Classrooms as Learning Communities What's In It For Schools [Paperback]

In classrooms that operate as learning communities, the social and learning purposes advance together through all participants being involved and engaged in building knowledge. This book demonstrates a new way of seeing and managing classrooms through:

• an integration of what's best in learning and what's best in the social life of classrooms
• a vision of the role of the teacher that is more creative and more related to the commitments of teachers
• a more connected view of schools in contrast to the mechanistic view that currently dominates
• an answer to the short-term performance pressures of politicians - better performance.

The practice and vision of classrooms that operate as learning communities is presented clearly and  encourages teachers to take steps towards building a more effective classroom with the aspects of learning communities they choose.

1. Introduction  2. Classrooms, Change, Learning, Teaching, Community  3. Community  4. Classrooms as Learning Communities Practices in Classrooms  5. Goals in a Learning Community  6. Tasks in a Learning Community  7. Social Structure in a Learning Community  8. Resources in a Learning Community  9. Roles in a Learning Community  Observing Classrooms as Learning Communities  10. Schools as Learning Communities

'After reading this important and well-structured book, there is no doubt that classroom teachers will have a vastly greater understanding of the merits of operating as successful learning communities and will feel more informed and confident to make the cultural changes they envisage.' - Teachingexpertise.com

'The book does not shy away from discussing relevant theoretical debates and questioning prevalent assumptions about classrooms and learners, and dralÓ)