Jody Oliver's List: PLC

"Take a moment to join us in a snapshot of a classroom we recently observed:

Students are hard at work designing a travel brochure as a part of their study of Ireland. They need to think about how much it will cost by air or by sea and develop a good rationale for why one way is preferable to another. They will also be including a recommended sightseeing schedule, determining why one schedule would be preferable to another.

These students have to analyze, evaluate, make decisions and communicate to an audience. As a group, they must work through this using the best of each student’s contributions to create their product. They will need to persist, overcome challenges, strive for accuracy, think flexibly and think interdependently.

We like to call these mental qualities “Habits of Mind” — attitudes or dispositions that are necessary for thoughtful work. Without realizing it, people rely on these behaviors when they encounter problems that are difficult to solve."

Study guide that goes along with the book

study guide to Leaders of Learning

This site was created to serve as a collaborative, objective resource for educators and administrators who are committed to enhancing student achievement. We invite you to share your knowledge, ask questions, and get expert insight into the issues teachers face each day in the classroom.

articles and ideas

His most recent book is FOCUS:  Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning.  His previous bestseller is RESULTS NOW: How We Can Achieve Unprecedented Improvements in Teaching and Learning, which was selected as a finalist for “book of the year” by the Association of Education Publishers.
Dr. Schmoker has keynoted at hundreds of state, national and international  events and has consulted for school districts and state and provincial education departments throughout the US, Canada and Australia.  He now lives in Tempe, Arizona with his wife Cheryl.
His other books include:
Results: the Key to Continuous School Improvement (an ASCD bestseller).
The Results Fieldbook:  Practical Strategies from Dramatically-Improved Schools (ASCD).
Reviews for FOCUS: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning

"Working with our allies and advocates, we created this formal definition of professional development for use in the reauthorized version of NCLB. Learn more about the definition through several resources listed below."