James P. Comer - Böcker

In this new book, the editors from the best-selling volume Rallying the Whole Village (1996), move beyond theory to present powerful, day-to-day experiences of change in school communities. Community members, business leaders, school board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, and parents across the country share their experiences as they have tried to create school communities in which all adults help young people develop and learn. Their indefatigable efforts are guided by their participation in the Yale School Development Program (SDP). A comprehensive program for systemic reform, the SDP provides the framework for organizing and operating schools effectively in order to promote students' academic achievement and life success. This framework places students' developmental needs at the center of all school decisions and establishes shared responsibility. In SDP school communities far more is expected of the students than just cognitive development.The professional development activities described in this book will help prepare preservice and in-service teachers, administrators, and parents to do the kind of collaborative diagnostic and problem-solving work that has been so successful in transforming schools across the country.

In Rebooting Democracy, James Comer uses his lifetime of experience to explore how insidious racism limits America’s quest to be a democracy of “We the People.”Dr. Comer demonstrates how schools can provide a challenging curriculum and meaningful opportunities for social growth among many students from all backgrounds. He uses the Comer School Development Program (SDP) at Yale University as an example of a collaborative, trauma-informed, and relationship–child development approach to education.This important book is a study of American democracy lost and found, personified through the story of Comer’s upbringing; his training in medicine, psychiatry, and public health; and his legendary work in schools. It is the story of his unlikely journey to success as the son of two undereducated African American migrants whose five children earned 13 college degrees and became successful community leaders and professionals.Comer offers a plan for education that honors the vision of founding father John Adams and many others who believed that “We the People” must have a good education—beginning with early care—if we are to successfully manage a democracy. The plan deconstructs principles and practices from Comer’s own childhood and applies them to the construction of a public-school culture that enables families and schools to function well; and how this can paralyze racism and facilitate the kind of culture of democracy we need in today’s changing society and world.This retrospective by a world leader in child psychiatry, education, and civil rights activism examines broad social issues, such as the persistence of racial oppression and what we as a nation must do to live up to democracy’s highest aspirations.Book Features:Shows how the Comer School Development Program (SDP) at Yale pioneered nationwide changes to traditional teaching and learning concepts.Explores the still-emerging conversation about the connection between democracy, race, and education.Moves beyond current racialized explanations for differences in achievement and performance among student groups.Urges a reexamination of traditional thinking about using test scores as the major measure of student, staff, and district excellence.Offers a collaborative approach to schooling without blame, fault-finding, and punishments.Calls for schools to better prepare students to meet the tasks and responsibilities of living in and protecting democracy.

In Rebooting Democracy, James Comer uses his lifetime of experience to explore how insidious racism limits America’s quest to be a democracy of “We the People.”Dr. Comer demonstrates how schools can provide a challenging curriculum and meaningful opportunities for social growth among many students from all backgrounds. He uses the Comer School Development Program (SDP) at Yale University as an example of a collaborative, trauma-informed, and relationship–child development approach to education.This important book is a study of American democracy lost and found, personified through the story of Comer’s upbringing; his training in medicine, psychiatry, and public health; and his legendary work in schools. It is the story of his unlikely journey to success as the son of two undereducated African American migrants whose five children earned 13 college degrees and became successful community leaders and professionals.Comer offers a plan for education that honors the vision of founding father John Adams and many others who believed that “We the People” must have a good education—beginning with early care—if we are to successfully manage a democracy. The plan deconstructs principles and practices from Comer’s own childhood and applies them to the construction of a public-school culture that enables families and schools to function well; and how this can paralyze racism and facilitate the kind of culture of democracy we need in today’s changing society and world.This retrospective by a world leader in child psychiatry, education, and civil rights activism examines broad social issues, such as the persistence of racial oppression and what we as a nation must do to live up to democracy’s highest aspirations.Book Features:Shows how the Comer School Development Program (SDP) at Yale pioneered nationwide changes to traditional teaching and learning concepts.Explores the still-emerging conversation about the connection between democracy, race, and education.Moves beyond current racialized explanations for differences in achievement and performance among student groups.Urges a reexamination of traditional thinking about using test scores as the major measure of student, staff, and district excellence.Offers a collaborative approach to schooling without blame, fault-finding, and punishments.Calls for schools to better prepare students to meet the tasks and responsibilities of living in and protecting democracy.

"Meets the highest standard of evidence for comprehensive school reforms that improve student achievement."Review of Educational Research, 2003

"In a refreshing departure from today's focus on academic testing, Comer's SDP is designed to foster the development of the whole child. In Comer's schools, children are taught not only academics but the skills and behaviors they need to be successful in school and in life."Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology, EmeritusYale University

Healthy child development is the key to academic achievement and life success!

Children and adolescents who enjoy healthy growth and development along six primary pathways are the students who learn well and achieve success in school and in life. But children from poorly functioning families and impoverished social networks too often find themselves without adequate preparation and support for the academic challenges that await them in kindergarten and the grades that follow. Believing that schools are uniquely situated to foster healthy development, renowned child psychiatrist Dr. James P. Comer and his colleagues at the Yale School Development Program (SDP) have dedicated 35 years to guiding students, schools, and educators toward academic success along the six developmental pathways of learning.

Combining research; evidence-based best practices; essential tools for planning, data analysis, and assessment; and a generous collection of charts, tables, and graphics, Six Pathways to Healthy Child Development and Academic Success offers educators a comprehensive and effective framework for whole school reform. In 17 lively and informative chapters, Dr. Comer and his coauthors offer a complete guide to:

Fostering healthy student growth and development along physical, cognitive, psychological, language, social, and ethical pathways Comprehensive school planning to optimize opportunities for child development and learning Creating a positive school climate in which all adults-teachers, parents, administrators, school staff, and community members-can help children grow and succeed Ensuring continuous professional development and program improvement for the entire school community

Six Pathways to Healthy Child Development and Academic Success is the first-ever published field guide to the tried, tested, and true methods used by the Comer Process to promote child development and learning. Now every concerned educator and school leader can use this innovative framework to ensure that all school decisions are made in the best interest of children and their success!

