From Teamwork to Excellence

From Teamwork to Excellence: Labor and Economic Factors Affecting Educators is written by a team of teacher educators for whom teaching, teachers’ lives, and factors affecting teachers are always at the heart of their work. In this book, they report results of the Arkansas School Study, which has been administered three times over the past twenty years – the most recently in 2011-2012. In addition, practical, reflective chapters are included to guide the reader through information intended for school teachers, administrators, counselors, and librarians. The book is organized into the initial section of five chapters, written by Womack, who explains the Arkansas School Studies and how the results of the study may be interpreted practically by teachers and administrators. [In Part II,] ten chapters offer reflections by teacher and administration educators….Authors respond to a specific finding from the study and how that finding, such as teacher frustration over non-instructional and time consuming aspects of a “typical” school day, might be addressed. For example, in her chapter, “How Can Elementary Teachers Redeem Their Time?”, Pepper addresses time that is typically spent in classroom [on] behavior management activities and how teachers may “regain” that time by preparing for classroom instruction and student individualities in organized ways. Ibrahim offers an excellent overview of technology use in Arkansas schools, which should inform educational leaders and guide them on technology-based choices and expenditures in the future. Hanna and Womack’s chapter on time management provides user-friendly advice. The book provides an interesting overview of dilemmas faced by teachers and the authors’ reflections on the dilemmas, followed by discussion questions. I would use the book to guide discussion in a university methods class, as a literature circle selection during professional development, or in mentoring partnerships. -- Sherry L. Field