Much has been written during the past decade about the changing role of the principal and the shift in emphasis from manager to instructional leader. Anyone in education, and especially principals themselves, could develop a mental list of responsibilities that fit within each of these realms. But research makes it clear that both those aspects of…

Frequent five-minute visits focused on specific "look-fors" can give principals valuable information about what's working--or not working--in their schools. A program of brief but frequent classroom walkthroughs has become an increasingly popular strategy in recent years for informally supervising teachers and observing classroom activities. But…

In collaboration with the Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Connecticut, and with the guidance of its directors, Joseph Renzulli and Sally Reis, the Southeast Elementary School in Mansfield, Connecticut, has implemented the schoolwide enrichment model (SEM), a program designed to enhance learning and…

Many teachers believe that their administrators have lost touch with life in the classroom, and the resulting gap is a serious concern. Closing a perception gap between principals and teachers is critical if they are to work together for their mutual benefit and that of the children they serve. The authors of this article asked a group of veteran,…

In 1990, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rededicated the provisions of PL 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, providing that all children with disabilities be afforded a free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment. In 2004, it was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities…

Considers the potential detrimental effects on classroom teaching of programs that pull individual students out of the classroom for specialized instruction or activities. Suggests alternative means for meeting student and teacher needs within the classroom. (PGD)

Positive attitudes produce positive results. Offers practical suggestions for principals to develop a more positive atmosphere among faculty and staff. (MLF)

Case study of a new principal who turns around an elementary school with a misbehaving student body and and apathetic staff by setting, publicizing, and consistently enforcing clear rules; documenting infractions; involving parents; encouraging student responsibility; and requiring lesson plans. (DCS)

When the teachers at Roosevelt Elementary School in Hutchinson, Kansas, used the Learning Style Inventory to determine the best learning conditions for each student, then allowed students to study and take standardized tests under their preferred conditions, improved behavior and achievement were noted at all ability and grade levels. (PGD)

Many aspects of social change in the United States are reducing the amount of caring and interpersonal contact available to children, thus enhancing the likelihood of social failure. Schools and other social institutions can be reorganized and redirected to provide more positive social support. (PGD)

The simultaneous presence of faculty growth and a sense of faculty community can help a good school really shine. This article explores ways in which a school environment supporting these two factors can be developed and maintained, using the private Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, D.C., as an example. (PGD)