Transformative Professional Learning

This book proposes that high standards for student learning require support for student motivation. Further, to support student motivation, it is necessary to have awareness of and respect for cultural diversity. The book is also grounded in an important corollary principle: for teachers to support student motivation to learn, they need professional learning experiences that create the same motivational conditions for learning that they can use to inspire their students. Motivated teachers tend to have motivated students. To accomplish this, the author provides a set of professional learning practices to help educators develop a continuous and collaborative focus on instruction: professional development that is designed to be inclusive and meaningful, to foster a positive attitude, and to enhance teacher effectiveness can positively influence student achievement. The professional learning practices in this book focus attention on knowing students well, designing lessons with students in mind, and using data to improve instruction. They can be used with most instructional frameworks.