Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i5IMZdN19859; Fri, 18 Jun 2004 18:35:39 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 18:35:39 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <146.2c51db61.2e04c7e4@aol.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: MWPotts2001@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2777] Fixing our problems--PD strategies X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Mac sub 39 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Status: O Content-Length: 1956 Lines: 48 Colleagues, Over the past few weeks, there has been an interesting and valuable discussion on the AALPD list in reference to teacher change as a result of Professional Development. It seems to me that there is a connection to some of the comments in the article mentioned below. WAITING FOR OTHERS TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS It is reasonable and right for educators to convey to the public the urgency of situations they confront and the pressing need for more resources, says school change expert Rick DuFour in his "Leading Edge" column (Journal of Staff Development, Summer 2004). But ultimately educators must choose between two school improvement strategies. DuFour calls the first strategy the "if only" approach, which bases hopes for school improvement on others: "if only the parents were more supportive, if only the students were better prepared and more motivated." The other strategy, DuFour explains, "is to focus on the conditions that lie within our sphere of influence. This can-do strategy shifts the focus inward as we begin to ask, 'What can we do to monitor each student's learning on a timely basis, to respond with more time and support when a student struggles, to create time within the school day to work collaboratively?' Schools that resort to the 'if only"' strategy spend their time looking out the window for the solutions to their problems. Schools that commit to the can-do strategy spend their time looking in the mirror." http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/dufour253.cfm As EFF approaches its tenth anniversary (counting from the time that students were asked to contribute their ideas on what quality adult education is about), I think we are indebted to the brilliant minds and can do attitudes who got us where we are today. They are still at work on a multitude of issues. EFF is alive and well. All the Best, Meta Potts, Moderator 4-EFF List Glen Allen, VA mwpotts2001@aol.com
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