List of Tables and Figures Foreword by Gordon Cawelti Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. Why Are Schools Reorganizing? 2. Structural Options 3. Steps in Building a Middle School Schedule 4. Steps in Building a High School Schedule 5. Small Learning Communities: Role and Function 6. Elements of Teaming: A Goal-Setting Process for Curriculum and Instruction 7. Elements of Teaming: A Goal-Setting Process for Organizational Considerations 8. Teaching in Variable-Length Time Periods 9. Implementing Change References Index
Increased attention has been placed on the importance of teachers knowing their students and developing positive relationships that promote learning success and prevent dropouts and violence. Within this context, secondary schools are also reorganizing around smaller schools or "houses" and structuring longer blocks of learning time. Authors Elliot Y. Merenbloom and Barbara A. Kalina present a roll-up-your-sleeves working handbook for leaders and school teams focusing on restructuring as a means to support learning. This practical, user-friendly resource: * Offers a thorough presentation of restructuring options with advantages and disadvantages of multiple models * Walks leaders and teams through the decision-making and solution-building processes * Presents instructional formats and strategies that maximize the benefits of restructured schedules