Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching

I was very pleased with this item. It was exactly what I needed for class and it was in mint condition. I was also very excited to see how much money it saved me from buying it at the school's bookstore. I have no complaints!

Danielson has written a book that teachers and administrators can actually use to improve their schools. Her Framework for Teaching sets out what teachers really do, in four domains, each of which has multiple comonents and those have multiple elements. She also provides a rubric for evaluating performance for each element. I've recommened that my principal buy a copy of this book, and I'm going to be recommending it to my district, as well.

Now in a revised and updated second edition, Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching presents a framework for K-12 educators that is based on Praxis III: Classroom Performance Assessment criteria as developed by Educational Testing Service, compatible with INTASC standards. Chapters cover the four domains of teaching responsibility (planning & preparation, the classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities), methodologies for maintaining a professional attitude, specific concerns for specialist positions, a tutorial on how to use frameworks & charts to maximum effect, and much more. The framework system, along with sample logs and unit plans, is highly organized, and easy-to-use in this solid all-around guidance and structure tool.

If you're a teaching professional, get this book. The best part, in my opinion, is the section on teacher evaluations. My district uses Danielson's Evaluation Model for all teacher evaluations. It isn't easy, but gone are the days when evaluations were made solely on the basis of whether the principal likes you or not. Schools of Teacher Education train their students with this model, or something similar. My advice is to buy this book.

Charlotte Danielson has done a thorough job of connecting practice, to reflection, and skill development. Written in a very much "common sense style," Charlotte puts into words the great variety and complexities of teacher skill development. As a high school principal (Litchfield, MN) I have used this as a text for new teachers in my building mentor program "book club." The book should however not be viewed as a book for beginners, but for staff developers and anyone simply interested in becoming a more well rounded teacher. The essential components necessary for an effective teacher are broken down into four domains. Professional responsibilities category, probably gets a bigger "work out" than in other similar texts or frameworks--such as the INTASC standards. I had developed a rubric for my teacher observations based on the INTASC standards and this book supplemented that work and addressed some areas I had not touched on. Can be used as both a reference book or as an on-the-job skill developer. Well worth the money.