1st Edition

Igniting Wonder, Reflection, and Change in Our Schools An Educator’s Guide to Using Authentic Stories

By Rick Jetter Copyright 2017
    124 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    124 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    Containing real stories from real school leaders, teachers, students, and parents in seven key areas, this book demonstrates how educators can use narrative to trigger wonder, reflection, and change in their classrooms and schools. By including examples of the narrative process in action, this book invites educators to think deeply about their daily practices, struggles, and victories in order to carry out immediate and incredible changes in their own schools. The authentic stories presented in this book offer ideas for fostering a positive learning environment and for finding solutions to the most challenging issues today in areas such as teacher‒student relationships, learning and instruction, assessment, motivation, educational policies and politics, and student engagement. By using the powerful self-reflective tool of narrative, this book will help educators to increase student achievement while constructing a positive school culture that is built on igniting authentic stories.

    Preface

    Acknoledgments

    Meet the Author

    Chapter 1: When and How to Constructively Use Authentic Stories at Your School

    Stories as Social Legacies

    The Top Seven Areas of Powerful Storytelling

    How to Use Stories

    When to Use Stories

    Chapter 2: Stories that Improve and IGNITE School, Community, and Interpersonal Relationships

    Strengthening Teacher–Student Relationships

    Strengthening Staff–Staff Relationships

    Strengthening Educator–Parent and Community Relationships

    Chapter 3: Stories that IGNITE Powerful Instruction with Reduced Variance

    Instruction

    Digital Blindness

    Teaching "Responsibility"

    The Power of Feedback

    The Redundant Curriculum

    Fieldtrips and Recess

    Chapter 4: Stories that IGNITE Advocacy for Thoughtful Assessment

    Homework and Pop Quizzes, One Century Later

    "Pop" Goes the Pop Quizzes

    Popsicle Sticks

    Writing Portfolios

    Test Construction and Preparation

    Chapter 5: Stories that Make Us Wonder about Our Own Policies

    Policies that are Silly

    Policies that are Missing

    Policies that Leverage

    Policies that are Abused or Taken for Granted

    Policies that Protect

    Chapter 6: Stories that Help Us to Work through Educational Politics

    Common Core Politics

    The Common Core State Standards and "New" Math

    The Opt-Out Movement and High-Stakes Tests

    Follow the Leader through the Chain of Command?

    Questioning Decision Making

    The Race for a School Board Seat

    Chapter 7: Stories that IGNITE and Motivate Teachers and School Leaders

    Stories of Victory

    Stories of Defeat

    Recognizing the Conditions for Celebrating Educators

    Chapter 8: Stories Written By Students for Helping Other Students and Adults

    Teaching Narrative Writing

    Boys Will Be Boys?

    Posting Student Work (a Story in Reverse)?

    The Never-Ending Discipline Cycle?

    What about My IEP? Creating Students with Voice

    Master Schedules from a Student’s Perspective?

    Biography

    Rick Jetter is an Educational Consultant for K‒12 schools across the nation and a speaker, trainer, and multi-genre author. He has worked in the field of education as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools.

    "Stories are one of the most crucial, yet vastly under-utilized, aspects of leading education in the context of teaching and learning.  Igniting Wonder, Reflection, and Change in Our Schools does a great job not only in showing the reader how powerful stories are for moving education forward, but also in showing how the reader can share their story to create much better opportunities for our learning communities.  Stories are the fuel to innovation in education, and this book paints a beautiful reminder of this."
    -George Couros, Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Consultant, author of "The Innovator's Mindset"

    " ‘Change’ should be an ongoing process in education, and Dr. Jetter's book offers school leaders a fresh way to spark interest in renewal efforts. The book's theme—using narratives as a springboard for initiating change—will appeal to educators at all levels."
    -Cathie E. West, Education Consultant and Author