Can Teachers Lead from Their Classroom?

Can Teachers Lead from Their Classroom?
As teachers, we understand the power of learning together, yet teaching is such an isolated profession. Outsiders rarely get to see and appreciate the magic that happens within the walls of our classroom. Talking about what happened isn’t enough.
How many times have you said to your students, “Don’t TELL me what you know, SHOW me what you understand.”
	What if, as teachers, we could share more effectively what we understand? What if I could “see” what’s happening in another colleague's classroom, without having to write sub plans? A small group of Ontario-Montclair teachers has made the commitment to make a positive change to a system we believe needs some support. We want to be the connection between the theory of best practices and the experience of best practices.
For humans to learn, they need “encouragement and support, access to special knowledge, time to focus on the requirements of the new task, [and] time to observe others doing it.” (Elmore, 1996)
For the Teachers, By the Teachers
	Spotlight Classrooms are an internal model of professional development. While we are not expected to be perfect in our practice, we are willing to take a risk, open our doors, and share our learning. Our colleagues have several ways of “visiting with us” from following our blog, watching our videos. Our goal is to show what learning looks like in our classrooms, with our students. We believe we can lead by example, by encouraging, supporting, and giving time to focus on best practices. Please join us on our journey by following our blog, engaging in our videos, and coming on a Spotlight visit. Happy Learning! Andrea