Walk-Through"--a method developed over a 40-year period, tested and refined in real-world schools and classrooms, and described in the pioneering book, "The Three-Minute Classroom Walk-Through," this innovative multimedia presentation provides trainers and staff developers with a complete resource answering the questions…

"Boys Will Be Boys," the television program featured in this videotape and teaching guide, explores the turmoil experienced by a young woman, a high school sophomore, who becomes the victim of sexual harassment at school. The program can be a springboard for discussing the larger issues of sexual harassment and women's rights today and…

Today's principals face unique challenges--demands of time, knowledge, and organization, which take their toll on even the most flexible leader. A complement to the insightful "Survival Skills for the Principalship: A Treasure Chest of Time-Savers, Short-Cuts, and Strategies to Help You Keep a Balance in Your Life" (ED495598), this ready-to-edit…