| |
| |
| About This Resource | |
| |
| |
| Your Role as Principal | |
| |
| |
| The Nature of the Principalship | |
| |
| |
| Define Your Own Belief System | |
| |
| |
| Instructional Leadership | |
| |
| |
| The Importance of Diplomacy | |
| |
| |
| The Need for Positive Community Relations | |
| |
| |
| Learn from Experience | |
| |
| |
| Effective Time-Management Practices | |
| |
| |
| Maintain Perspective | |
| |
| |
| How to Plan for the School Year--Setting Goals and Maintaining Focus | |
| |
| |
| The Power of Goals | |
| |
| |
| Goals Should Make a Difference | |
| |
| |
| Setting Goals--Broad-Based Involvement | |
| |
| |
| The Elements of Well-Designed School Goals | |
| |
| |
| Keep the Ball in the Air | |
| |
| |
| Reporting on Goal Fulfillment | |
| |
| |
| Summary | |
| |
| |
| Shared Decision Making--the Key to a More Effective School | |
| |
| |
| What Is Meant by Shared Decision Making? | |
| |
| |
| What Are the Benefits of Shared Decision Making? | |
| |
| |
| What Do Effective School Councils Do? | |
| |
| |
| What Steps Are Required to Establish a School Council? | |
| |
| |
| What Are the Skills Required for Effective Council Meetings? | |
| |
| |
| The Role of the Principal in Shared Decision Making | |
| |
| |
| How to Assess the Effectiveness of a School Council | |
| |
| |
| Improving Teacher Observation and Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| The Purposes of Supervision and Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| How to Establish a Positive Climate for Teacher Supervision | |
| |
| |
| How to Clarify the Criteria for Supervision and Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| Achieving a Balance Between Formal and Informal Observations | |
| |
| |
| Reviewing Professional Development Plans | |
| |
| |
| The Preobservation Conference | |
| |
| |
| How to Conduct Effective Teacher Observations | |
| |
| |
| The Postobservation Conference--A Time for Sharing and Learning | |
| |
| |
| Other Means of Observation and Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| How to Make the Most of an Annual Evaluation Conference | |
| |
| |
| How to Make Effective Decisions About Rehiring Teachers | |
| |
| |
| How to Deal Effectively with the Marginal Teacher | |
| |
| |
| Evaluating the Supervisory Process | |
| |
| |
| The Principal's Role in Curriculum Development and Renewal | |
| |
| |
| What Is the Curriculum? | |
| |
| |
| Establishing a Time Line for Examining the Curriculum | |
| |
| |
| A Process for Curriculum Renewal | |
| |
| |
| Preparing a Curriculum Document | |
| |
| |
| The Role of Inquiry and Integrated Learning | |
| |
| |
| Curriculum Articulation | |
| |
| |
| Curriculum Supervision and Accommodating Teacher Choice and Flexibility | |
| |
| |
| Assessment in the Elementary School--Purposes and Practices | |
| |
| |
| The Purposes of Assessment | |
| |
| |
| A Few Useful Definitions | |
| |
| |
| Assessment vs. Testing | |
| |
| |
| Gaining Consensus on Learning Outcomes | |
| |
| |
| Aligning Assessment to Instruction | |
| |
| |
| Different Assessments for Different Needs | |
| |
| |
| Steps to Follow in Designing Assessments | |
| |
| |
| A Balanced Approach to Assessment | |
| |
| |
| Using the School Testing Program to Good Advantage | |
| |
| |
| The Purposes of Standardized Testing | |
| |
| |
| Kinds of Standardized Tests Often Given in Elementary Schools | |
| |
| |
| Effective Ways to Approach Testing | |
| |
| |
| Administrative Responsibilities in the School Testing Program | |
| |
| |
| Helping Children Perform Their Best on Standardized Tests | |
| |
| |
| Effective Analysis and Use of Test Results | |
| |
| |
| Understanding the Limitations of Standardized Tests | |
| |
| |
| Reporting the Results of Tests to Parents and Students | |
| |
| |
| Reporting Student Progress to Parents | |
| |
| |
| First Things First--Getting to Know Students | |
| |
| |
| When Should Student Progress Be Reported? | |
| |
| |
| Clarifying Reporting Practices with Teachers | |
| |
| |
| Helping Parents to Understand the School's Reporting System | |
| |
| |
| Improving Progress Reports | |
| |
| |
| Reporting Progress in Special Subject Areas | |
| |
| |
| Tips and Techniques for Holding Effective Parent Conferences | |
| |
| |
| Student Self-Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| Administering Effective Programs for Students with Special Needs | |
| |
| |
| The Role of the Principal in Overseeing Special Services | |
| |
| |
| Identifying Special Needs of Students | |
| |
| |
| Developing a Continuum of Services for Students | |
| |
| |
| The Trend Toward Inclusion | |
| |
| |
| Creating a Pupil Support Team | |
| |
| |
| Prereferral Interventions | |
| |
| |
| Procedures to Follow in Section 504 Referrals | |
| |
| |
| Referral for Special Educational Services | |
| |
| |
| Dealing with the Outcomes of a Special Education Evaluation | |
| |
| |
| Discipline Regulations and Special Education Students | |
| |
| |
| Administering English-as-a-Second-Language Programs | |
| |
| |
| Administering Gifted and Talented Educational Programs | |
| |
| |
| Staff Development Needs in Dealing with Unique Learners | |
| |
| |
| Assessing the Effectiveness of Programs to Meet Special Needs | |
| |
| |
| Student Discipline--Approaches, Alternatives, and Solutions | |
| |
| |
| Causes of Discipline Problems That Principals Are Likely to Encounter | |
| |
| |
| Approaches to Effective Discipline | |
| |
| |
| Elements of a Preventive Discipline Program | |
| |
| |
| Advice for Teachers About Classroom Discipline | |
| |
| |
| The Principal's Role in the School Discipline Program | |
| |
| |
| The Importance of Parent Communication | |
| |
| |
| Alternatives in a School Discipline Program | |
| |
| |
| Improving Your School's Professional Development Program | |
| |
| |
| The Need for Ongoing Professional Development | |
| |
| |
| How to Begin--Conducting a Staff Development Needs Assessment | |
| |
| |
| Staff Development and Behavioral Change | |
| |
| |
| The Principal's Role in Devising a Staff Development Program | |
| |
| |
| Implementing an Effective Staff Development Program | |
| |
| |
| The Faculty Meeting as a Forum for Professional Development | |
| |
| |
| Staff Development for School Service Personnel | |
| |
| |
| Promoting Effective Communication--Internal and External | |
| |
| |
| The Importance of Effective Communication | |
| |
| |
| Keeping the School Staff Informed | |
| |
| |
| Obtain Requested Information in an Organized Fashion | |
| |
| |
| Keeping the Parent Body and the Community Informed | |
| |
| |
| Face-to-Face Communications | |
| |
| |
| Establishing a Network of "Key Communicators" | |
| |
| |
| Communications in Times of Crisis | |
| |
| |
| The Written Letter--A Lost Art | |
| |
| |
| Promoting Positive Parent and Community Relations | |
| |
| |
| Begin with Your Own School Community | |
| |
| |
| Developing Unity of Purpose | |
| |
| |
| The Importance of Availability and Visibility | |
| |
| |
| Working with a Principal's Advisory Council | |
| |
| |
| Establishing Procedures for Handling of Parental Complaints | |
| |
| |
| Developing Programs for the Involvement of Parents | |
| |
| |
| Preparing School Newsletters, Publications, and Bulletins | |
| |
| |
| The Importance of the Role of the School Secretary | |
| |
| |
| Dealing with the Media | |
| |
| |
