Teacher Supervision

This work is a practical guide for university supervisors that examines the supervisory process, the preparation necessary for supervision, the responsibilities of the university supervisor, the historical assumption underlying the supervisory role, and what research tells us about effective supervision. It provides background information on topics such as discipline in the schools and curricular concerns, and summarizes research about what the supervisor needs to know on the philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations of education.

Does fear or trust dominate relationships in your school's classrooms? How well do supervisors listen to and respond to teachers? How well do teachers listen to and respond to students? How are problems identified and solved? Supportive Supervision in Schools is a guide for teachers and administrators who want to create good school climates and a school culture that encourages professional growth and development among staff members. It uses a conferencing method to allow teachers, administrators, and students to discuss and reflect upon what they are doing inside the school building. The authors use actual examples to illustrate how supportive environments can be constructed.

The first comprehensive research-based text on peer observation and assistance, this book isolates behaviors and skills that are consistently shown to raise student achievement levels and describes the process by which teachers can help their peers improve performance in these important areas. The method is appropriate to every student level and can be used to fine-tune skills in subject matter areas as well as instructional, classroom management, and interpersonal techniques. The book also offers a wealth of new information for pre-service and working teachers, including a guide to testing the effectiveness of specific teaching techniques.

Paradigm debates between modern and postmodern conceptions of curriculum and supervision and the impact on school practice are the primary contributions of this volume. Each contributor presents a defininte point of view, an explanation of how this paradigm affects practice, and a realistically presented case study that demonstrates the paradigm in action.