Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Whatever It Takes

by Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert E. Eaker

This expansion of Whatever It Takes sharpens the focus on the pyramid of interventions strategy. The authors examine case studies of schools and districts across North America to illustrate how PLC at Work™ is a sustainable and transferable process that ensures struggling students get the support they need to achieve. They address how to enrich and extend the learning of proficient students and explain how PLC intervention processes align with RTI legislation.
Chapter 1: The Shifting Mission of Public Establishing the Historical Context
Chapter 2: Laying the Groundwork for Effective Intervention
Chapter 3: Confronting the Brutal The Traditional Response to Students Who Do Not Learn
Chapter 4: Sustaining A Return to Adlai Stevenson High School
Chapter 5: Hand in Hand We All A Return to Boones Mill Elementary School
Chapter 6: Embracing Systematic Prairie Star Middle School
Chapter 7: Success and Triumph in a Worthy Lakeridge Junior High School
Chapter 8: From State Sanctions to National Highland Elementary School
Chapter 9: Building Toward the Cinco Ranch High School
Chapter 10: From Good to Implementation of PLC Concepts in Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96
Chapter 11: Whatever It Takes--Staying the Whittier Union High School District
Chapter 12: Under No Circumstances Blame the Sanger Unified School District
Chapter 13: "Yah, but . . .": Considering Challenges to Systematic Intervention
Chapter 14: Finding Common The Shared Practices of Highly Effective Schools and Districts
Chapter 15: Whatever It How Effective Schools and Districts Overcome Barriers to Systematic Intervention and Enrichment
Chapter 16: Changing the Culture of Schooling to Embrace Effort-Based Achievement
Chapter 17: Moving Planning for Effective Intervention

Genres: Education, Leadership

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great review of RTI, but no new information.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is, obviously, for the educators out there. After attending a conference in Minneapolis this summer with Rick DuFour, Beckyt DuFour and Bob Eaker, I was an immediate convert to the PLC concept. THis is the third book I've read about PLCs and RTIs in the past month, and while all the books ultimately rehash the same points each time, what this book does is examine schools across the country and take an in-depth look at how they use the PLC format and intervention techniques to improve student success. The concrete intervention strategies and schedule examples are extremely helpful and provide inspiration for those just starting down the PLC path in their schools. My only complaint (and what stopped me from giving it a 5 of 5) is that not enough attention is paid to the enrichment portion of intervention strategies--something everyone complains is the most difficult part of intervention. I wish the authors had offered a bit more guidance on this issue; it was promised in the introduction, but only truly mentioned once in the book.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mostly looks at the research that proves that teachers who are engaged in their own learning actually help their students. I am not sure that needed to be proven to me.

What it does show is the methodology that successful schools have used. The demonstration schools give:
1. Choice of grouping
2. Freedom in what is studied
3. Flexible scheduling for teachers and students to reach their goals
4. A great discipline/tutoring system in place during the school day, even if it involves changing the bus schedule for just the one school.

I haven't even noticed that we are getting offered time for meetings! Hmmmm.... Should our hot shots re-read the book?

[Janet K. Cook]

Consistent with his other books and adding some good examples

I especially like his emphasis on providing extra time for students who need more help and that that needs to be a schoolwide rule. I find it's really hard to have things be hit or miss and have the kids really believe what you want to do. I'm pushing to implement some handbook changes to work with kids who don't get their assignments and classwork turned in. Very positive feeling to the book so it's a good read

[Jontanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent review of PLCs along with anecdotal evidence of their success. It's an overview, not a how-to book. Incorporates the RtI (Response to Intervention) framework into PLCs and shows how they are complimentary.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now go do it.

[Thalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting book. I'm inspired. I believe this is the way my school division is moving and now I'm far more inclined to support it.

[Mandy Shanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rarely do I read books like this and get so many practical ideas- the examples and anecdotes were illustrative of how small steps can create big change in schools- even large schools.