Navigating the New Pedagogy Book Study

Part I: Activate, Engage and Assess

When reflecting on change, we often focus on those things that will result in a dramatically different course over time. Oftentimes, though, small changes, when consistently applied, an lead to extremely productive outcomes.

Bettering teaching practice can be accomplished by taking big steps or smaller ones – it’s the consistent effort that leads to a positive outcome.

Navigating the New Pedagogy: Six Principles that Transform Teaching is meant to be a catalyst for the kind of reflection that leads to productive shifts in classroom practice. For many educators, this book will provide insight that leads to a major shift in their teaching practice. 

For others, the shift may be smaller which, with time, can produce wonderful outcomes. The purpose of this book study is to look for those big or small concepts or ideas that, if consistently applied, will cause a positive shift in teaching practice.To begin the book study, scan the table of contents for Navigating the New Pedagogy. In the first column of the Navigating the New Pedagogy Professional Growth Template, fill in the names of each of the six principles. As you do this, look to the second column of the growth template and rate yourself to the degree you apply each principle regularly in your
classroom practice.

Part II: Explore, 
Discover and Differentiate
















Part III: Synthesize and Integrate

The purpose in reading this book is to explore the text and discover for yourself those ideas and strategies that will make a positive contribution to your classroom practice. As you read, please complete these activities:

• Whether working alone or with a cohort, set up a reasonable schedule for readingNavigating the New Pedagogy. Arrange a schedule that allows you to read the text, glean important ideas and concepts from it, then reflect on them in terms of your own practice. While this book is succinct at 153 pages, it is packed with ideas. Allow yourself time to mull them over.
• As you read the text, please do so actively. Underline or highlight text; make
  notes in the margins. Identify ideas that you find agreeable and worthy of
  adding to your practice. Make notes next to passages where you may challenge
  the ideas presented.
• As you work through the text, record your answers to The Reflective Teacher
  questions found periodically in each chapter. Record your thoughts on either
  note paper or on the My Relflective Teacher Notes sheet.
• Update your Navigating the New Pedagogy Professional Growth Template by filling in the final two columns after the end of each chapter.
• If you are reading this book as a cohort, take time at the end of each chapter to
  share My Reflective Teacher Notes and your Navigating the New PedagogyProfessional Growth Templates. Discuss ways that the ideas and concepts found in this book can be applied to your practice.

After you have completed the book, answered the Reflective Teacher questions, and updated your Navigating the New Pedagogy Professional Growth Template, return to theNavigating the New Pedagogy Professional Growth Template and place checks next to the two or three most important ideas gained from this book that would answer either or both of the questions immediately below:

• What ideas or strategies gleaned from Navigating the New Pedagogy would improve student learning most in your classroom?
• What ideas or strategies learned from Navigating the New Pedagogy would align my teaching practice with the current initiates of your school and your school district?

Choose ideas and strategies that are sustainable for you. Remember, only those strategies and concepts that become habit will result in lasting improvement of your teaching.

Refine your goals:

• Narrow your focus down to one to three professional goals related to your individual and/or building/district goals.
• Create a short action plan for achieving each of your goals.
• Identify two or three people (a supervisor, a mentor, or a fellow teacher) who could support you in achieving your goals.
• Identify how you will measure your success in achieving your goals.

Finally, work towards your goals. Post your goals in a place where you will see them – on your desk, for example so that you will make them part of your daily practice.

Thank you for making Navigating the New Pedagogy part of your professional journey!