Title Details

Phillip C. Schlechty is founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership in School Reform. The creator of some of the nation's most innovative professional development programs for educators, he has been the recipient of the American Federation of Teachers Quest Citation and the American Educational Research Association's Professional Service Award. Schlechty is author of Schools for the 21st Century (1991), Shaking Up the Schoolhouse (2000), and Inventing Better Schools (2001) all published by Jossey-Bass.

Chapter 1.

Introduction.

The Basic Theme.

Schoolwork: A Commonplace Term.

On the Nature of Schoolwork.

The Research Base.

Basic Assumptions.

The Role of the Teacher.

Facilitator, Coach, or Leader?

Leaders Must Lead.

Competence and Commitment.

The Importance of Discipline.

Engaging Work and Engaging Teachers.

Organization of the Book.

Chapter 2.

Making Engagement Central.

The Highly Engaged Classroom.

The Well-Managed Classroom.

The Pathological Classroom.

Developing an Engagement Profile.

A Beginning Point for Measurement.

Rubics.

Getting Relevant Data.

A Caution.

Chapter 3.

The WOW School.

Thinking Strategically.

Identifying Missions.

The WOW School: A Vision.

Framing the Dialogue.

Patterns of Engagement.

Student Achievement.

Content and Substance.

Organization of Knowledge.

Product Focus.

Clear and Compelling Standards.

Protection from Adverse Consequence.

Affirmation of Performances.

Affiliation.

Novelty and Variety.

Choice.

Authenticity.

Starting the Conversation.

Some Concluding Observations.

The Issue of Time.

Chapter 4:

Implications for Teachers.

Understanding, Assessment, Control, and Improvement.

What Can Teachers Control?

Knowing and Teaching the "Right Stuff".

Focus on Engagement.

Work on the Work.

Thinking As a Leader.

Top Down and Bottom Up.

Consulting with Parents.

Chapter 5.

The Principal's Role.

Build or Join a Principal Support Network.

Get Your Own Beliefs Clear.

Involve Your Superintendent and Relevant Central Office Staff.

Create a Guiding Coalition.

Increasing Awareness.

Invest in Teacher Development.

The Principal as Teacher.

Finding Time.

A Closing Comment.

Chapter 6.

The Role of the Superintendent.

Depersonalization of Relationships.

Shared Authority vs. Delegation.

Innovations vs. Systemic Change.

A Point of View.

The Wisdom of Others.

Be Clear About What You Believe.

Personalize Your Relationship with Principals.

Clarify the Vision.

Unify Central Staff.

Think and Act Strategically.

Strategic Planning and Capacity Building.

The Capacity Audit.

Chapter 7.

Accountability and School Reform.

Theory, Practice, and Common Sense.

So, What Is New?

Sources of Resistance.

Every Child Can Learn.

The Issues of Time and Collegiality.

The Standards Movement and Accountability.

A Concluding Comment.

Appendix A: Framework for Analysis, Dialogue, and Action-School Version.

Appendix B: Framework for Analysis, Dialogue, and Action-Classroom Version.

Bibliography.

"...may help boost student achievement..." (Childhood Education, Spring 2003)

"I found a wealth of practical suggestions..." (The School Administrator, March 2003)

"Working on the Work may help boost student achievement by motivating educators to redesign the pattern of students' work...." (Childhood Education, Spring 2003)

"Working on the Work provides an instructional model for teachers to use in devising their curricula." (The Indianapolis Star, August 6, 2003)

"Authentic student engagement in meaningful classroom work is the key to accountability. If teachers work-on-the-work, accountability will take care of itself. Thanks, Phil Schlecthy, for illuminating the way for all concerned educators and parents." —Lawrence W. Lezotte, educational consultant and commentator, and author, Learning for All, The Effective Schools Process

"Schlechty takes everything he knows about education, places it in a user-friendly format, and delivers it to the schoolhouse. This book is such a valuable tool that I plan to discuss it, line by line, with my teachers." —Judy Love, principal, Hayden Elementary School, Hayden, Indiana

"Any teacher who is interested in providing an authentically engaging classroom should embrace and utilize Phil Schlechty's WOW philosophy. It is an invaluable guide for teachers to become leaders and designers of quality lessons that facilitate student engagement and success. —Kristin Barton, teacher, Gardenhill Elementary, La Mirada, California

"Once again Dr. Schlechty provides a must-read to the professional educator who is serious about improving and sustaining public education in our country." —Ann Denlinger, superintendent, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill, North Carolina