Teachers Key to Reversing High Failure Rate in Math

March 31, 2009

By Rick DuFour

We received a query from a high school principal about the failure rate in algebra in his school. At the end of the first quarter, 44 percent of students were receiving grades of D or F. At the end of the first semester, the rate had increased to 55 percent. When the administration met with the teachers to offer support, teachers took the following positions: Continue Reading

I’m the Only One Teaching This Course. How Do I Collaborate?

March 17, 2009

By Robert Eaker and Janel Keating

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is, “I am the only one teaching this course. How can I be part of a collaborative team?” This question has been addressed numerous times in previous blogs, yet the uncertainty remains pervasive. We think the following story from the White River High School in Buckley, Washington, is a stellar example of how a singleton can be a contributing member of a collaborative team.
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Stop Blaming and Take Action: One Teacher’s Manifesto

March 3, 2009

A teacher who attended a two-day conference on PLCs was moved to write the following manifesto urging her colleagues to join her in a concerted effort to bring the PLC concept to life in their school. She clarified that she does not regard herself as a “great teacher,” but instead considers herself an “okay teacher with a big mouth” who believes “we all have the potential to be great together.” Continue Reading