Maximizing Learning to Meeting the Multicultural Learner

Mindfulness training might be the single easiest and cost-effective school effort to implement to support students. In a diverse environment like those found in schools on the island of Guam, combining multicultural education and mindfulness training could provide an effective and low-cost means to improve student outcomes. An agenda is proposed for a two-day professional development session incorporating mindfulness and multicultural offerings of community-centered literacy projects such as book clubs, virtual museums, library projects, and home-based literacy strategies using the sociolinguistic framework.

The Impact of Leadership and Targeted Interventions to Close the Achievement Gap of Disadvantaged Pupils: A Case Study

<p style="text-align: justify;">This research explores the impact of effective leadership and targeted interventions in closing the achievement gap of disadvantaged pupils in primary schools. Findings suggest that the case study schools use effective school leaders and a range of targeted interventions including early intervention, small group additional teaching, one-to-one tuition, peer tutoring, parental involvement, booster class, mastery learning, pastoral care, and enrichment programmes. Each of the above success factors and intervention strategies was explored in detail in the paper. The overall conclusions of this study are that the case study schools have closed the achievement gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers through providing effective school leaders and the use of a range of effective intervention strategies. We would suggest that the case study schools’ stories of how they have closed the achievement gap through providing strong school leaders and the use of targeted interventions are of local and national significance. Our research also suggests the possibilities for further research. The recommendations from the study are that there is a need to replicate and expand this research with a larger sample of the study, in order to explore in detail what works in schools.</p>

Evaluating the Practice of ICT-Based E-Leadership: The Experiences of Private-Based Secondary Teachers

In recent years, the role of internet and communication technology (ICT) has significantly impacted organisational activities including leadership practices. In this sense, interactions between leaders and followers have undergone tremendous technological changes that have reduced face-to-face interactions. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the imple-mentation of using technological advances to develop an e-leadership platform for teachers and school leaders. A survey of the feedback from 260 in-service teachers currently with two private secondary schools was undertaken. Findings revealed that the school principals had used ICT-based e-leadership practices to conduct online meetings with teachers and disseminate relevant information on the school’s administrative tasks. Most importantly, the principals have used e-leadership on a regular basis in planning and developing strategic school-improvement plans with teachers. As a result, the use of ICT-based e-learning has increased teachers’ efficiency and performance and contributed to practical and effective school administration.

Upaya Meningkatkan Kompetensi Pedagogik Guru dalam Merencanakan dan Melaksanakan Pembelajaran Daring Melalui Supervisi Berkelanjutan

The main purpose of this action research is to determine the effect of continuous supervision on improving the pedagogic competence of teachers in Planning and Implementing Online Learning at SDN Wonokusumo VI/45 Surabaya. In addition, because there are other alternative actions, this action research also aims to determine the class teacher's teaching preparation and the suitability, accuracy and integration of the online learning plans that have been prepared. Online or online learning is considered a solution for teaching and learning activities to continue in the midst of the corona pandemic. Online learning is learning without face to face directly between teachers and students, but is done online. Learning is done through video conferencing, e-learning or distance learning. Although it has been agreed, this method is controversial. For teachers, the online learning system is only effective for assignments. They consider that to make students understand the material, the online method is considered difficult. The implementation of continuous supervision in an effort to improve the pedagogic competence of teachers in Planning and Implementing Online Learning was carried out on 14 teachers at SDN Wonokusumo VI/45 Surabaya through a mechanism of 2 cycles, each of which used 11 effective school days. Cycle I, which was held on August 1-15, 2021, achieved 21% completeness in the poor category, while in cycle II, which was held on August 16-31, 2021, it was able to achieve 100% cycle completion in the very good category. From these results, the authors convey that the implementation of continuous supervision is very effective in improving the pedagogic competence of teachers in Planning and Implementing Online Learning at SDN Wonokusumo VI/45 Surabaya. The increase in pedagogic competence is only limited to aspects of planning and implementing online learning and several other factors that influence besides continuous supervision are the quality of online learning plans, the existence of supporting school infrastructure and training.

