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30 Reflective Staff Development Exercises for Educators
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30 Reflective Staff Development Exercises for Educators

Second Edition


August 2013 | 120 pages | Corwin
In this invaluable and unique resource, leadership and organizational development expert Stephen S. Kaagan presents a unique guide for educators who enjoy challenging themselves and who hunger for new ideas and a fresh perspective of staff development. It promotes individual and collective learning of all participants as they undertake formal staff development while enhancing the success and performance of the entire educational system.In this Second Edition of Stephen Kaagan's bestselling work, the author adapts his excercises to the classroom. Since the exercises are experiential, by definition they intensify student's emotional connections with course content. Collaborative by design, the exercises, when adapted, can also promote mutual accountability for classroom learning. With students positioned as learning resources for each other, the teacher is better able to mediate learning as well as direct it.
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Author's Preface to the Second Edition
 
Part I. The Power of Reflective Exercises for Staff Development
Guiding Principles

 
Making the Exception to Current Practice the Rule

 
Committing to Organizational Learning Concepts

 
The Special Contributions of Senge et al.

 
A Personal Approach to Teaching and Consulting

 
Important Caveats

 
 
Part II. 30 Reflective Exercises
 
Exercises Arranged by Topic and Purpose
Mental Markers: Expanding the Boundaries

 
1. Animal Attributes

 
2. Ancestors

 
3. Pushpins

 
4. Suprise Me

 
5. E-xplore Assets

 
6. Instant History

 
7. Bringing the Outside In

 
8. Best, Worst

 
9. What to Keep, What Not

 
10. Leadership Metaphors

 
Making Mutual Meaning: Reflecting Together

 
11. Dashing Dual Interview

 
12. E-xplore Perspectives

 
13. Snapshots

 
14. Rotating Pencils

 
15. Listening for Assumptions

 
16. Fruits of Silence

 
17. See

 
18. Patchwork Perspectives

 
19. Stakes

 
20. Vision Sketch

 
Maintaining Momentum: Moving Forward

 
21. Begin, Begin, Begin

 
22. Modest Expectations

 
23. Informed Purpose

 
24. Beginning at the End

 
25. Context Map

 
26. The "View From Downtown"

 
27. E-xplore by Association

 
28. Unheard Voices

 
29. Blame Game

 
30. Standing Offer

 
 
Part III. Using Appropriate Exercises
Vignette 1: Slowing Down to Speed Up

 
Vignette 2: Deepening the Discourse

 
Vignette 3: Finding Common Ground

 
Vignette 4: Diminishing Divisiveness

 
Concluding Comments

 
 
Bibliography
 
Index

"A timely and insightful resource for educators to enhance student learning and to engage themselves in reflective practice."

Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals

"A dynamic and easy-to-use workbook that employs the powerful tool of reflection to help enhance the effectiveness of staff development. By following the sequence of exercises, educators will be able to enrich the working and learning relationships with school colleagues that are necessary for successful professional development and school improvement."

Gail Connelly, Executive Director
National Association of Elementary School Principals

Stephen S. Kaagan

Stephen S. Kaagan is currently professor of education at Michigan State University. His teaching interests are leadership, organizational analysis, and administrative practice. He has a doctorate from Harvard University and has been honored with several awards, including membership in the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, London, England and Honorary Doctorates from Williams College in Massachusetts and Green Mountain College in Vermont.Before coming to Michigan State University in 1991, Kaagan served as president of Hurricane Island Outward Bound (1989-91), commissioner of education for the State of... More About Author

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ISBN: 9781412963039
$27.95