36 Tools For Building Spirit In Learning

Through inspiring, yet practical concepts and interactive, step-by-step processes, Williams provides the tools educators need to revitalize and transform the culture of their schools.

Preface

xiii

About This Book

xiii

Acknowledgments

xiii

About the Author

xv

Introduction

1

(1)

Purpose of This Book

2

(1)

Our Times

2

(1)

Our Challenge

3

(1)

A Word About Culture

4

(3)

Toxic Cultures

5

(2)

A Word About Spirit

7

(2)

Culture and Spirit

7

(1)

Spirit as Energy, Force, and Vitality

7

(1)

Spirit Versus Religion

8

(1)

Feeding the Spirit

9

(1)

Structure of Each Activity

9

(1)

Templates

9

(2)

Implementing Participative Processes

11

(24)

The Drive for Collaboration

12

(1)

The Emergence of a Participative Culture

13

(2)

The Benefits of Participation

15

(3)

Buy-In

16

(1)

Synergy

17

(1)

Team Accomplishments

17

(1)

Security / Satisfaction

17

(1)

The Skills for Participation

18

(1)

Peer Coaching

19

(2)

Participation Dos and Don'ts

21

(1)

Activity One---Ensure Participative Planning

22

(2)

Activity Two---Empower Implementation Teams

24

(1)

Activity Three---Encourage Peer Coaching

25

(5)

Activity Four---Establish a Mentoring Program

30

(5)

Illuminating Visible Achievements

35

(22)

Clarity on Visible Achievements

36

(1)

Focus on Deep, Underlying Issues

37

(1)

The Emphasis on Standards and Testing

38

(1)

The Primary Focus of Student Learning and Achievement

39

(1)

Sign of Commitment

39

(1)

Communicating Visible Achievements

40

(1)

Activity Five---Generate a Common Practical Vision

40

(2)

Activity Six---Inculcate a Strategic Planning and Implementation Process

42

(2)

Activity Seven---Carry Out Focused Visible Accomplishments

44

(4)

Activity Eight---Create School Portfolios

48

(1)

Activity Nine---Initiate Professional Portfolios

49

(8)

Developing Common Understanding

57

(22)

A Common Understanding Unifies

58

(1)

Shared Data Is a Crucial Starting Point

59

(2)

Common Study Creates Mind Connections

61

(1)

Common Understanding Leads to Moral Purpose

62

(1)

Common, Purposeful Goals Build on Individual Goals

63

(1)

Participation and Shared Decision Making Form a Planned, Comprehensive Professional Development System

64

(1)

Practice With Peers and in the Classroom to Bring About Instructional Change

65

(1)

Activity Ten---Illuminate Crucial Data

66

(1)

Activity Eleven---Gather Relevant Research

67

(2)

Activity Twelve---Foster Fifteen-Minute Common Studies

69

(2)

Activity Thirteen---Set up Focused Whole-School Training

71

(2)

Activity Fourteen---Implement Action Research Projects

73

(6)

Leading Guided Reflections

79

(24)

A Helpful Environment Enhances Individual Journal Writing

81

(1)

Activity Fifteen---Encourage Individual Journal Writing

82

(1)

Skillfully Led Conversations

83

(3)

Skillfully Led Conversations Enhance the Reflective Processes and Collective Capabilities

84

(1)

Skillfully Led Conversations Bring About Energy, Spirit, and Courage

84

(1)

Skillfully Led Conversations Enable Listening for the Underlying Whole

85

(1)

Skillfully Led Conversations Provide Chinks in the Environment of Isolation

85

(1)

Skillfully Led Conversations Have a Structure

85

(1)

Activity Sixteen---Initiate Whole-Staff Guided-Conversations

86

(3)

Activity Seventeen---Use a Global Events Conversation

89

(3)

Activity Eighteen---Experiment With Classroom Conversations

92

(4)

Activity Nineteen---Demonstrate Winning Parent-Teacher Conversations

96

(2)

Activity Twenty---Respond to an Irate Teacher

98

(2)

Activity Twenty-One---Hold a ``Why I'm in Teaching'' Conversation

100

(3)

Proclaiming Victorious Stories

103

(18)

Stories Help Build a Culture

104

(1)

Stories Energize a Community

104

(1)

Stories Transport Us to Other Worlds by Allowing Us to Dream

105

(1)

Stories Connect Us to Life's Significance and Meaning

105

(1)

Stories Reveal Moral Principles

106

(1)

Activity Twenty-Two---Create a School Story

106

(2)

Activity Twenty-Three---Enliven Staff Meetings

108

(2)

Activity Twenty-Four---Celebrate Victories Quarterly

110

(3)

Activity Twenty-Five---Open the School Doors

113

(1)

Activity Twenty-Six---Market the School

114

(2)

Activity Twenty-Seven---Build Supportive Networks

116

(2)

Activity Twenty-Eight---Get the Pols in the Door

118

(3)

Rehearsing Community-Building Rituals

121

(12)

Rituals Infuse Time With Meaning

123

(1)

Rituals of Celebration and Ceremony Mark Transitions

123

(1)

Meaningful Rituals Foster Learning

124

(1)

Rituals Can Convey Deeper Values and Purposes

125

(1)

Activity Twenty-Nine---Enhance School Spirit With Short, Relevant School Rituals

125

(1)

Activity Thirty---Capitalize on Exciting Schoolwide Events

126

(2)

Activity Thirty-One---Allow Team Slogans to Come Alive

128

(1)

Activity Thirty-Two---Demonstrate the Power of Service Learning

129

(2)

Activity Thirty-Three---Recognize Student and Teacher Performance

131

(2)

Creating Powerful Symbols

133

(14)

Symbols Reconnect People With Their Commitment and Beliefs

134

(1)

Symbols Show Up in Many Ways

135

(2)

Inviting Style

135

(1)

Meaningful Heritage

136

(1)

School Pride

136

(1)

Academic Excellence

136

(1)

Empowered Staff

137

(1)

Astute Leadership Pays Attention to the Role of Symbols

137

(3)

Decisive Action

138

(1)

Academic Integrity

138

(1)

Open Communication

139

(1)

Dynamic Collegiality

139

(1)

Meaning Promotion

139

(1)

Symbols Bind People Together

140

(1)

Activity Thirty-Four---Strengthen School Culture With Visual Symbols

141

(2)

Activity Thirty-Five---Enhance the Arts

143

(1)

Activity Thirty-Six---Encourage Team/Cooperative Group Symbols

144

(1)

In Closing

145

(2)

Templates

147

(16)

Bibliography

163

(6)

Index

169

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36 Tools For Building Spirit In Learning Communities

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials