Pursuing Greatness
Pursuing Greatness
By: Bryan Goodwin, Pete Hall, Alisa Simeral, Bj Stone
Pursuing Greatness organizes two dozen of the most common teacher problems of practice into six pathways and provides self-reflection guidance and tools to solve them. You’ll gain research-based insights into why each strategy works, tips for how and when to apply it, and an opportunity to reflect on how it affects your teaching and your students’ learning.
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Title information
You've probably heard that teaching is a journey. So, where are you on yours? Pursuing Greatness guides teachers in a professional growth journey centered on self-reflection about what is and isn't working in your classroom, and then using a self-driven continuous improvement process to get better at solving common instructional challenges in the classroom. We've grouped these challenges into six pathways constructed to inspire you and guide your students toward inquiry-based learning, helping them stoke their fire inside to learn, and become passionate and persistent learners. These pathways are:
- Nurturing a positive learning environment
- Challenging students to commit to mastery level learning
- Designing engaging learning
- Motivating students with feedback
- Assessing for learning
- Creating dynamic group learning
Start anywhere in the book, 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.
"After reading this book, I'm ready to activate my inner greatness so I can light the fire of my students' greatness as well, with practical, engaging strategies." - Wendy Turner, 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year
"If you're a school leader looking to create the conditions for curiosity in your teachers--a curiosity that starts with a problem of practice and leads to increased agency for improving their practice--look no further than Pursuing Greatness to launch the journey." - Superintendent Randy Ziegenfuss, Salisbury Township School District, Pennsylvania
"A well-curated resource for guiding educators through intentional decision making as they navigate through their professional development. Every educator will benefit from using this book." - Caitlin B., Colorado teacher
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.
Pete Hall
Pete Hall is a former award-winning school principal and the author of 12 books designed to build individual and leadership capacity. He speaks and consults internationally; when he’s not on the road, he and his family live in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with their three rambunctious dogs.
Alisa Simeral
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 their metacognitive habits. She is the author of numerous books for educators and consults with schools and education systems worldwide, supporting their work to cultivate reflective practice and shift from cultures of compliance to cultures of commitment.
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.
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