A Teacher′s Guide to Change: Understanding, Navigating, and Leading the Process

"Coping with change is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of life and certainly critical for successful teaching. This book provides an essential guide to how teachers might successfully address the ongoing and expected change associated with effective teaching." —Sharon Vaughn, H. E. Hartfelder/Southland Corp Regents Chair University of Texas "Perhaps no other job in our society today experiences as much change as classroom teaching. Stivers and Cramer are two experts with tremendous insight and experience in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of personal, organizational, and systemwide change. Heartwarming, insightful stories explore how dozens of teachers overcome the challenges of living and leading through change every day, blended with rock-solid theory and extensive research on how to live through change successfully." —Chris Edgelow, Founder and President Sundance Consulting Inc. Energize your learning community by transforming change into opportunity! Throughout their careers, teachers will face a myriad of inevitable changes, both inside and outside the classroom. Ideal for use both in professional development settings and as a personal resource, A Teacher′s Guide to Change engages K–12 teachers in the process of anticipating and responding to change. Through a step-by-step approach, teachers can learn to prepare for change, which enhances their career satisfaction and effectiveness as professionals. Emphasizing that change is something teachers can understand, manage, become invested in, and even champion, the authors provide practical skills for facing and adjusting to change, whether it is mandated or chosen. Offering a wealth of conceptual, reflective, interpersonal, and strategic tools, this guide also includes: Survey results from more than 100 teachers who share not only their experiences with change but also advice and encouragement, inviting educators to learn from each other Reflective exercises to help teachers understand and approach change A five-step process for initiating and implementing plans for change Systematic strategies for leading change, both in smaller and larger spheres of influence Vivid school-based examples that can be directly applied to personal experience This accessible resource is invaluable for all teachers. Whether or not change is voluntary, opportunities for professional growth are abundant, leading to improved student learning and greater teacher retention.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Part I. Experiencing Change 1. Introducing the Challenges of Change for Teachers 2. What Changes? Experiencing Change at School and at Home Changes at School New Administration New Teaching Positions New Locations New Colleagues Professional Development Professional Recognition Changes in Life at Home Illness Loss Changes in Relationships and Responsibilities Parenting Connecting Our Professional and Personal Changes to the Change That Matters Most 3. Defining the Dynamics of Change for Teachers Voluntary or Mandated Top-Down or Bottom-Up Incremental or Fundamental Part II. Understanding the Change Process 4. First Encounters With Change Responding to Innovation Innovations in Educational Practices Categorizing Responsiveness to Innovation Understanding Resistance to Change Resistance We Should Resolve Failure to Be Convinced Habit Fear of Loss Fear of Failure Negative Experiences Resistance We Should Respect Pragmatic Concerns Philosophical Disagreements Analyzing One Teacher′s Resistance to Change 5. Charting the Stages of Change Teachers′ Concerns Evolve During the Change Process Stages of Concern Self Concerns Task Concerns Impact Concerns Change Occurs in Phases An Overview of the Change Process Endings: Recognizing That a Change Is Needed The Neutral Zone: Preparing to Change New Beginnings: Moving Ahead With Change Part III. Implementing Change 6. Using Personal Experiences to Prepare for Professional Changes Drawing on Personal Experiences Four Steps for Starting a Professional Change Initiative Step One: Identify Aspirations Step Two: Inventory Resources Step Three: Link Aspirations and Resources Step Four: Anticipate Obstacles 7. Teacher-Directed Change: Working Within the Classroom Implementing, Evaluating, and Celebrating Self-Directed Change Step One: Aim High But Start Small Step Two: Build a Timeline Step Three: Monitor Both Progress and Outlook Step Four: Celebrate Small Victories Step Five: Shift Strategies to Make Adjustments Step Six: Sustain Commitment Part IV. Leading Change 8. Teacher-Led Change: Expanding Beyond the Classroom Characteristics of Change Leaders Spheres of Influence Curriculum Development Cocurricular and Extracurricular Programming Outreach to Families and the Community Professional Development for Teachers Education Policy 9. Using Classroom-Based Skills to Lead Change Part V. Changing Throughout a Career in Teaching Inspiring Others to Accomplish Change: Mind-Set and Skills Making Use of Teaching Skills to Lead Change Communicate Clearly and Regularly Motivate People to Take Risks and Accept Challenges Be Proactive in Problem Solving Making Use of Teaching Skills to Sustain Change Check on Progress Provide Continuous Assistance Remember What Matters Most 10. Sustaining Career Vitality Through Change The Early Years: Gaining a Sense of Ourselves as Teachers The Middle Years: Making the Transition From Mentee to Mentor The Later Years: Expanding Our Roles Looking to the Future Appendix A. Survey Items and Responses Appendix B. Interview Questions Appendix C. Professional Organizations for Teachers References Index

About the Author :
Janet L. Stivers is associate professor of special education at Marist College, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, member of the Board of Directors of the Northeastern Educational Research Association, and member of the Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteer of America, Dutchess Community Chapter. Stivers frequently present workshops for teams of middle and high school teachers who are collaborating to teach students with special needs in general education classes. She has a PhD in educational psychology and statistics at the State University of New York at Albany and recieved her MA in psychology and counseling from Assumption College. Stivers has been teaching at Marist College since 1980 and has won the Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty of the Year Award, 2002. Sharon F. Cramer is a distinguished service professor at Buffalo State College, where she has been a member of the faculty since 1985. Her leadership roles include serving as executive director of the SABRE Project (implementation of the Oracle Student Information System) (1999-2004), chairing the Exceptional Education Department (1995-1999), and leadership roles in state and national professional organizations (e.g., president of the Northeastern Educational Research Association, NY Federation of Chapters of the Council for Exceptional Children, publication chair of the Division on Developmental Disabilities). She earned her PhD at New York University in 1984 in human relations and social policy, her master of arts in teaching (MAT) from Harvard University in 1972, and her bachelors of arts degree from Tufts University in 1971. She participated in the Management and Leadership Education (MLE) program at Harvard University in 2001.

Review :
"A must-have book for teachers at every stage of their teaching career. Change in schools is inevitable. This book will help teachers deal with change and allow them to do what they do best: provide a great education for students." -- Sharon Redfern, Principal "Coping with change is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of life and certainly critical for successful teaching. Stivers and Cramer provide an essential guide to how teachers might successfully address the ongoing and expected change associated with effective teaching." -- Sharon Vaughn, H.E.Hartfelder/Southland Corp Regents Chair "Perhaps no other job in our society today experiences as much change as classroom teaching. Stivers and Cramer are two experts with tremendous insight and experience in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of personal, organizational, and systemwide change. Heartwarming, insightful stories explore how dozens of teachers overcome the challenges of living and leading through change every day, blended with rock-solid theory and extensive research on how to live through change successfully." -- Chris Edgelow, Founder and President "Teachers must learn to cope with the myriad of changes they experience throughout their career or they will leave the profession. This book gives a step-by-step approach for teachers to think about, plan for, and implement changes in their personal lives, their schools, and in their communities." -- Barbara Glaeser, Associate Professor of Special Education "How we react to and enact change determines whether we are leaders of our own careers and professional development or merely workers. This book provides the research and information for teachers to embrace change individually or as teacher leaders and teacher mentors. Skip the apple and go for the book!" -- Karen Kozy-Landress, Speech/Language Pathologist "This text is an outstanding analysis of change that all of us in the education profession face on a daily basis. It is a must-read for every thoughtful teacher concerned with change." -- D. Allan Bruner, Science/Math Chair