Book Description
"I feel that this is a book that principals will be interested in purchasing and reading. It has practical advice and relevant examples of how the advice can and has been implemented."
Phillip Silsby, Principal
Belleville West High School, Belleville, IL
"I could hear the voices of some of the principals who were interviewed speaking to me. The author clearly knows how to gather information and present it in a meaningful way."
Bonnie Tryon, Zone 2 Director
National Association of Elementary School Principals
"This is a powerful guidebook for new principals. More than that, it also contains valuable insight and examples to assist veteran principals in growing and improving professionally."
Kimberly Kay Janisch, Principal
Watertown High School, Watertown, SD
How can principals raise achievement levels, energize teachers, and get results? How can you remain productive and effective in this age of accountability?
Highly effective principals have strong communication skills, high levels of knowledge about teaching and learning, and the ability to provide instructional leadership. This excellent, new resource provides principals, administrative teams, and educators with tremendous resources to hone these skills and traits.
Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals contains ideas, reflections, behaviors, habits, and stories from the trenches to guide and inspire as you seek to increase your own effectiveness. Each chapter in this resource describes an essential component of personal effectiveness. A highly effective principal is
- A
communicator—listen, empathize, and connect
- An
educator—with a depth of knowledge; motivates intellectual growth
- An
envisioner—focused on the vision of what schools can be
- A
facilitator—building strong relationships
- A
change master—flexible, futuristic, and realistic, and can motivate change
- A
culture builder—communicating and modeling a strong, viable vision
- An
activator—with motivation, energy, and enthusiasm to spare
- A
producer— building intellectual development and academic achievement
- A
character builder—whose values are trustworthiness, respect, and integrity
- A
contributor—whose priority is making contributions to the success of others
Transform your school into a community of learners, set high academic and behavioral expectations, and create a culture where children feel special and safe.
Book Description
From Outrageous to Inspired shows how all the people associated with any school—teachers, principal, parents, children, neighbors, and other community members—can take up leadership together to create a vibrant learning community. David Hagstrom promotes new ways of thinking about parental participation, neighborhood involvement, and teacher leadership in schools. In From Outrageous to Inspired he offers a guidebook for school leaders who are engaged in a journey of school improvement and community building. The book is filled with stories and reflections from Hagstrom’s transformative experience as the principal of Denali Elementary School in Fairbanks, Alaska. As principal of the school he asked the question “What do you want for your children, here at Denali?” These extraordinary stories offer a framework for creatively bringing about change from within an organization and for dealing with the larger issues of school change and reform.
Amazon.com
Hooray for Captain Underpants! Everybody's favorite waistband warrior is back, ready to fight for Truth, Justice, and all that is Pre-Shrunk and Cottony. If you've read Dav Pilkey's first two comic epics, The Adventures of Captain Underpants and Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, you already know the brave Captain is really just crabby old Principal Krupp, hypnotized into becoming the world's greatest superhero every time someone snaps their fingers. And of course you know the trouble-making hypnotists are none other than Jerome Horwitz Elementary School's two most notorious tricksters, George and Harold ("We rule!" "Me, too!").
Well, George and Harold--surprise, surprise--are at it again. The cranky lunch ladies quit after George and Harold fool them into baking super-volcanic krispy kupcakes that flood the school with gigantic green globs o' goo. Mr. Krupp finds replacements and fast, but he unwittingly hires the tentacled alien trio of Zorx, Klax, and Jennifer in disguise! Will they turn everyone in school into evil zombie nerds? Can George and Harold save the world before it's too late? All seems lost until the diabolical Zorx snaps his... um, tentacles in front of Mr. Krupp, and the power of wedgies comes to the rescue once again.
Captain Underpants's third outing is better than ever, with patented Flip-o-Rama animation and wacky bonus comics like "Captain Underpants--Wedgie Wars" and "Captain Underpants and the Night of the Living Lunch Ladies." (Ages 8 to 12) --Paul Hughes
Customer Reviews:
Super FUNNY!.......2007-03-15
My girls both loved it! It is good to get books that they enjoy and get credit for at school for reading! Thanks!
Parent's Choice; good starter for chapter books........2007-01-24
My 6 year old loves Captain Underpants. He loves to read and we wanted to keep him challenged with chapter books without overwhelming him. After trying chapter books on his favorite movies to minimal enthusiasm, we found the Cap.U series. When he reads one he can hardly put it down. Sometimes he doesn'tput one down until he's finished it. But its true the flip o rama does require assistance not to rip the pages. Still...buy the series. By the way...epic novel # 8 is a two parter. We made the mistake of buying only one.
You have to read this book!.......2005-12-16
Well ths book was boring at first but little on in the book it had action.And i coud not put it down because of the action.Harold & George are funny but get into trouble.I read it like 100 times.If you ever read this book you will say the same thing.If you want to know more you have to read it yourself.
THE BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-11-18
its just plain funny.i think its the best book ever.its really funny espeicaly when the aliens blow up their own ship.
It doesn't get much sillier than this,.......2005-10-22
Using his books as evidence, Dav Pilkey must be a very weird guy. This book is extremely silly. Last year my third-grade son hated Captain Underpants, this year he can't get enough of it. If you like gross-out jokes, toilet humor, ridiculous aliens, and making fun of elementary school, you'll love this. Is reading about the school secretary being turned into a zombie good for my child? I'm not sure, but at least he is reading, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Book Description
"A humane blueprint for school reform that--instead of starting with a 'deficiency' model of what teachers can't do and giving them 'inservice' workshops ad infinitum--would build on the educational staff's existing strengths." —The New York Times Book Review
Barth hows how communication, collegiality, and risk-taking among adults can create an atmosphere of learning and leadership for all.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource.......2007-06-11
In Improving schools from within, Roland S. Barth shares his ideas regarding educational reform. He offers insights into effectively running a school. He captured my interest immediately by discussing the need for collegiality among employees in a school. He explained that a collegial school will drive out incompetent staff and support the ones who are temporarily weak (1990). I thought this was insightful because it seems that few authors have addressed the importance of relationships between adults in a school. A school that is characterized by collegiality is ideal because teachers feel a sense of support and are more likely to take risks.
Barth explored current feelings of school teachers about their profession and determined that they are often discontent, untrusting of administration, compartmentalized, powerless, and frustrated (p. 12). I am new to the teaching profession and I haven't seen these negative feelings to the extent that Barth describes. I would agree that the job is highly routinized but teachers typically have freedom to adjust their routine within the classroom. To illustrate his point about teachers being compartmentalized Barth used a great analogy comparing teachers to toddlers who engage in parallel play (p. 16). He says that we tend to observe each other tentatively and continue to engage in our own separate activities because we are unsure how to engage.
Barth describes his ideal school and gives reasons why he would design the school in that manner. He discusses a community of learners where the principal is seen as the 'head learner' as opposed to a 'headmaster'. Interestingly, he states that some principals say they desire a community of learners in their school but they do little to create a community or learning opportunities for teachers (p. 103). His ideal school would have a collegial environment where the relationships are supportive. In an ideal school teachers and principals would write about their experiences with the hope that this journalizing would help them learn from past mistakes and document successes. He believes that insights that are not recorded tend to vanish (p. 97).
One thing Barth emphasizes in his book is the importance for universities and secondary schools to form a collaborative relationship. While I agree that universities should create a preparation program that is responsive to the changing educational climate I do not agree that secondary schools should be closely tied into their local universities. Researchers are given access to secondary classrooms frequently by teachers who agree to the intrusion for a variety of reasons. I think this type of collaboration should continue but universities should not be expected to play a role in professional developed or ongoing teacher education without some type of paid tuition to the university.
I enjoyed reading about the need for teachers to step outside of their expertise and responsibility to take on leadership responsibilities for the good of their school. I share his beliefs that teachers must have courage to step outside of their traditional responsibilities because they open themselves up to criticism (p. 131). Barth encourages principals to share leadership with teachers and to also share praise and knowledge.
Two distinct images stood out for me in this book. One was that of a goat and a lamb. Barth said that on his farm he had a goat that was fun, affectionate, and mischievous. He said the goat gave a little but required a lot. He also discussed a lamb that lacked personality. He thought the lamb gave a little and expected little. This image made me ponder my teaching career and ask myself how much I gave in relationship to how much I required. Secondly, Barth shares a poem from Stomberg in which he theorizes that most people want to be an eagle but that we are more like geese that have a moment to lead but then must step aside and let another take over. Indeed, we are all part of a community in which we each have an important role to play. Sometimes we lead, sometimes we will follow.
Improving Schools from within.......2007-02-15
The book was in excellent condition. The information was wonderful and the insight that it gave was excellent. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the administration point of view. Anyone looking to develop their leadership skills or a better work environment should read this book.
Timeless advice.......2006-07-09
Wonderfully practical and relevant advice for making schools as effective as they can be. Written from the viewpoint of both principal and professor. Sensitive to the issues of both teacher and administrator.
Guiding Practitioners to Take Charge of Their School.......2004-06-03
In his book, Roland S. Barth offers insights into effectively running a school. He describes his ideal school and gives reasons why he would design the school in that format. For instance, his vision includes a community of learners where the principal is seen as the 'head learner' as opposed to a 'headmaster'. His ideal school is one in which adults and students are encouraged to take risks, and they will know there is a safety net to protect them. Collegiality and humor have a place in Barth's vision since, "the quality of adult relationships within a school has more to do with the quality and character of the school and with the accomplishments of students than any other factor". (p.163) Practitioners are encouraged to write about their craft for a variety of reasons including the fact that "written insights have a 'memory' and they can subsequently be drawn upon. Insights not recorded vanish." (p. 97) The vast array of ideas offered for different ways of looking at schools is refreshing. A very good read!
The catalyst for change.......2002-06-11
Several of our Site Based Council members read this book a few years ago in planning for a staff-wide summer retreat. This book changed the way we looked at staff development and helped us bring everyone (well almost everyone) on board with whole school change. We continue to use quotes from this book during current staff development opportunities. We've shared this at numerous national conventions and at workshops that we put on in our own school. We now see many of the same excerpts (the bee story!)that we've shared at other conferences that we go to.
Amazon.com
This self-described "maniac leader" has written a delightful guide to becoming boss, whether it be in business or your own life. In this case, Lorraine Monroe's line of work is public education--and she possesses some pretty impressive credentials. As founder and principal of Harlem's Frederick Douglass Academy, she turned a wreck of a school into an inner-city success story, raising it to a third-place ranking among 180 New York public schools for student achievement. But her down-home tome of inspirational lists, autobiographical anecdotes, and thoughts on leadership transcends the schoolyard. Many of her tenets, collectively called the "Monroe Doctrine," could apply to management in most any field.
Monroe pulls no punches in her passion, even when describing her own life. She takes issue with the best and worst teachers from her own education, and portrays her parents, particularly her father, as imperfect but inspiring individuals as part of a symbolic lesson about adopting the best traits of those who surround you. Written in a wholesome, conversational style, her sound-bite nuggets of advice come across like a collection of Mom's best words of wisdom. "Worthwhile work is rarely done from 9 to 5," she advises. "Avoid people who envy, complain and drain." Her one-woman pep rally ranks up there with Trump: The Art of the Deal and basketball coaching legend Pat Riley's The Winner Within as a recipe for success. --Jodi Mailander Farrell
Book Description
In 1991, Dr. Lorraine Monroe founded the Frederick Douglass Academy, a public school in Harlem, in the belief that caring instructors, a disciplined but creative environment, and a refusal to accept mediocrity could transform the lives of inner-city kids. Today the Academy is one of the finest schools of its kind in the country, sending graduates to leading colleges and universities. Monroe succeeded in her experiment by developing a unique leadership method through decades as a teacher and principal in some of America's toughest schools, which she calls the "Monroe Doctrine."
In this plainspoken book, Monroe describes her journey as an educator and the evolution of her understanding of leadership through pithy, memorable rules and observations. She offers spiritual and practical advice on how to create a great school or transform a troubled one - however formidable the obstacles. She also shares her own remarkable life story; one which demonstrates how the vicissitudes of life can become great opportunities for growth and achievement.
Customer Reviews:
Some good ideas, but two things are very offensive about Monroe.......2006-12-27
I am a public school teacher, and I read Nothing's Impossible because my principal attended a conference where she became enchanted with Monroe and her doctrines.
First, the good. Monroe had a very challenging life, and it is impressive what she has done with herself. She was African-American, poor, there were alcohol and abuse issues at home. I also agree that many times you have to, so to speak, ask for forgiveness rather than permission-- education is full of paper-pushing bureaucrats who nay say everything. One has to admire how Monroe turned FDA into a wonderful school to attend or at which to work.
Having said that, however, I must point out that Monroe basically created a charter school. In public schools, you have to try to teach everyone within the school's enrollment boundaries. If we were able to kick out the small but extremely difficult, criminal types, all public schools would be much better. I am glad FDA has done so well-- but comparing FDA to a public is terribly unfair. She hand picked those who may have had challenges but who wanted to learn. That makes a huge difference.
I also found it extremely offensive that Monroe, who had taught, said in her book that there were three types of teachers: the stars, the strugglers, and the incompetent. Every school district has all three, it is true, but what about the thousands of us who aren't struggling ( well, most days) but aren't stars or incompetent? We are not all perfect. I work very hard to be a good teacher. I may never be great, but does that mean I should leave teaching? No.
The Monroe Doctrine is useful to some extent, just as long as you can live with the reservations I have described.
only good for schools.......2005-08-08
Great woman and story and excellent for teachers and principals
I thought there would be a lot of good life lessons 'outside of the classroom' but found there weren't
Leadership , the Key to School Change.......2003-04-13
Dr. Lorraine Monroe is a force to be reckoned with. Tenacious in all aspects, once she discovered who she was and what power she possessed as a leader, there was no turning back.
I choose to read about Dr. Monroe simply from the title of her book Nothing's Impossible and to learn what further lessons I could learn in and outside the classroom. As an administrator, I too believe that nothing is impossible and I was curious to see hear how "a dedicated educator" as Jimmy Carter described "conquered the most overwhelming challenges in life". I was not disappointed. As I read, reread, dog-eared pages highlighted and shared with my colleagues those familiar Monroe Doctrines (witty sayings and profound statements) I continued to believe that perseverance and believing in yourself enough not to back down for what you believe in, is part of the leaders make-up.
Dr. Monroe further encouraged my thinking that sometimes as a leader, it's better to just "do your thing" and ask questions later, even it means getting your hands slapped later.
I would encourage administrators in all lines of work to learn from these lessons, because no matter where you work, those you're working with are `students' in your `classroom' even if it's in the corporate office.
In the final chapter of the book, although the message reverberates all through the book, Monroe brings back the point that leadership is the key to school change. In her words, the message of the leader is "I am here to support you in whatever way you choose, as long as your way improves children's academic and social achievement."
The Enthusiasm Leaps from the Pages.......2001-10-18
Everyone should read this book. I just started it and I am already hooked. The energy and enthusiasm leaps from the pages and "kicks" you into action. Although I am not an educator, I was greatly encouraged as a parent-to-be by this book. Thank you Dr. Monroe for being obedient to God's calling and preparing the way for our future leaders.
The Monroe Doctrine for success !.......2000-12-08
I found about Dr. Lorraine Monroe on 60 minutes. She took one of the worst public schools in Harlem, New York and turned it around to the point that it is one of the top three public schools in New York and 96% of it's students are accepted into college. I believe that her insights and strategies can be used to improve any workplace or organization. Remember, she isn't some theorist - she actually has dramatic results in the real world -under some of the toughest odds imaginable!
She has some great strategies that can help anyone. Here is an example:
"I developed the habit of never asking my superiors at the Board of Education for permission to carry out any innovation or other "risky" venture. I felt that if I asked, they would usually say no. After all, they were cautious, conservative people, interested in keeping their present jobs or moving up within the heirarchy. Taking risks isn't a good way of accomplishing either goal.
.....My supervisor would come to the school for periodic visits, and I'd either tell him about our latest venture or let him see it for himself. I figured that it would be hard, even for a dyed-in-the-wool bureaucrat, to try to stop a program that was already running successfully. This approach worked like a charm; the supervisor was generally pleased to realise that the successful new program, whatever it was, had been started under his administration. As the saying goes. "Success has many parents." When something is working, people are always ready and eager to bless it and share the credit."
Some more of the Monroe Doctrine:
"I learned from Mr. Littwin that it's impossible to run any organization from behind a desk in an office. You've got to walk around, watch people work, schmooze with everyone, and make yourself visible. It's the only way to really know what's going on and to have a true impact on the operation."
Pick up this book to get some inspiration on how you can make a dramatic difference in your organization.
Customer Reviews:
Poor continuity........2006-03-17
This book is the first sequel in the "Black Lagoon" series, coming after "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon." But this book's poor continuity is a serious detriment; simply put, this book makes no sense in relation to its predecessor.
In the first book "Teacher," the child (whose name, as we learn in "Principal," is Hubie) worries on the first day of school whether his teacher will be Mr. Smith (with dandruff and warts) or Mrs. Jones (with whip and wig). But Hubie is mortified to learn that his teacher will instead be the "real monster" Mrs. Green, and Hubie has nightmarish daydreams about her. Of course, in the end he finds out that Mrs. Green is actually a very nice "pretty woman," and there was nothing to fear.
"Principal" opens with Hubie being ordered out of the classroom by Mrs. Jones and sent to the principal's office. Hubie worries about the stories he's heard about the principal...Mrs. Green. He imagines Mrs. Green to be the same monster as in "Teacher," and then is surprised when she turns out to be a "pretty woman."
Why is Hubie now in Mrs. Jones' class? It would seem that this is the same school year as in "Teacher," since Mrs. Jones was a possibility for Hubie's teacher. And why is Mrs. Green now the principal?
Okay, so maybe Mrs. Green got promoted to principal in the middle of the year. (What happened to Mr. Bender?) And maybe someone else took over Mrs. Green's class, and Mrs. Jones is just Hubie's English teacher. That's all feasible. But why did Hubie not know that Mrs. Green was now the principal? Why does he go through the entire fantasy sequence again about someone he's already met? Why is there no recollection when he finally does see Mrs. Green again: "Oh, of course! Mrs. Green, my old teacher, is now the principal! How could I possibly have forgotten that?"
Furthermore, Hubie describes the sad fates that "they say" happened to his classmates from "Teacher" when they had to visit the principal, those classmates being Doris Foodle, Derek Bloom, Freddy Jones, and Eric Porter. Of Derek Bloom, for instance: "They say he wound up with the head of a dog." Why does Hubie not know all of this to be untrue? These are his classmates!
Thaler wisely abandoned the usage of "Mrs. Green" from this point on (though the next book, "The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon" features a Mr. Green). But he should have thought things through much more clearly in this, the first sequel in the franchise.
Something She's Not.......2003-04-23
In the beginning a boy had to go to the Principal's office. There was a rumor going around the school that the Principal was a monster. Doris Foodle got sent there for chewing gum and they say her skeleton head is still there with a piece of gum in her mouth, but in the end the Principal was really nice and she was not scary at all.
We think that you would like this book because it makes you think the Principal is something she's not.
The Principal from the Black Lagoon.......2002-03-04
The Principal from the Black lagoon
Mike Thaler wrote a book called "The Principal from the Black Lagoon",also this book was pubished by Scholastic books. This is a short book ,there are 30 pags in the book.This book is written for 5 to 8 years old I think.
The main character is Hubie,he listen's to what people say,but they aren't true.
Hubie goes to the principal's office because he did something to his teacher.
A connection that I have for this book is that I have went to the principal's office when I was little.
I liked it when Hubie was talking about what the principal did to the kids.I did not like it when he was talking bad about the principal.I liked it because it was funny.
Great Strange Tale.......2000-04-03
(As told to me by my eight-year-old brother)--If you likestrange books, this is the book for you. Find out what happens when akid has to go to the principals office, after hearing alot of bad stories about the principal. It is a very funny book, and shows just how a kids imagination can turn a normal person into something strange. Other kids will really like this book.
Book Description
"Creighton gets leaders to look further and more deeply at what is going on within an organization. He clearly demonstrates that looking ‘below the surface’ at motivations, struggles, and challenges is imperative."
Pamela Flood, Assistant Professor
Florida State University
A groundbreaking model that digs deeper to uncover the root of effective leadership!Filling the gap between existing theoretical models and real-world practice, this landmark guide introduces a fresh paradigm shift that will shape the future of successful school leadership. Brimming with straightforward how-to's and practical examples, the book draws upon the latest influential best practices of effective business management and tailors them to meet the needs of educational leaders at all levels.
Leading From Below the Surface offers a deeper exploration of the more subjective, intangible aspects of leadership to get to the real issues, moving decision making outside the confines of school boardrooms and offices and into the dynamic hallways, community centers, school kitchens, and playgrounds.
Special features include:
- Tools for expanding beyond data-based to evidence-based decision making for an enlightened perspective
- Tactics for building political capital
- Time management tips
- Reader-friendly text and real-life scenarios for practical application
Leading From Below the Surface empowers educators to take a more comprehensive approach to managing schools that can boost teacher morale, student achievement, and community perceptions for overall success.
Book Description
Education reformers Deborah Meier, Nancy Faust Sizer, and Theodore R. Sizer have published books that have literally helped shape a movement centered on small schools, community, and alternative visions of teaching and learning. But as school principals, all three have also done another kind of writing, as well: short weekly essays in their schools' newsletters to families. Sharp and accessible but intellectually ambitious, these little essays talk about everything from homework to discipline, from academic expectations to reading for pleasure. Reflecting decades of practical wisdom, this collection of the best of their letters is an essential companion to books like Ted Sizer's Horace's Compromise, Ted and Nancy Sizer's The Students Are Watching, and Deborah Meier's The Power of Their Ideas.
Book Description
At Hubie's school the teachers are real monsters.Yikes! Will he survive the first day? These four bestselling books are together in one low-priced reader collection! The Teacher from the Black Lagoon The Principal from the Black Lagoon The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon The Librarian from the Black Lagoon
Customer Reviews:
The Teachers from the Black Lagoon.......2007-03-12
My 6 year old son loves this book!! He is in first grade and he reads it all the time with me and also on his own. In fact, this was one of the first books that he really enjoyed reading on his own. It has four different stories that really are fun to read. I highly recommend this book.
Wonderful!.......2007-03-12
I've been reading this to my 2nd graders, and to say they enjoy them would be an incredible understatement. They literally can not wait to read the next story. What a wonderful collection!
Books:
- The Beatles Story on Capitol Records, Parts One and Two (Slipcase Edition)
- The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics
- The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine
- The Forty Days of Musa Dagh
- The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg
- The Henry Clay Frick Houses: Architecture, Interiors, Landscapes in the Golden Era
- The Iliad (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- The Journalist And The Murderer
- The Miracle Ball Method: Relieve Your Pain, Reshape Your Body, Reduce Your Stress
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
- My Sister's Keeper: A Novel
- Dreaming Me: An African-American Woman's Buddhist Journey
- History: Fiction or Science
- Illustrated Sourcebook of Mechanical Components
- The Best American Essays 2005
- Night Sky: A Guide To Field Identification
- Confronting Capitalism: Dispatches from a Global Movement
- Don't Flinch!: Devotions for Competitors
- Last Exit to Brooklyn
General
| Education
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
What Great Principals Do Differently: Fifteen Things That Matter Most
The Principal's Companion: Strategies and Hints to Make the Job Easier
Motivating and Inspiring Teachers: The Educational Leader's Guide for Building Staff Morale
California School Law (Stanford Law & Politics)
The Three-Minute Classroom Walk-Through: Changing School Supervisory Practice One Teacher at a Time
