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Teaching Better
A Joint Publication With Learning Forward
This visually stunning resource is packed with details to ignite and sustain collaborative inquiry and lesson study. Includes case studies, metaphors, digital templates, and more.
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781506333465
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2016
- Page Count: 200
- Publication date: March 22, 2016
Price: $39.95
For Instructors
Description
This unique, visually stunning resource is packed with details to ignite and sustain the collaborative improvement of teaching and learning. Includes U.S. and international case studies, powerful metaphors, application exercises, a Leader’s Guide, a companion website, digital templates, and more. Learn what lesson study and collaborative inquiry can and should look like. Find the guidance you need to lead and support school-wide, inquiry-based improvement!
“If you think improving teaching is hard, hard work, this book will confirm that belief. But it also shows, through careful observation and research, how much can be achieved when the work of getting better is done right. A true inspiration for educators who want to improve both their own craft and the methods of the profession.”
Jim Stigler & James Hiebert
Authors of The Teaching Gap
“Teaching Better is a rich, knowledgeable, authoritative tour de force. It combines beautifully selected imagery, solidly crafted guiding principles with compelling evidence and personal accounts of practice. But while imagining and thinking big, the book attends to the detail, offering school and system leaders many practical strategies for steering enquiry, quality, and cultural change in schools. This book should ignite the imaginations of policy makers, professionals and leaders worldwide.”
Peter Dudley
Visiting Professor of Education at Leicester University, Secretary of the World Association of Lesson Studies, Education Adviser under three prime ministers, & Founder of Lesson Study UK
Key features
- Captures a powerful vision of collaborative professional learning that promotes continuous improvement of professional practice and student achievement.
- Includes richly-detailed case studies of collaborative inquiry in action drawn from the authors' original research and practice in the U.S. and Japan.
- Organized around seven original metaphors illustrated through original (student-created) artwork and beautifully-crafted descriptions that serve to reframe the meaning and purpose of collaborative inquiry and instructional improvement
- Robust web site includes tools, templates, and resources to help actualize the vision.
Author(s)
Bradley A. Ermeling
Bradley A. Ermeling is an educational consultant and a member of a research team from UCLA and Stanford. He spent seven years working as an educator in Japan, developing firsthand knowledge and expertise with Japanese lesson study, and has published numerous articles on developing and supporting systems for collaborative inquiry and continuous learning. In the United States, he taught high school English, special education, and directed professional learning programs, before shifting his attention to educational research. He was a co-recipient of the 2010 Best Research Award from Learning Forward for his contributions to research on instructional improvement through inquiry teams. He was also coauthor for the article titled “Learning to Learn from Teaching: A Firsthand Account of Lesson Study in Japan” which was named 2015 Outstanding Paper of the Year by Emerald Publishing and the World Association of Lesson Studies. Dr. Brad Ermeling’s current research interests include lesson study and collaborative inquiry, facilitation practices that promote productive struggle, and digital resources that support the study of teaching and learning.
Genevieve Graff-Ermeling
Genevieve Graff-Ermeling is Assistant Head of School, Teaching & Learning at Concordia International School Shanghai, educational researcher and consultant. She spent seven years working as an educator in Japan, developing curriculum and participating firsthand in Japanese lesson study projects. She also taught and designed curriculum at the high school level in the United States. She has held several positions as an external coach and site-based facilitator of teacher reflection, design of assessments, inquiry-based science teaching, and the use of data to inform teaching in multiple subject areas for both elementary and secondary, public and private schools. She has a degree in behavioral science with an emphasis in anthropology and helped lead a medical outreach team conducting research in Honduras. She was coauthor of the autoethnography titled, “Learning to Learn from Teaching: A Firsthand Account of Lesson Study in Japan” which was named 2015 Outstanding Paper of the Year by Emerald Publishing and the World Association of Lesson Studies. She was also an elite runner, NAIA national champion, and competed in the 5000 meters for the 2004 US Olympic trials. Genevieve Ermeling’s current research interests are practice-based professional learning for high school educators, transformative models of teacher professional growth, and methods for assessing and assisting learning through the zone of proximal development.
