1st Edition

Improving Your School One Week at a Time Building the Foundation for Professional Teaching and Learning

By Jeffrey Zoul Copyright 2006
    190 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    190 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    This book displays 37 “Friday Focus” memos, each of which provides insight into a specific aspect of teaching and learning for all to reflect on throughout the year. Friday Focus memos address the principal’s responsibility to shape the school culture, provide intellectual stimulation, and communicate effectively. The memos are organized around the school year and provide educators with a wide variety of insights into how to improve our schools. They are typically between 500–1,000 words in length and can be sent out via e-mail to each staff member – not only to the teachers but also secretaries, custodians, and cafeteria workers. A vehicle for school improvement, the Friday Focus memos provide a step-by-step plan for staff members and principals to work together as change agents for school improvement.

    Foreword
    About the Author
    Acknowledgments
    Index of Themes
    Introduction
    Part 1 The First Quarter
    * Opening Day
    * What Makes a Good Teacher?
    * Effort-Based Ability
    * The Dreaded Homework Dilemma
    * The Impact of a Teacher
    * Effective Listening
    * Bullying Prevention
    * School Safety
    * Questions, Questions, Questions
    Part 2 The Second Quarter
    * Parent-Teacher Conferences
    * Student-Led Conferences
    * Teacher Observations
    * Learning How to Learn
    * Teaching: Art or Science
    * In the Middle
    * K.I.S.S.
    * The Big Rocks
    * God Bless Us, Every One!
    Part 3 The Third Quarter
    * Managing the Classroom
    * Strategies for ESOL Students
    * Working with Special Needs Students
    * More Classroom Management
    * Responding to Learners
    * Striving for Great
    * ESOL Revisited
    * Differentiation: Inconvenient but Inescapable
    * Test Time
    * PIRATES
    Part 4 The Fourth Quarter
    * Professional Learning Communities
    * Choosing Positive
    * Extraordinary Teachers
    * Making the Connection
    * "I" Messages
    * Teaching People, Not Content
    * My Parents' Expectations
    * A Culture of Success

    Biography

    Dr. Jeff Zoul is a principal with the Forsyth County School System in Cumming, Georgia. Prior to becoming principal at Otwell Middle School, Dr. Zoul served as a classroom teacher for 20 years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In addition, he has served as an administrator at all three levels and has extensive coaching experience. He also teaches as an adjunct professor at North Georgia College and State University.Dr. Zoul has also been published in the area of teacher collaboration and speaks on school climate and culture, building professional learning communities, and positive classroom discipline. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Alabama and holds additional degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Troy State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi.Dr. Zoul is married to Jill Zoul. They reside in Cumming, Georgia, and are the proud parents of one daughter, Jordyn. Dr. Zoul can be contacted by phone: (770) 887–8134; or mail:Forsyth County Schools, 605 Tribble Gap Road, Cumming, Georgia 30040.