"Meets the highest standard of evidence for comprehensive school reforms that improve student achievement."Review of Educational Research, 2003

"In a refreshing departure from today's focus on academic testing, Comer's SDP is designed to foster the development of the whole child. In Comer's schools, children are taught not only academics but the skills and behaviors they need to be successful in school and in life."Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology, EmeritusYale University

Healthy child development is the key to academic achievement and life success!

Children and adolescents who enjoy healthy growth and development along six primary pathways are the students who learn well and achieve success in school and in life. But children from poorly functioning families and impoverished social networks too often find themselves without adequate preparation and support for the academic challenges that await them in kindergarten and the grades that follow. Believing that schools are uniquely situated to foster healthy development, renowned child psychiatrist Dr. James P. Comer and his colleagues at the Yale School Development Program (SDP) have dedicated 35 years to guiding students, schools, and educators toward academic success along the six developmental pathways of learning.

Combining research; evidence-based best practices; essential tools for planning, data analysis, and assessment; and a generous collection of charts, tables, and graphics, Six Pathways to Healthy Child Development and Academic Success offers educators a comprehensive and effective framework for whole school reform. In 17 lively and informative chapters, Dr. Comer and his coauthors offer a complete guide to:

Fostering healthy student growth and development along physical, cognitive, psychological, language, social, and ethical pathways Comprehensive school planning to optimize opportunities for child development and learning Creating a positive school climate in which all adults-teachers, parents, administrators, school staff, and community members-can help children grow and succeed Ensuring continuous professional development and program improvement for the entire school community

Six Pathways to Healthy Child Development and Academic Success is the first-ever published field guide to the tried, tested, and true methods used by the Comer Process to promote child development and learning. Now every concerned educator and school leader can use this innovative framework to ensure that all school decisions are made in the best interest of children and their success!

Meets "the highest standard of evidence" for comprehensive school reforms that improve student achievement.Review of Educational Research, 2003

"A unique feature of James Comer's school improvement is the comprehensiveness of his ecological approach. It necessarily involves all of the key players in each individual school setting and provides guidelines for their interaction. . . .The domain of educational change is not without good ideas, but it is rare to find them translated into the substance and strategies necessary to getting them into school practices. This handbook will help enormously to keep alive what James Comer and his colleagues have so carefully crafted over the years."John I. Goodlad, PresidentInstitute for Educational Inquiry

The tried, tested, and true approach to school leadership using consensus, collaboration, and no-fault problem solving!

For more than 35 years, the Yale School Development Program (SDP) has been pioneering the Comer Process for planned change in schools. From initial planning and preparation, through foundation building, transformation, institutionalization, and renewal, the Comer Process provides school leaders with a comprehensive and effective framework for transforming their schools and districts into learning communities that support the growth and development of every child and every adult.

Combining research; evidence-based best practices; essential tools for planning, data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation, and a generous collection of sample letters, sample presentations, charts, tables, and graphics, Transforming School Leadership and Management to Support Student Learning and Development offers educators a state-of-the-art guide to:

Identifying the problems the school wants to solve through reform efforts Designing a comprehensive school plan that includes assessment, modification, and staff development Using facilitators to model excellence and to promote team approaches Using teams for school planning and management, student and staff support, and promoting parent/family involvement and community investment in schools Training for teaming skills that support and develop consensus decision making Implementing and sustaining the school's transformation into an effective and efficient operating system that supports student and staff growth and development

Transforming School Leadership and Management to Support Student Learning and Development is sure to be the essential resource for every school leader charged with creating schools, districts, and communities that foster the healthy development of young people and challenge them to the highest academic standards.

Meets "the highest standard of evidence" for comprehensive school reforms that improve student achievement.Review of Educational Research, 2003

"A unique feature of James Comer's school improvement is the comprehensiveness of his ecological approach. It necessarily involves all of the key players in each individual school setting and provides guidelines for their interaction. . . .The domain of educational change is not without good ideas, but it is rare to find them translated into the substance and strategies necessary to getting them into school practices. This handbook will help enormously to keep alive what James Comer and his colleagues have so carefully crafted over the years."John I. Goodlad, PresidentInstitute for Educational Inquiry

The tried, tested, and true approach to school leadership using consensus, collaboration, and no-fault problem solving!

For more than 35 years, the Yale School Development Program (SDP) has been pioneering the Comer Process for planned change in schools. From initial planning and preparation, through foundation building, transformation, institutionalization, and renewal, the Comer Process provides school leaders with a comprehensive and effective framework for transforming their schools and districts into learning communities that support the growth and development of every child and every adult.

Combining research; evidence-based best practices; essential tools for planning, data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation, and a generous collection of sample letters, sample presentations, charts, tables, and graphics, Transforming School Leadership and Management to Support Student Learning and Development offers educators a state-of-the-art guide to:

Identifying the problems the school wants to solve through reform efforts Designing a comprehensive school plan that includes assessment, modification, and staff development Using facilitators to model excellence and to promote team approaches Using teams for school planning and management, student and staff support, and promoting parent/family involvement and community investment in schools Training for teaming skills that support and develop consensus decision making Implementing and sustaining the school's transformation into an effective and efficient operating system that supports student and staff growth and development

Transforming School Leadership and Management to Support Student Learning and Development is sure to be the essential resource for every school leader charged with creating schools, districts, and communities that foster the healthy development of young people and challenge them to the highest academic standards.