| Becoming Skillful at Creating Positive Publicity for Your School | |
| |
| |
| Technology and the Elementary School Program | |
| |
| |
| A Working Definition of Technology | |
| |
| |
| Clarifying the Purposes of Technology in the School | |
| |
| |
| Planning for Effective Use of Technology in Schools | |
| |
| |
| Integrating Technology into the General Curriculum | |
| |
| |
| Technology and Educational Reform | |
| |
| |
| Planning for Appropriate Staff Development | |
| |
| |
| Using On-Line Services | |
| |
| |
| Evaluating Content and Software Programs | |
| |
| |
| Ensuring Proper Use, Maintenance, and Inventory of Equipment | |
| |
| |
| Effective Budget Preparation and Control | |
| |
| |
| Planning--The First Step | |
| |
| |
| Preparing Budget Documents | |
| |
| |
| Budget Review and Approval | |
| |
| |
| Implementing and Controlling the Budget | |
| |
| |
| Securing Alternative Means of Funding in Your School | |
| |
| |
| Handling Student Activity Accounts and Disbursements | |
| |
| |
| Maintaining a Clean and Safe School Environment | |
| |
| |
| Caring for the School Building | |
| |
| |
| Maximizing the Use of Building Space | |
| |
| |
| Working with the Custodial Staff | |
| |
| |
| Securing, Storing, and Maintaining an Inventory of Custodial Supplies | |
| |
| |
| Maintaining a Safe and Clean School Site | |
| |
| |
| Improving the Appearance of Indoor Spaces | |
| |
| |
| Long-Term Planning and Capital Projects | |
| |
| |
| Ensuring School Security and Safety | |
| |
| |
| Developing and Implementing Effective Class Placement Policies | |
| |
| |
| Fair and Appropriate Organization of Classes | |
| |
| |
| Inviting Parent Input into Class Placement--Benefits and Drawbacks | |
| |
| |
| Developing Class Lists | |
| |
| |
| Forming Incoming Kindergarten Classes | |
| |
| |
| Dealing with the Retention of Students in a Grade | |
| |
| |
| Announcing Class Placements to Parents | |
| |
| |
| Handling Parent Complaints About Class Placements | |
| |
| |
| Placing Students Who Enter During the School Year | |
| |
| |
| Grouping Students Within Classes | |
| |
| |
| Reviewing and Evaluating Class Placement Practices | |
| |
| |
| Effective and Creative School Scheduling Practices | |
| |
| |
| Setting Goals for the School Schedule | |
| |
| |
| The Effect of the Schedule on the Climate of the School | |
| |
| |
| Defining Premises, Assumptions, and Contractual Considerations | |
| |
| |
| Models and Approaches for School Scheduling | |
| |
| |
| Getting Down to Business--Developing the Master Schedule | |
| |
| |
| Year-Round Schooling--A Growing Trend | |
| |
| |
| Staffing and Hiring--Critical Decisions for Principals | |
| |
| |
| Projecting Staffing Needs | |
| |
| |
| Forming a Selection Committee | |
| |
| |
| Developing a Candidate Profile | |
| |
| |
| Recruiting Suitable Candidates | |
| |
| |
| Paper Screening | |
| |
| |
| Developing Interview Questions | |
| |
| |
| Developing an Interview Schedule | |
| |
| |
| Conducting Interviews | |
| |
| |
| Checking References | |
| |
| |
| Making a Hiring Recommendation | |
| |
| |
| Notifying Applicants of Their Status | |
| |
| |
| Announcing Hiring Decisions to the School Community | |
| |
| |
| Orienting New Staff Members | |
| |
| |
| Evaluating Hiring and Orientation Practices | |
| |
| |
| School Traditions and Ceremonies | |
| |
| |
| Making Schools Great and Memorable with Traditions and Ceremonies | |
| |
| |
| Developing a School Culture | |
| |
| |
| Planning for Ceremonies and Maintaining Traditions | |
| |
| |
| Examples of School Traditions and Ceremonies | |
| |
| |
| Passing Down School Traditions from One Generation to the Next | |
| |
| |
| Index | |