Teachers Working Together

“The task for schools ... is not to simply offer space and opportunity for individual teachers to teach, it is to organize human, technical, and social resources into an effective collective enterprise.”
—Fred Newmann and Gary Wehlage, 1997

In this issue, we see how that collective spirit soars even in the face of today’s Sisyphean educational challenges.

Download this issue as a PDF (38pp, 4.5M)

Features

Exorcising the “Lone Ranger”
The solitary practitioner is giving way to the team player, as teachers adopt different forms of collaboration.

• Having “Another Set of Eyeballs”: Critical Friends Groups
• Teaming Up To Improve Reading: Professional Learning Teams
• A Road Map to Better Writing: Mapping and Aligning Curriculum
• Singing a New Tune: Lesson Study

Off to a Good Start
A Seattle teacher mentoring program eases the way for beginners and reinvigorates veterans.

• Mentoring Across Distances in Alaska
  Mentors reach out to all corners of “The Last Frontier,” aiming to reduce teacher turnover.

Q&A: Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers
Stanford Professor Linda Darling-Hammond weighs in on highly qualified teachers and the need to learn from each other.

• Web exclusive: Darling-Hammond advocates for a national teacher test.

Opening Up a Whole New World
In a rural Montana high school, a partnership introduces students to challenging Advanced Placement curriculum.

It Takes a District
A Washington school district that resembles a mini-United Nations tackles reading and writing instruction from the top down.

Lessons From the Winners
What makes a great teacher? The Northwest's 2005 Teachers of the Year agree that high student expectations and teacher teamwork are a winning combination.

Setting the Tone
Three principals—Don Peck of Cheney (Washington) Middle School, Byron Yankey of Meridian (Idaho) Elementary, and Patti Kinney of Talent (Oregon) Middle School—describe what it takes to create a collaborative environment.

departments

Forum

Editor's Note

Voices
Changing Skeptics’ Minds

Research Brief
Collaborating To Reach NCLB Goals

Resources
Resource Annex

Region at a Glance
A Strong Need for Collaboration in the Northwest

End Note
Then and Now

Expert Opinion
Education Trust leader Paul Ruiz speaks out on high-quality teachers and student equity issues.

Money Matters
Seeking grant money doesn't have to be a lonely task: Using the talents of many group members increases your chances of success.

Eye on Evaluation
NWREL's evaluation experts look at the impact of teacher collaboration on student achievement.

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