When Teacher Voices Are Heard
The Future of the Literacy Landscape
By (author) Elizabeth Birnam, Debora Nary
Publication date:
23 April 2013Length of book:
138 pagesPublisher
R&L EducationISBN-13: 9781475800746
Moving towards the Common Core Standards in reading and writing, the time is right for school districts to reform literacy instruction by focusing their instruction around the needs of their diverse student population and the teaching styles of their teachers. There is no better way to do this than through a teacher-created, home-grown literacy program that aligns standards with student needs all while remaining cognizant of the teachers who implement the curriculum.
In the process, teachers emerge as literacy leaders. The leadership paradigm shifts away from the principal as sole decision-maker and through a shared vision and collective efficacy, classroom teachers and administration form an alliance that ensures success for all students.
Because it is the shared responsibility to adapt the program to the learner, the hallmark of this instructional reform is relevant, job-embedded professional development that is provided in a timely fashion. This fosters a democratic learning community where decisions are made together and the status quo is challenged.
In the process, teachers emerge as literacy leaders. The leadership paradigm shifts away from the principal as sole decision-maker and through a shared vision and collective efficacy, classroom teachers and administration form an alliance that ensures success for all students.
Because it is the shared responsibility to adapt the program to the learner, the hallmark of this instructional reform is relevant, job-embedded professional development that is provided in a timely fashion. This fosters a democratic learning community where decisions are made together and the status quo is challenged.
Educators, both teachers and administrators, will find this volume a valuable addition to their professional library. Birnam and Nary construct a useful and artful analysis that gives voice to the power of building capacity within the faculty to properly address curricular challenges. Their portrayal of a school district's faith in its teachers provides a narrative for reform that casts the central role of the expert power of educators working in concert.