Describes importance and organization of principal classroom visits to observe teaching and learning. Includes six observation checklists that include characteristics of good learning environment, characteristics of good teaching, patterns of teacher behavior, characteristics of student learning, questions to ask students who are on task, and…

A principal need not be a musician to supervise a music program. Supervisory emphasis should be on elements of the musical process that can be taught, reinforced, and evaluated. At the core of the instructional program, there should be a method book, behavioral objectives, and a graded course of instruction. (MLH)

New principals need a game plan for an orderly transition. This article outlines a plan organized by seven significant areas of school leadership: administration, curriculum and instruction, professional development and supervision, staffing, student issues, student activities, and communication with important school constituencies. Being…

Teachers who can trigger the "goose bump" response have probably mastered the fine art of teaching. Such teachers are enthusiastic, excited about their subject matter, and genuinely care about their students. When "artistic" teachers manifest glaring teaching deficiencies, the sensitive principal overlooks these flaws or handles them without…

The incompetence of a few teachers can destroy the efforts of many excellent teachers. Principals need to know how to evaluate teachers effectively and act on their evaluations. The rationalizations typically used to justify failures to dismiss incompetent teachers will not stand up to scrutiny. (PGD)

Describes three-step process principals can use to collect and compile student test data from teachers on a regular basis: Asking for test data; deciding what to ask for; and supervising the data-reporting process. Asserts that data-collection process will benefit teachers' classroom practices and student achievement. (PKP)

In 1992, a group of teachers, principals, and central-office administrators at a Wisconsin elementary school developed an effective differentiated teacher-supervision process. Teachers enjoy the flexibility of choosing among three options: a cooperative-clinical supervision group, a self-directed group, and a collegial professional-development…

A developmental perspective helps principals communicate more effectively with their staffs. It clarifies adult experiences, isolates issues important to teachers and principals at different times, and expands support and feedback systems. (MD)

To help beginning teachers succeed, principals should identify individual teachers' strengths and weaknesses during the interviewing/hiring stage, balance neophytes' workloads, limit their extracurricular activities, establish expectations, select veteran mentors, offer informal formative assessment, be specific about classroom observations, and…