Fighting for Change in Your School (PDF)

In this indispensable book for K–12 leaders, Harvey Alvy offers a thoughtful roadmap and guidance to help educators select, implement, and assess school- or districtwide initiatives that actually work. The book is filled with a wealth of resources—action checklists, principles to guide educators, and in-depth questions and protocols—for engaging in collaborative professional development activities that strengthen teaching and learning practices and improve student achievement.Alvy discusses in detail the six "red flags" that educators confront daily and a set of countervailing strategies (six practical guidelines) to pursue meaningful reforms, initiatives, and innovations:Red FlagsThe Narrative TrapOverpromising and OverloadingMinimizing the Enormous Difficulty of ImplementationEyes off the PrizeHistorical AmnesiaThe Business "Solution"GuidelinesBuilding a Collaborative Learning CommunityEffectively Using Human, Fiscal, and Material ResourcesRespecting the Change ProcessSustaining a Coherent School Mission and VisionEmbracing Timeless and Eclectic Teaching PracticesChampioning and Empowering the UnderservedSelecting and implementing reforms, initiatives, and practices wisely is key if we truly want the best for our students—and skipping the necessary planning and forethought can be catastrophic. Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance is the book every educator needs to ensure the former and prevent the latter. The time to address these challenges is now.