School culture is one of the most important factors in student and staff performance. Positive climates foster superior achievement, while negative climates discourage learners, educators, and parents alike. Based on thirty years of combined experience as school principals, staff developers, and educational leaders, John F. and Sheila Eller present a wide spectrum of unique, practical, and proven strategies to improve school climate and culture. Divided into chapters that emphasize the main components of school culture, this guide allows busy school leaders to go directly to the section that best addresses their specific needs. The authors provide a clear definition of culture along with diagnostic tools to help readers determine the state of their school's culture. Chapters feature activities and ideas to: Foster personal rapport and collegiality between staff members Develop collaborative work relationships Improve staff meetings Address issues related to office operations Deal appropriately withconflict Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture offers fun and inventive ideas for school leaders who are working diligently to create a collaborative teaching and learning environment. INDICE: Culture and Climate: What Are the Differences? Why Do We Want to Improve These Aspects of a School?: School Climate Versus Culture School Climate School Culture Rapport, Trust, Climate, Culture, and Their InterrelationshipThe Importance of Trust Building and Sustaining Organizational Trust Strategies to Build Trust and Impact School Climate Summary / Diagnosing the Present Climate and Culture of Your School: Informal Diagnostic Strategies Observations//Artifact Collection Formal or Structured Diagnostic Instruments Planning Templates Summary / Building the Foundation for Success: Building Physical Environment Welcoming Staff Back to School Powerful Activities to Use the First WeekStaff Is Back to Work Summary / Building Emotional Connections Within and Among the Staff: Activities Gauging Their Importance Activity: I Remember When...Activity: Converse 'All Stars' Activity: The Boot Award Activity: The Gifts You Bring Activity: The 'Jack-O-Lanterns' Activity: Block of Support Activity: Spread the News Activity: Artifact Introductions Activity: The Thank You BlitzActivity: Candle Ceremony Activity: Bag of Positive Phrases Activity: Spread the Word Activity: Reward With a Smile A Novel Staff Floating or Traveling Trophy Activity: Jelly Bean Questions Activity: Snowball Fight Summary / Using Our Staff Meeting Time to Build Culture: Activity: Human Bingo Activity - Self-Disclosure Introductions Activity: So Much in Common Activity: Portable Skills Summary / How to Use What We've Learned in the Real World: Strategies to Couple With Tasks and Decisions: Activity: Future Set Activity: Carouseling Activity: Blossoming With Positive Goals Activity: Compare//Contrast Matrix Activity:Buy What Is Most Important Activity: It's a Star Activity: Criteria Rating Activity: Progressive Problem Solving Activity: From My Perspective Activity: Ripple Effects Summary / Building a Sense of Team: Physical and Mental Team Building Exercises: Interdependence//Community and Its Impact on School Climate and Culture Activity: Toxic Waste Transfer Activity: The Great Communicator Activity: All Tied Up Activity: Building a Winning Hand Activity: Rising Tower Summary / We're Not Getting Along, Now What?: The Nature of Conflict Types of Conflict Community Activity: Pack Up Your Baggage Activity: Parking Lot Meeting Activity: Go to Your Corners Activity: Corner on Perspectives Activity: VictoryLaps Activity: Part-Full or Part-Empty Activity: Compare Our Perspectives Activity: Peeling the Onion Mediating Conflict Mediation Template Role of Conflict on a Team Conflict and Chaos Summary / Celebrating Your Success: Strategy: Planning the Celebration at the Start of the Initiative Strategy: High Fives Strategy: Banana Splits Strategy: Gallery Walk Strategy: Trophy Case Displays Strategy: Get Out of Duty Cards Strategy: Success Thermometer Summary / Keeping the Train Moving: Supporting Climate and Cultural Change as a Leader: Step 1: Understand Your Strengths, Weaknesses, and Inhibitions Step 2: Build a SeedbedStep 3: Plant the Seeds Step 4: Nurture Them, Watch Them Grow Step 5: Pull the Weeds Negative Staff Members Who Undermine Your Efforts (Implementation Blockers) Step 6: Harvest the Crop Summary / References / Index
- ISBN: 978-1-4129-6118-9
- Editorial: Sage Publications
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 176
- Fecha Publicación: 01/10/2009
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés