Download or read book Mathematics Teachers and Professional Learning Communities Understanding Professional Development in Collaborative Settings written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a result of the recent increased emphasis on mathematics professional development (MPD), studies have attempted to identify a set of features that are commonly part of successful MPD programs. While recommendations that professional development should be collaborative, sustained, and practice-based are common across all subjects, MPD is often highlighted by activities that address the specific needs of mathematics teachers. Professional learning communities (PLC) are also considered valuable for the growth of teachers. However, PLCs only provide a general guideline for how teachers can make meaningful changes to instruction, regardless of subject. In order for PLCs to be used as a form of MPD, more work needs to be done to identify the extent to which mathematics teachers in PLCs engage in the activities that improve their content and pedagogical knowledge and, ultimately, improve student achievement. Based on literature on teacher collaboration, PLCs, and MPD initiatives, a conceptual framework was developed to describe the collaborative work of mathematics teachers. This framework was used to guide the design of this study and the analysis of data. The study described here employed case study methodology to investigate two teams of teachers attempting to implement principles of PLCs as part of a district-wide intervention. The goal of this study was to discover both teamsÃØâ'Ơâ"Ø success in implementing these principles and to what extent they engage in activities that are commonly found in effective MPD. To do this, the teams were observed during their set meeting time and individual teachers took part in interviews and surveys to further explicate the team dynamic as well as individualÃØâ'Ơâ"Øs dispositions and values. The teams provided two distinct cases of the collaborative work of mathematics teachers. One team had strong collaborative norms yet did not engage in the activities commonly found in effective MPD programs while the other team struggled with i.
Download or read book Professional Development and Knowledge of Mathematics Teachers written by Stefan Zehetmeier and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-12-21 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mathematics teaching and professional development of mathematics teachers are areas where research has increased substantially in recent years. In this dynamic field, mathematics teaching practices, pedagogical knowledge of mathematics teachers and professional development via collaboration between mathematics teachers have emerged as vital domains of inquiry. Professional Development and Knowledge of Mathematics Teachers addresses the underlying characteristics of mathematics teacher education, and those professional development contexts that have a positive impact on teachers’ professional learning. Recognizing the impact of broader institutional settings on mathematics teaching and teacher professional development, the editors suggest bridging the gaps between theoretical practices and methodological approaches in the field by focusing on and conceptualizing the following relational factors: The study of mathematics teaching and classroom situations Researching teacher and teacher educator knowledge, since these issues inform the quality of mathematics teaching directly Mathematics teacher education and professional development, focusing on design principles and the impact they have on teacher professional learning Combining central issues of mathematics teaching, knowledge and professional development, the chapters in this volume address each of the above factors and provide profound considerations on both theoretical and practical levels. This book will be an essential resource for researchers, teachers and students working in the fields of mathematics teaching and mathematics teacher professional development.
Download or read book Collaboration as a Tool for Professional Development The Perspectives of Secondary School Mathematics Teachers in Zambia written by Maureen Sinyangwe and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2021-09-14 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Academic Paper from the year 2021 in the subject Pedagogy - The Teacher, Educational Leadership, grade: 1.00, University of Reading (Institute of Education), language: English, abstract: This paper explores the reasons for the teachers’ reluctance to engage in the collaborative tasks, and also the implications this has for collaboration as a tool for professional development. There is increased attention on Continuing Professional Development of teachers for the purpose of improving the quality of teachers’ practices and improving pupils’ learning experiences and achievement and overall quality of education. One important aspect of teachers’ CPD that is championed is ‘collaboration’. CPD through collaboration can be considered as an intensive interaction that engages educators in opening up their beliefs and practices to investigation and debate. Collaborative CPD can cover a number of activities ranging from working together with colleagues in informal, unplanned ways to structured, more formalized communities of inquiry or learning communities. Among the potential benefits of Collaborative CPD are sharing knowledge, understanding and experiences and enhancing reflective practices to support professional development. One point is clear that teachers’ willingness to actively engage in or to collaborate for the purpose of their professional development is crucial for collaborative CPD. While there are several benefits that come with collaborative CPD, some teachers in the Zambian context are reluctant to collaborate. Why would teachers be reluctant to collaborate?
Download or read book Building School Based Teacher Learning Communities written by Milbrey W. McLaughlin and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Building on extensive evidence that school-based teacher learning communities improve student outcomes, this book lays out an agenda to develop and sustain collaborative professional cultures. McLaughlin and Talbert—foremost scholars of school change and teaching contexts—provide an inside look at the processes, resources, and system strategies that are necessary to build vibrant school-based teacher learning communities. Offering a compelling, straightforward blueprint for action, this book: Takes a comprehensive look at the problem of improving the quality of teaching across the United States, based on evidence and examples from the authors’ nearly two decades of research.Demonstrates how and why school-based teacher learning communities are bottom-line requirements for improved instruction. Outlines the resources and supports needed to build and sustain a long-term school-based teacher professional community. Discusses the nature of high-quality professional development to support learning and changes in teaching.Details the roles and responsibilities of policymakers at all levels of the school system. “This book offers vivid examples of how teacher learning communities are formed and sustained. A must-read for educators at all levels who are serious about enacting change.” —Amy M. Hightower, Assistant Director, American Federation of Teachers
Download or read book The Knowledge Gap written by Natalie Wexler and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-08-04 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty. It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.
Download or read book Reach the Highest Standard in Professional Learning Outcomes written by Delores B. Lindsey and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2015-06-18 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Professional development that increases educator effectiveness and student success! Learning Forward is a leader in understanding and advancing professional learning that leads to student success. This series explores Learning Forward’s seven Standards for Professional Learning which outline the characteristics of effective professional learning that, collectively, advance teaching and learning. This volume gives teachers and administrators a detailed roadmap for implementing the Outcomes standard. Deepen you knowledge of this standard with: An original essay by Delores B. Lindsey and Randall B. Lindsey on using the lens of Cultural Proficiency to highlight the theme of educational equity that is embedded in the standard Practical tools that guide leaders in finding coherence between performance standards for educators and curriculum standards for students A powerful case study to illustrate how the standard was enacted across a major urban school district With this book, educators will reach new heights in professional growth and students will reap the benefits!
Download or read book Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics written by Susan Loucks-Horsley and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2009-11-24 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This third edition represents the gold standard of resources for those working in the field of professional development. My staff and I highly recommend this book as a primary resource for designing and continuously improving professional development programs for teachers of science and mathematics. Unlike other resources, this unique and important book provides current research, an updated strategic planning framework, and access to a portfolio of best practices for informing your work." —Sally Goetz Shuler, Executive Director National Science Resources Center "In the 21st century when STEM education has become vital for our students and our nation and the importance of quality professional development has increased at least tenfold, this seminal work should be required reading for every education leader. It is both practical and scholarly in guiding a school toward a culture of continuous learning and improvement." —Harold Pratt, President, Science Curriculum Inc. Former President, National Science Teachers Association The classic guide for designing robust science and mathematics professional development programs! This expanded edition of one of the most widely cited resources in the field of professional learning for mathematics and science educators demonstrates how to design professional development for teachers that is directly linked to improving student learning. Presenting an updated professional development (PD) planning framework, the third edition of the bestseller reflects current research on PD design, underscores how beliefs and local factors can influence the PD design, illustrates a wide range of PD strategies, and emphasizes the importance of: Continuous program monitoring Combining strategies to address diverse needs Building cultures that sustain learning An inspiring blend of theory and practical wisdom, Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics remains a highly regarded reference for improving professional practice and student achievement.
Download or read book Content and Context Professional Learning Communities in Mathematics written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: This is a case study of a mathematics professional learning community. It illustrates the experience of eight Grade 2 teachers as they collaborate to improve their students'understanding of mathematics. In this inquiry, I worked as a participant-observer with the teachers over the course of five months as a witness to their expanding understanding of mathematics and learning. The case study describes two manifestations: the experiences of the teachers as they develop their knowledge of the mathematical learning of young children; and secondly, the teachers' growth as a professional learning community committed to improving the mathematical understanding of their students and of themselves. Collectively, the findings from this study extend other conversations on both professional learning communities and the development of teachers' knowledge about mathematical learning (often called pedagogical content knowledge). This work shows that opportunities for professional learning that are self-directed, context and content specific, within a milieu that is collegial and supportive, enable teachers to bridge the elusive gap between theory and practice. The specific questions addressed are as follows: 1. How does participation in a professional learning community affect teachers iii pedagogical content knowledge and their understanding of students learning of mathematics? 2. How do primary teachers develop an effective mathematics professional learning community? In mathematics, professional development often focuses on the creation of effective lesson design. This study differed in some key ways. Although good lesson design was valued and employed, the stimulus for teacher learning was the observation of the students as they struggled with new complex concepts. From these observations, the teachers became astute at recognizing particular consistencies and inconsistencies in the mathematical learning of the one hundred plus students they each observed within this.
Download or read book Professional Collaboration with Purpose written by Amanda Datnow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-03 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Building on both cutting-edge research and professional learning practice, Amanda Datnow and Vicki Park explore how professional collaboration can support deeper learning for students and teachers alike. While many schools and systems support teacher collaboration, they often fall short of their intended goals of improving teaching and learning. This book provides concrete guidance for creating the conditions for collaboration in which teachers are moved toward—rather than repelled—by joint work. The authors explore how collaborative settings can provide a space for working through the inevitable challenges that accompany the changing nature of teaching in the age of accountability and show the motivation, inspiration, and energy that teachers personally--and collectively--gain from collaborating to improve student learning. Ultimately, they show how teacher empowerment towards working together builds equitable and excellent learning environments.
Download or read book Teachers of Mathematics Working and Learning in Collaborative Groups written by Hilda Borko and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Professional Development and the Mathematics Educator written by M. Warnasuriya Ed.D and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2018-09-21 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book introduces the many benefits of mathematics professional development for middle school teachers. It explores key features of effective professional development, research-based models, that can be used to design professional development and an analysis of professional development in the context of adult-learning theories. The importance of professional learning communities as an avenue for educators to grow in their knowledge and skills is also discussed. A qualitative research study that elucidates the many benefits of mathematics professional development on teachers’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions to teach middle school students is explored. The results of the study and its implications to teaching practice are discussed.
Download or read book Professional Learning Communities at Work written by Richard DuFour and published by Solution Tree. This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides specific information on how to transform schools into results-oriented professional learning communities, describing the best practices that have been used by schools nationwide.
Download or read book Professional Community and Professional Development in the Learning centered School written by Judith Warren Little and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides a research-based blueprint for teacher learning, including the goals it can serve, strategic content priorities, and effective approaches or strategies. In "learning-centered" schools - where there is an emphasis on both student and teacher learning - teacher professional communities are the hub of a learning system that focuses on instructional improvement. These communities are strategically linked with various other modes of professional development within and outside the school.
Download or read book Content and Context written by Lyn Patricia Vause and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a case study of a mathematics professional learning community. It illustrates the experience of eight Grade 2 teachers as they collaborate to improve their students' understanding of mathematics. In this inquiry, I worked as a participant-observer with the teachers over the course of five months as a witness to their expanding understanding of mathematics and learning. The case study describes two manifestations: the experiences of the teachers as they develop their knowledge of the mathematical learning of young children; and secondly, the teachers' growth as a professional learning community committed to improving the mathematical understanding of their students and of themselves. Collectively, the findings from this study extend other conversations on both professional learning communities and the development of teachers' knowledge about mathematical learning (often called pedagogical content knowledge). This work shows that opportunities for professional learning that are self-directed, context and content specific, within a milieu that is collegial and supportive, enable teachers to bridge the elusive gap between theory and practice. The specific questions addressed are as follows: (1) How does participation in a professional learning community affect teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and their understanding of students' learning of mathematics? (2) How do primary teachers develop an effective mathematics professional learning community?In mathematics, professional development often focuses on the creation of effective lesson design. This study differed in some key ways. Although good lesson design was valued and employed, the stimulus for teacher learning was the observation of the students as they struggled with new complex concepts. From these observations, the teachers became astute at recognizing particular consistencies and inconsistencies in the mathematical learning of the one hundred plus students they each observed within this project. Together, as a professional learning community, the teachers became adept at using external resources such as research and other resource materials to search the reasons and solutions for students' difficulty with mathematical concepts. Teachers' cognitive dissonance as they tried new instructional approaches and shared successes and failures with their colleagues provided the foundation for their growth in pedagogical content knowledge.
Download or read book Collaboration in Teacher Education written by Andrea Peter-Koop and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 439 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book systematically explores and reflects on a variety of issues related to collaborative mathematics teacher education practice and research – such as classroom coaching, mentoring or co-learning agreements - highlighting the evolution and implications of collaborative enterprises in different cultural settings. It is relevant to educational researchers, research students and practitioners.
Download or read book The Collaborative Teacher written by Cassandra Erkens and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Transform education from inside the classroom. This book delivers best practices of collaborative teacher leadership, supporting the strategies with research and real classroom stories.
Download or read book Facilitator s Guidebook for Use of Mathematics Situations in Professional Learning written by Rose Mary Zbiek and published by IAP. This book was released on 2018-01-01 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The depth and breadth of a mathematics teacher’s understanding of mathematics matter most as the teacher engages in the daily work of teaching. One of the major challenges to teachers is to be ready to draw on the relevant mathematical ideas from different areas of the school curriculum and from their postsecondary mathematics experiences that can be helpful in explaining ideas to students, making instructional decisions, creating examples, and engaging in other aspects of their daily work. Being mathematically ready and confident requires teachers to engage in ongoing professional learning that helps them to connect mathematics to events like those they live on a daily basis. The purpose of this volume is to provide teachers, teacher educators, and other facilitators of professional learning opportunities with examples of authentic events and tools for discussing those events in professional learning settings. The work shared in Facilitator’s Guidebook for Use of Mathematics Situations in Professional Learning (Guidebook) resulted from a collaborative effort of school mathematics supervisors and university mathematics educators. The collaborators joined their varied experiences as teachers, coaches, supervisors, teacher educators, and researchers to suggest ways to scaffold activities, encourage discussion, and instigate reflection with teacher–participants of differing mathematics backgrounds and with varying teaching assignments. Each guide has ideas for engaging and furthering mathematical thought across a range of facilitator and participant mathematics backgrounds and draws on the collaborators’ uses of the Situations with in-service and prospective teachers. The events and mathematical ideas connected to each event come from Situations in Mathematical Understanding for Secondary Teaching: A Framework and Classroom-Based Situations. A Situation is a description of a classroom-related event and the mathematics related to it. For each of six Situations, school and university collaborators developed a facilitator’s guide that presents ideas and options for engaging teachers with the event and the mathematical ideas. The Guidebook also contains suggestions for how teachers and others might develop new Situations based on events from their own classrooms as a form of professional learning. Both teacher educators and school-based facilitators can use this volume to structure sessions and inspire ideas for professional learning activities that are rooted in the daily work of mathematics teachers and students.
