Professional Development in Relational Learning Communities: Teachers in Connection

by Miriam B. Raider-Roth, Susan L. Lytle (Series Editor), Sharon Feiman-Nemser (Foreword)

In this book, Raider-Roth offers an innovative approach to teacher professional development that builds on the intellectual strength and practical wisdom of practitioners. Focusing on nurturing relationships between and among participants, facilitators, subject matter, texts, and the school environment, this book helps educators create a repertoire of teaching approaches founded on sustained, deep, democratic, local, and active learning. The author demonstrates that, within the context of trustworthy relationships, teachers can better connect with all that they know about teaching, learning, and their own identities. This, in turn, enables them to act on what they know in the best interest of their students and leads to the kinds of lasting change and commitment that can move the teaching profession beyond training for a particular skill set.

Book Features:

Examples showing how the work of relational learning communities can improve teachers' practice. A focus on the cultural dimension in professional development for teachers. A view of teaching and learning as deeply relational and transformative. Strategies to help facilitators and participants create processes to best support a fertile learning environment.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published March 10, 2017

Reviews

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is essential for any leader of educator professional development. The writing style is conversational while steeped in research. After reading this book, I feel empowered to continue to focus on relationship building within professional development. Raider-Roth provides a framework and practices that have increased my awareness of relational components of professional learning and that I can bring to my setting to support the growth of educators as well as myself as a teacher-leader.