You are here

Building an Intentional School Culture
Share
Share

Building an Intentional School Culture
Excellence in Academics and Character



October 2007 | 160 pages | Corwin

"Charles Elbot and David Fulton get it! They get how dominant a force a school's culture is in assisting—or thwarting—the development of learning and character and how extraordinarily difficult it is to make changes. Unlike most of us, they also get how possible it is to build a desirable school culture. This tidy little volume is the authors' first step in sharing their inventive 'lesson plans' from their successful work as school culture builders. When we take these lessons learned to heart, we too will get it!"
—Roland Barth, Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Education
Harvard University

Transform your school by shaping a culture based on shared values, beliefs, and behaviors.

Based on lessons learned from the authors' work in improving school culture for more than sixty schools across the country, this inspiring guide for school leaders helps create an "intentional school culture" that fosters excellence, builds character, and improves student achievement. The book provides tools, case studies, strategies, and implementation plans for building a strong school culture and offers guidelines for teacher trainings, principal workshops, staff meetings, and district-level use. The authors demonstrate how to:

  • Support students' independent and interdependent thinking and behavior
  • Foster ethical decision making
  • Collaborate with students, parents, and teachers
  • Evaluate and monitor a plan to enhance the existing school culture

The authors illustrate how deliberately shaping a school culture cultivates faculty trust, sets the groundwork for raising test scores, and is a critical ingredient in building a successful school.


 
Preface
Acknowledgments

 
 
About the Authors
 
1. Building an Intentional School Culture: Excellence in Academics and Character
The Importance of School Culture

 
Laneer Middle School: The Shaping of School Culture

 
Resource

 
 
2. The School Touchstone
Resources

 
 
3. The Four Mind-Set Model
Teachers and the Four Mind-Set Model

 
Students and the Four Mind-Set Model

 
Parents and the Four Mind-Set Model

 
Leadership and the Four Mind-Set Model

 
How to Use the Four Mind-Set Model

 
Resources

 
 
4. Introduction to the Eight Gateways
Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

 
Relationships

 
Problem Solving

 
Expectations, Trust, and Accountability

 
Voice

 
Physical Environment

 
Markers, Rituals, and Transitions

 
Leadership

 
Resources

 
 
5. Applying the Four Tools
Timeline: The First 36 Weeks (Year 1)

 
Timeline: The Second 36 Weeks (Year 2)

 
Pulling It All Together

 
Closing

 
 
References
 
Index

"Many school leaders realize that a school's culture impacts everything, including the quality of relationships, staff morale, and student achievement, and most would like to know how to go about changing their school's culture in deep and lasting ways. The authors offer a powerful set of strategies for getting staff to think and work together to make their school the very best it can be. They have packed a wealth of practical wisdom into this small volume."

Tom Lickona, Director
Center for the 4th and 5th Rs

"Theoretically engaging, yet with clear and tested practical strategies for creating a positive school culture."

Alan L. Lockwood, Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

"The authors bring a wealth of wisdom and practical experience to a fundamental and complex challenge for schools, namely, how to understand and shepherd a positive school culture. They offer impressive creativity and true practical tools and guidance in a concise form that can be invaluable to educators."

Marvin Berkowitz, Professor of Character Education
University of Missouri-St. Louis

"It is clear that a school’s culture has an enormous impact on how well students learn and on the values they develop. This book will help principals and staff shape the kind of school culture that students deserve."

Michael F. Bennet, Superintendent
Denver Public Schools, CO

"Charles Elbot and David Fulton get it! They get how dominant a force a school’s culture is in assisting—or thwarting—the development of learning and character. They get how extraordinarily difficult it is to change a culture. But, unlike most of us, they also get how possible it is to build a desirable school culture. I see this tidy little volume as the authors' first step in sharing their inventive 'lesson plans' from their successful work as builders of school culture. When we take these lessons learned to heart, we too will get it!"

Roland Barth, Education Consultant

"Charles Elbot and David Fulton have given educators a great gift. Here is a book that is strong in both theory and practical application that can help thoughtful educators create a school culture that is energizing and life giving for all concerned."

Parker J. Palmer, Author
The Courage to Teach and A Hidden Wholeness

"From explorations of decision-making processes to school character, chapters provide plenty of practical, applied ideas especially useful for college-level education collections."

The Bookwatch, February 2008
Midwest Book Review
Key features

This resource:

  • Offers a practical roadmap toward school improvement 
  • Includes tools, templates, rubrics, and an implementation plan
  • Can be used in teacher trainings, principal workshops, staff meetings, and district-level meetings

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

contact corwin

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781412953788
CAD$ 54.95
ISBN: 9781412953771
CAD$ 109.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

For instructors

This book is not available as an inspection copy. For more information contact your local sales representative.