Rural principal perspectives of leadership development needs

Rural school principals often face issues of professional isolation and lack of access to leadership development opportunities. To address these challenges, the Elgin Children’s Foundation launched its Principal Support Program (PSP) in 2017 to support the development of effective school leaders in three states with high rural student populations in the Appalachian region. The PSP posited four components as essential for principal development: professional development, networking, mentoring, and learning plans. The aim of this qualitative study was to determine what PSP participants believed to be the most effective in terms of principal development. Results indicate that because of PSP training, rural principals grew from managers to instructional leaders and changed their mindsets and practices regarding shared leadership. Principals believed that they benefited most from the networking and coaching that the PSP provided. Future professional development for rural principals should consider a focus on opportunities to learn with and through others.

Human Skills by Heads of Secondary Schools towards Effective School Management in Makambako Town, Tanzania

This study sought to establish human skills by heads of the school toward effective school management at Makambako Town through qualitative approach. The population of the study comprised five heads of schools and 35 teachers through purposive sampling technique. Participants expressed a positive perception regarding human skills by school heads for effective school management. The human skills of the heads of school are vital in school management since such enables school heads to know how to work with others effectively, which arouses effective school management. Finally, human skills opened avenues for teamwork as subordinates were engaged in decision making and in executing specific managerial activities. It is recommended that the Tanzanian government should lay down a policy on managerial skills training for the newly appointed and continuing heads of schools as this will enhance effective school management, hence better attainment of school goals and objectives. The government should consider providing leadership training through workshops and seminars to managerial teams in schools. This will enhance effective school management in schools.

Bullying Behaviour in Schools: Towards Better Understandings and Practice

<p>This study of school bullying provides an overview of the development of international anti-bullying initiatives, an in-depth analysis of the state of antibullying approaches in New Zealand and a description of the impact of such approaches on the behaviour in one secondary school community. Its findings endorse the use of effective, school-based, anti-bullying interventions, in particular, those developed in Scandinavia and Britain during the last twenty years. The efforts to combat bullying in New Zealand are reviewed. While some New Zealand programmes are found to be effective, the anti-bullying initiatives of the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office are found wanting, as is their failure to respond effectively to the growing public concern over bullying. A number of anti-bullying interventions undertaken within one school community are evaluated. While generally found to reduce bullying, the limitations of these interventions became evident when one class group was viewed in greater depth in a study which discovered an entrenched bullying ‘culture’ and provided insights into the bullying dynamic. The communication difficulties experienced when a small number of powerful individuals capture the dynamics of power and abuse, and in effect establish the relationship style for the whole group, are then highlighted. As a result of the understandings gained through this classroom-based study, a number of conclusions are developed about the importance of the role played by leaders, both teacher and pupil.</p>

Bullying Behaviour in Schools: Towards Better Understandings and Practice

<p>This study of school bullying provides an overview of the development of international anti-bullying initiatives, an in-depth analysis of the state of antibullying approaches in New Zealand and a description of the impact of such approaches on the behaviour in one secondary school community. Its findings endorse the use of effective, school-based, anti-bullying interventions, in particular, those developed in Scandinavia and Britain during the last twenty years. The efforts to combat bullying in New Zealand are reviewed. While some New Zealand programmes are found to be effective, the anti-bullying initiatives of the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office are found wanting, as is their failure to respond effectively to the growing public concern over bullying. A number of anti-bullying interventions undertaken within one school community are evaluated. While generally found to reduce bullying, the limitations of these interventions became evident when one class group was viewed in greater depth in a study which discovered an entrenched bullying ‘culture’ and provided insights into the bullying dynamic. The communication difficulties experienced when a small number of powerful individuals capture the dynamics of power and abuse, and in effect establish the relationship style for the whole group, are then highlighted. As a result of the understandings gained through this classroom-based study, a number of conclusions are developed about the importance of the role played by leaders, both teacher and pupil.</p>