The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach: Transforming Schools at Every Level (Create a responsive learning environment)

by Anthony Muhammad, Sharroky Hollie

School improvement begins with self-examination and honest dialogue about socialization, bias, discrimination, and cultural insensitivity. The authors acknowledge both the structural and sociological issues that contribute to low-performing schools and offer multiple tools and strategies to assess and improve classroom management, increase literacy, establish academic vocabulary, and contribute to a healthier school culture. Benefits: Contents: Part I: Will and Skill
Chapter 1: The Two Parts of a Positive School Environment Part II: The Will to Lead
Chapter 2: Conflicting Wills
Chapter 3: Frustration in a Toxic Culture
Chapter 4: The School Culture Framework: Creating a Culture of Collaboration
Chapter 5: Leadership at Every Level Part III: The Skill to Teach
Chapter 6: Developing a Responsive Pedagogy
Chapter 7: The Steps to Responsive Pedagogy
Chapter 8: Responsive Classroom Management
Chapter 9: Responsive Academic Vocabulary
Chapter 10: Responsive Academic Literacy
Chapter 11: Responsive Learning Environment

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Nonfiction, Teaching, Leadership

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2011

Reviews

[Carmelita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors reminded me of effective leadership and instructional strategies within the context of developing a responsive pedagogy for underserved students. I found the framework of how transformational leaders support staffs helpful when the authors categorized leaders' actions into 4 areas (communication, relationships, support, and accountability). Responsive classroom management techniques are also grouped into three core areas (discussing\responding techniques, attention signals, and movement activities), which provide enough detail to lead conversations with fellow educators. The concepts described in chapter 11, Responsive Learning Environment, have given me new ideas to consider when creating a responsive physical learning environment for students. These concepts, combined with the needs of knowledge networkers of the 21st century, will stimulate interesting conversations back at school sites.

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compact little book contains a lot of information and suggestions on creating responsive classrooms with students engaged in the process of learning. It begins with a discussion of the culture of a school by categorizing teachers and admin based on the way the school is run. It also provides multiple strategies to increase learning while remaining relevant to the needs of underserved students. I plan to use many of these strategies.

[Spacek Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book outlines in simple terms how to transform schools. There are technical changes that schools can make, however, the biggest change is of that to the culture. A responsive pedagogy places the student at the center and their needs. A must read for anyone wanting to make change to their school!

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part about this book is the chapter with ideas for instructional activities to use in the classroom. Some are familiar, but there are several new ones to add to the teacher's toolbox.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry and unengaging

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only ...

[Fifi · Rating 4 out of 5]

'a staff has to be willing to become “students of its students” and embrace professional scholarship.'
#DeZinVanHetBoek #TheEssenceOfTheBook

All too often, teachers mistake individual autonomy for complete independence, ignoring the fact that teachers establish a learning context *together with* their colleagues, and that this togetherness matters. Or perhaps they are aware of this, but it doesn't show in their actions or practices.
Anthony Muhammad spends the first part of this book explaining why a collaborative school culture is a necessity for making sure *all* students learn, and he discusses ways to establish this collaborative school culture.
The second part of the book is about an equally necessary approach: in it, Sharroky Hollie explains how a responsive pedagogy can meet the educational needs of all students, including - or especially - the underserved ones. I particularly appreciate the choice for this term, as opposed to 'underachieving', since 'underserved' affirms the responsibility of schools to motivate students.

My main point of criticism is that the two parts hardly align. In the second part of the book, teachers are approached as individuals who fairly autonomously determine their own pedagogical choices. Apart from a few reflective questions at the end of the chapters in the second part, there is little to no mention of responsive pedagogy as a collaborative effort. I would have expected, and hoped, that the authors would have made a stronger case for making the collaborative culture visible in a team's responsive pedagogy. In the current form, the two parts might as well have been separate books. Hence, 'only' four stars. Still, both parts are highly recommended reading for educators.

See also my extended review in Dutch here

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I try to read a couple of educational books a summer. I meet with a few colleagues to discuss to get excited about the upcoming school year. This was our second book.

It is hard to rate books of this type because I would never recommend for anyone outside education. The three star represents the value I gleamed from this book.

What I got out of it:

Blame creates a toxic culture
Frustrated staff = ineffective staff
It is all parties (teacher, principal, etc) responsibility to think of solutions and
not to blame
Believers (we first), make change happen. Fundamentalist (me first), strive for
status quo. Guess who I want to be?
Big: 1- what do we want our students to learn?
2- how will we know when they have learned it?
3- what will we do if they have not learned it?
Strive to create a Democratic Classroom ( RRR)
Academic Vocabulary should be stressed
Create a responsive learning environment- many ideas listed in the book

All in all, this will help create a exciting discussion.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of the first half is a condensation of the content of Anthony Muhammad's previous book on school Culture (Transforming School Culture....) but the conceptual framework of Will and Skill is very helpful.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half offers a follow up to Muhammad's excellent book Transforming School Culture. Nothing new worth noting here but a nice review of his work. The second half reads like a college course syllabus on the basics of instruction. Some good ideas but they are spread wide, not enough depth.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book based on changing your schools climate through leadership and by creating a culture of collaboration. A very good book for those in administrative type positions.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiantly enjoyed the beginning examining what both effective and ineffective leadership looks like.