Helping Teachers Learn : Principal Leadership for Adult Growth and Development

Rating:
Summary: A Learning Guide for Administrators, Principals and Teachers
Review: Dr. Ellie Drago-Severson's, "Helping Teachers Learn" is an indispensable guide for district administrators, principals, and teachers. With the nation focusing on improving student achievement and leaving no child behind, I believe that, "Helping Teachers Learn" is the foundational text upon which teachers' professional development programs should be built.

An easy-read, Dr. Drago-Severson effortlessly combines theory and practice in a straightforward manner that busy administrators and teachers can appreciate. You will be inspired by the stories of principals who are engaged in the same daily struggles we all experience as we strive to support teachers in their daily efforts to improve teaching and learning.

How can I help you to become a better teacher? This question which is continually at the forefront of our minds is answered throughout the text in the descriptions of the 25 principals who participated in the study.

"Helping Teachers Learn" provides administrators, principals, and teachers with an essential resource they can readily use to help make professional development opportunities meaningful learning experiences for everyone.



Rating:
Summary: Let's all keep on growing!
Review: Eleanor Drago-Severson's book does very well what it intends to do, i.e. serving as a guide, an assistance to the principals. Even though Robert Kegan's constructive-developmental theory is very complex, Drago-Severson describes and applies it to teachers' learning very skillfully and in a very clear form. She lays out complex ideas very clearly making them sound like they are common sense. Therefore, I think the ideas would very naturally and organically become a part of the reader, as if he/she has always known that somewhere but has just never thought about it. Because of this, the mere careful reading of this book with a pencil in one's hand while making extrapolations and connections with one's life could be in itself a step towards transformational learning, or at least seeing its value, which is a big start.

Most importantly, even though the book is about ways to foster growth and development in teachers, I really think this book can serve as a model for any kind of organization and even a private company in a business world! This book should be a must for any kind of manager. It has a school scenario as an example, but can be applied absolutely anywhere. How wonderful would it be to penetrate these ideas into the business world, for people to come together, share their ideas, have constructive dialogues, reflect on their experiences, and, as a result, enrich themselves and grow. If adults, wherever they are -- private companies, schools, corporations -- could be engaged in all these things and see their value, I really believe people would lead much more meaningful and happy lives in their adulthood.

A very wholesome, useful, insightful, and inspirational piece of work! Besides recommending it to principlas, I highly recommend it to managers, CEOs, deans and everybody else who is interested in and believes in life-long growth and development!

Rating:
Summary: Let's all keep on growing!
Review: Eleanor Drago-Severson's book does very well what it intends to do, i.e. serving as a guide, an assistance to the principals. Even though Robert Kegan's constructive-developmental theory is very complex, Drago-Severson describes and applies it to teachers' learning very skillfully and in a very clear form. She lays out complex ideas very clearly making them sound like they are common sense. Therefore, I think the ideas would very naturally and organically become a part of the reader, as if he/she has always known that somewhere but has just never thought about it. Because of this, the mere careful reading of this book with a pencil in one's hand while making extrapolations and connections with one's life could be in itself a step towards transformational learning, or at least seeing its value, which is a big start.

Most importantly, even though the book is about ways to foster growth and development in teachers, I really think this book can serve as a model for any kind of organization and even a private company in a business world! This book should be a must for any kind of manager. It has a school scenario as an example, but can be applied absolutely anywhere. How wonderful would it be to penetrate these ideas into the business world, for people to come together, share their ideas, have constructive dialogues, reflect on their experiences, and, as a result, enrich themselves and grow. If adults, wherever they are -- private companies, schools, corporations -- could be engaged in all these things and see their value, I really believe people would lead much more meaningful and happy lives in their adulthood.

A very wholesome, useful, insightful, and inspirational piece of work! Besides recommending it to principlas, I highly recommend it to managers, CEOs, deans and everybody else who is interested in and believes in life-long growth and development!

Rating:
Summary: Drago-Severson provides supports and challenges for readers
Review: Helping Teachers Learn will become an essential part of an educational leader's thinking, learning, and language. Drago-Severson is an excellent writer who masterfully weaves theory into practice. Her attention to and explanation of Bob Kegan's Constructive-Developmental theory lends clarity, as well as insight into helping adults learn and grow in their professional lives.

As she states in her book, "Growth is an ingenious mix of supports and challenges." Drago-Severson provides leaders with tools to create various supports and challenges in environments that can and should foster growth. I found that her four pillars, and the new model for learning-oriented school leadership were particularly useful in crafting a faculty professional development plan.

This is a must read for any educator who believes in adult growth and professional development.

Rating:
Summary: Drago-Severson provides supports and challenges for readers
Review: Helping Teachers Learn will become an essential part of an educational leader's thinking, learning, and language. Drago-Severson is an excellent writer who masterfully weaves theory into practice. Her attention to and explanation of Bob Kegan's Constructive-Developmental theory lends clarity, as well as insight into helping adults learn and grow in their professional lives.

As she states in her book, "Growth is an ingenious mix of supports and challenges." Drago-Severson provides leaders with tools to create various supports and challenges in environments that can and should foster growth. I found that her four pillars, and the new model for learning-oriented school leadership were particularly useful in crafting a faculty professional development plan.

This is a must read for any educator who believes in adult growth and professional development.