Table of Contents
List of Improvement Portraits
List of Companion Website Content
Foreword by Ronald Gallimore
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
About the Artists
Introduction
1. One Plank at a Time: The Steady Discipline of Instructional Improvement
2. Learning to Learn From Teaching: A Firsthand Account of Lesson Study in Japan
3. Expanding Horizons: A Case Study of US Teachers Collaborating to Change Practice
4. Deepening Knowledge: Why Expansive Change Is Difficult and What We Might Do About It
5. Matching Vision With Resources: A Reconceived Model for Leadership and Assistance
6. Multiplying Power: How Joint Productive Activity Revived Two Problematic Teams
7. Remaining Stubborn for a Long Time: Six Practitioner Stories of Courage and Persistence
Appendix: Leader’s Guide to Improvement Portraits
Glossary: Japanese Words and Phrases
Index
Reviews
"If you think improving teaching is hard, hard work, this book will confirm that belief. But it also shows, through careful observation and research, how much can be achieved when the work of getting better is done right. A true inspiration for educators who want to improve both their own craft and the methods of the profession."Jim Stigler and James Hiebert, Authors of The Teaching Gap
"Written by two teachers who experienced lesson study while they taught in Japan, this well-written book makes an important contribution to our understanding of lesson study and instructional improvement more broadly. Compelling case studies bring to life the process of collaborative inquiry. Teachers, coaches, school and district administrators will find useful tools to grow and support school-wide inquiry-based improvement."Catherine Lewis, Distinguished Research Scholar, Mills College Oakland
"Teaching Better is a rich, knowledgable, authoritative tour de force. It combines beautifully selected imagery, solidly crafted guiding principles with compelling evidence and personal accounts of practice and improvement. But while imagining and thinking big, the book attends to the detail (as its principles dictate), offering school and system leaders many practical strategies for steering enquiry, quality, cultural change and impact in schools. The passion, authenticity and authority of the authors ring out on every page. This book should ignite the imaginations of policy makers as well as professionals and leaders worldwide."Peter Dudley, Visiting Professor of Education at Leicester University, Secretary of the World Association of Lesson Studies, Education adviser under three prime ministers, & founder of Lesson Study UK
"Through compelling images, metaphors and insights from their research in Japan and the United States, Brad Ermeling and Genevieve Graff-Ermeling vividly remind us that learning to teach well is an ongoing journey for the long haul. This powerful book is a must read for teachers and leaders who embrace the idea of deep and continuous instructional improvement and want to know how to realize it in their schools."
Margaret Heritage, Senior Scientist, WestEd"Through compelling images, metaphors and insights from their research in Japan and the United States, Brad Ermeling and Genevieve Graff-Ermeling vividly remind us that learning to teach well is an ongoing journey for the long haul. This powerful book is a must read for teachers and leaders who embrace the idea of deep and continuous instructional improvement and want to know how to realize it in their schools."
"Teaching Better is a compelling and detailed account of the "talk," interactions, and work products that characterize substantive improvement activities. A significant contribution to the work of improvement science."
Ronald Gallimore, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, UCLA"Teaching Better is a compelling and detailed account of the "talk," interactions, and work products that characterize substantive improvement activities. A significant contribution to the work of improvement science."
"For those policymakers, administrators, and practitioners considering how to improve instruction through teacher collaboration, read Teaching Better. Filled with case studies, the book has an undentable rationale and clear road map for teachers to work together."Larry Cuban, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University Graduate School of Education
"The authors remind us that teaching is a craft, enhanced through collaboration with colleagues, self-reflection and study. The book provides a thoughtful guide, not a silver bullet, to the shared journey between teachers and administrators in ensuring student academic success."
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, Former USDOE Assistant Secretary of Education, former Superintendent; presently Chief Executive Officer of Educational Services, Los Angeles Unified School District"The authors remind us that teaching is a craft, enhanced through collaboration with colleagues, self-reflection and study. The book provides a thoughtful guide, not a silver bullet, to the shared journey between teachers and administrators in ensuring student academic success."
"The successful transition to teaching and learning in the digital age is dependent upon close attention to pedagogy and intentional use of time and resources to build cultures of collaboration across our school systems. Teaching Better is a must read for school and district leaders...especially those on the front lines of “change.”
David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District"The successful transition to teaching and learning in the digital age is dependent upon close attention to pedagogy and intentional use of time and resources to build cultures of collaboration across our school systems. Teaching Better is a must read for school and district leaders...especially those on the front lines of “change.”
"While the research is clear on what makes professional learning effective, few schools are truly engaging in it. Based on their deep firsthand experience of lesson study while teaching in Japan for seven years, Brad and Genevieve Ermeling present a compelling solution to improve teaching: continuous, collaborative inquiry. By providing us with useful examples, tools, strategies, and reflection questions, their book skillfully shows us how to translate the lesson study approach for American schools."
Jenn David-Lang, The Main Idea"While the research is clear on what makes professional learning effective, few schools are truly engaging in it. Based on their deep firsthand experience of lesson study while teaching in Japan for seven years, Brad and Genevieve Ermeling present a compelling solution to improve teaching: continuous, collaborative inquiry. By providing us with useful examples, tools, strategies, and reflection questions, their book skillfully shows us how to translate the lesson study approach for American schools."
"Teaching Better clearly and dramatically demonstrates how Lesson Study and systematic collaborative inquiry can serve as powerful tools for engaging educators in the deep and complex work of continually improving teaching."
Laurie Baccus, Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Services, Whittier City Schools"Teaching Better clearly and dramatically demonstrates how Lesson Study and systematic collaborative inquiry can serve as powerful tools for engaging educators in the deep and complex work of continually improving teaching."
Other Titles in: Staff Development & Professional Learning | Administration & Leadership | Instructional Leadership
For Instructors
Related Resources
- Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.