Pursuing Greatness
Pursuing Greatness
By: Pete Hall, Alisa Simeral, Bryan Goodwin, Bj Stone, Bess Scott
You’ve probably heard that teaching is a journey. So...where are you on yours?
That all depends on which challenges you’re currently facing. Trying to solve them all at once would lead to disorientation and burnout, so where to start? For guidance, join five of America’s leading thinkers, consultants, and writers on teaching and learning as they demonstrate the power of self-reflection to achieve ever-deeper insights into your own strengths—and ever-better results from your students.
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Title information
Authors Pete Hall, Alisa Simeral, Bryan Goodwin, Bj Stone, and Bess Scott identify 24 of the most common "problems of practice" faced by educators--something that’s not going quite as well as it could in the teaching-learning process--and show educators how to guide their own self-reflective journey toward solving these problems, gaining expertise in their professional practices, and empowering students to “own” more of their learning. These problems of practice are grouped into six pathways, each covered in detail by a chapter in the book:
- Nurturing a positive learning environment.
- Challenging students to commit to mastery level learning.
- Designing engaging learning activities and lessons.
- Motivating students with feedback.
- Assessing for learning.
- Creating dynamic group learning.
For each pathway, the authors provide research-based insights and simple tools for teachers to use in their classrooms and progress along a professional development pathway of Be Consistent, Be Connected, Differentiate, and Empower.
Teacher readers do not have to read the book sequentially—you can begin with whichever problem of practice seems most urgent to you right now. Your starting point is less important than your destination: a student-owned, teacher-guided, empowered classroom.
Pete Hall
Pete Hall is a former award-winning school principal and the author of 12 books designed to build individual and leadership capacity. Dedicated to supporting the improvement of our education systems, Pete provides professional learning and coaching to teachers, principals, and school district administrators across the United States. When he’s not on the road, he and his family live in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with their three rambunctious dogs. Visit educationhall.com to learn more.
Alisa Simeral
Author and consultant Alisa Simeral has guided reform efforts as a teacher, instructional coach, administrator, professional developer, and leadership mentor in K–12 and adult education settings. Her focus is empowering educators to take charge of their professional learning by developing and refining the metacognitive habits famously identified by John Dewey. She is a co-author of numerous publications, including the best sellers Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice: Capacity-Building for Schoolwide Success (ASCD, 2017), Building Teachers’ Capacity for Success: A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders (ASCD, 2008), and Teach, Reflect, Learn: Building Your Capacity for Success in the Classroom (ASCD, 2015). She works as a consultant and professional speaker at schools, districts, and education organizations worldwide, supporting their work to cultivate reflective practice and shift from cultures of compliance to cultures of commitment. Alisa’s mantra is “When our teachers succeed, our students succeed.”
Bryan Goodwin
Bryan Goodwin is president and CEO of McREL International. During his more than two decades at McREL, he has translated research into practice, scanning the world for new insights and best practices on teaching and leading, and has helped educators across the United States and around the world adapt them to address their own local contexts, goals, and needs. A frequent conference presenter, he is the author of numerous books, papers, and articles on research-based practices for effective instruction and school/system leadership, and the power of curiosity for students and adults. Before joining McREL in 1998, Bryan was a college instructor, a high school teacher, and a business journalist. He and his family live in Denver, Colorado. Visit mcrel.org to learn more.
Bj Stone
Dr. Bj Stone is an independent consultant and owner of Advantage Learning and Leading, a co-author of the second editions of Classroom Instruction That Works (ASCD, 2012) and A Handbook for Classroom Instruction That Works (ASCD, 2012), and the author of the second edition of the Facilitator's Manual for Classroom Instruction That Works (McREL, 2012). A former middle and high school science teacher, university instructor, and central office administrator, she served for 12 years as a consulting director at McREL International, working internationally and nationally with K–12 teachers and administrators.
Bess Scott
Dr. Bess Scott is an associate professor of educational leadership at Doane University in Lincoln, Nebraska. Prior to working with McREL for several years as a managing consultant, she spent her 36-year public school career in Omaha and Lincoln teaching French, English, physical education, and health, serving in multiple leadership roles culminating with director of continuous improvement for Lincoln Public Schools.
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This price includes a 30% discount for ordering the print versions of Pursuing Greatness and Quick Guide Complete Set together.