These pages are deeply personal and frankly sentimental. They tell of a mother-daughter relationship -- and a friendship, forged by hard times; severed, but not broken, by death. They speak a word of empathy to others who have lost the person whom they loved most, and stand as proof that somehow we go on.
Molly Lee has been left by one friend, and is afraid to make another. With the help of her mother, and a special bedtime story, Molly learns two important lessons. First, we must give everyone a fair chance. Secondly, even when our feelings are hurt, we need to keep an open heart. The next friend we make could turn out to be a better friend...or even a best friend.
How can educators work together more effectively to improve professional practice in a way that enhances student performance? The answer, says author Pam Robbins, involves combining collaborative activities and peer coaching—teachers supporting teachers. This book describes how any school can implement these proven practices and experience positive changes in teaching, school culture, and learning.Robbins explains how to develop a collaborative, learning-focused culture and build trust among colleagues; offers strategies for participating in difficult conversations that yield useful feedback; clarifies how to develop, sustain, and evaluate peer coaching efforts; and showcases exemplary peer coaching practices used in real schools. She also includes coaching tools, scenarios, process guidelines, and reflection questions that make it easier to transfer these ideas into a school setting.Peer coaching offers a job-embedded learning strategy; it's a valuable structure for supporting schoolwide and districtwide priorities such as analyzing data, improving instruction, integrating technology, and implementing standards. In short, it creates an effective way to support the growth of every teacher and enrich learning processes in any school.
What can 21st century educators learn from the example of a 19th century president? In this intriguing and insightful book, Harvey Alvy and Pam Robbins show how the legacy of Abraham Lincoln can guide today's education leaders—principals, teachers, superintendents, and others—as they tackle large-scale challenges, such as closing the achievement gap, and everyday issues, such as communicating with constituents. The authors identify 10 qualities, attributes, and skills that help to explain Lincoln's effectiveness, despite seemingly insurmountable odds:1. Implementing and sustaining a mission and vision with focused and profound clarity.2. Communicating ideas effectively with precise and straightforward language.3. Building a diverse and competent team to successfully address the mission.4. Engendering trust, loyalty, and respect through humility, humor, and personal example.5. Leading and serving with emotional intelligence and empathy.6. Exercising situational competence and responding appropriately to implement effective change.7. Rising beyond personal and professional trials through tenacity, persistence, resilience, and courage.8. Exercising purposeful visibility.9. Demonstrating personal growth and enhanced competence as a lifetime learner, willing to reflect on and expand ideas.10. Believing that hope can become a reality.Chapters devoted to each element explore the historical record of Lincoln's life and actions, then discuss the implications for modern educators. End-of-chapter exercises provide a structure for reflection, analysis of current behaviors, and guidance for future work, so that readers can create their own path to success—inspired by the example of one of the greatest leaders of all time.
