Book Critique 0
Running head: BOOK CRITIQUE
Shu-Chin, Su
Page 1
Author: Elaine K. McEwan
Title: 7 Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Second Edition.
Source: McEwan, E. K. (2003). 7 Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Second
Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Abstract
This book is a practical and more detailed guide to improving your school no
matter whether you are a principal, leader, or a teacher. It can help you become a more
effective instructional leader. The author provided 7 steps to lead your school, staff,
students, and parents to achieve the highest instructional goals. Through proper
application of the principles, you can know your current level of instructional leadership
through the Instructional Leadership Checklist, find out how your staff thinks you are
doing, and evaluate your progress toward your goals.
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Select 2 or 3 major idea that the author presents. What is the author really
trying to say?
First of all, the author indicated the “leader is a person who is in a position to
influence others to act and who has the moral, intellectual, and social skills required to
take advantage of that position” (McEwan, 2003, p.4). Moreover, McEwan (2003)
mentioned “Instructional leadership is the creation of the climate where the principle,
faculty, students, parents, and school board are able to work together to accomplish the
task of education.” (p. 6)
From those definitions you can see the author indicated that the leadership not
only focuses on the personal traits, but the instructional leadership needed to get the job
done through “people”. This is very important information the author tries to convey.
Second, from the step six: Develop Teacher Leaders. This is also a new idea,
since normally there is only one leader needed in a group. However according to her
theory you need to develop more teacher leaders to help principles. Third, the author
really tries to help people to be effective instructional leaders. She mentioned that the
seven steps are not something you will do in your school or to teachers but something
you are going to do to yourself.
Step 1: Knowing where you are going. Step 2: Making sure the people know
where they can go for help. Step 3: Making sure that nothing interferes with reaching
your destination. Step 4: Nobody forgets the goal. Step 5: All the pioneers have tools and
talents. Step 6: Everyone shares the leadership and the responsibility for reaching the
destination. Step 7: You are striving for good relationships between your folks, and
nobody be overlooked.
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All in personnel are focusing on reaching to the same goal. There are only 7 steps,
no more and less, by which she states everyone can become an effective leader. The
effective instructional leaders are never satisfied. They have high expectation not only
from themselves, but also for their teachers, students and other involved personnel. They
are learning something new every day. Those are major ideas that the author is trying to
impart.
Does the author communicate the ideas effectively? Are the author’s ideas presented in
a logical way?
She provided a detailed but easy-to-read description of each of the seven steps.
Those ideas are easy to follow, and she elaborates all the aspects that you need to
accomplish at school. No matter whether you are a principal, teacher or office
administrator, you can find many ideas with which to improve yourself and your school.
Personally I like all of her ideas. She doesn’t use difficult theories which only serve to
confuse you and her ideas are practical thus usable in your daily life. However, I do not
like the Instructional Leadership Checklists. Those indicators are too easy to distinguish
from 1 to 5 from least effective to most effective. I do not care to use them to evaluate
myself, and I feel foolish to use them on others. Moreover, the author repeated the
indicators TWICE in this book and it resulted in wasted space and time reading as well
making the content less resourceful. The Checklist Response Form also seems inadequate
to me.
What data or information does the author use to back up what he is saying? What
supporting arguments and reasoning does the author use and are they adequate to
justify his conclusion?
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The author used the update references and research materials to support her ideas
and a collection of must –read books to help you extend your understanding of the seven
steps.
What about the practicality of what she is suggesting? What value do the author’s
ideas have?
The Seven Steps she is suggesting are practical. The values are reflections from
instructional leaders on the meaning and importance of the seven steps in their principle
ships. The list of must-read books for each of the steps can widen your understanding
and aid in the utilization of the principles. The Instructional Leadership Checklist can
help you to evaluate you and your organization then aid in the setting of new ways to
improve your instructional leadership practices. The list is also a supposedly a useful tool
to evaluate your progress towards your goals and develop instructional leadership skills.
The changes you make in your own behavior will produce dramatic results in the
effectiveness of your own teaching, that of other teachers, students, students’ parents and
community, and your own feelings for having made a difference.
What implications might there be, if you brought the author’s ideas into your
organization or your personal life?
I will attempt to follow several of the author’s ideas. (1). Regular assessment of
teaching and learning. (2). Evaluation of the analysis of standardized test scores. (3).
Reviewing students grades and conduct frequent classroom observation. (4). Talking with
teachers and students on a daily basis. (5). Monitoring and adjusting the need for
involving everyone at key points along the way. (6). Making myself available for my
staff. (7). Offering support and encouragement. (8). Being an active listener. (9). Having
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time to evaluate and assess teacher’s concerns. (10). Fostering harmonious productive
relationships with all staff, students and parents. Furthermore, I like the Three F’s idea
(Food, Fun, Friend) and the Four C’s idea (Collaboration, Collegiality, Cooperation,
Creative problem Solving). I took the notes from this book and there are many great ideas
that I can use no matter whether I am a leader in the future or remain a position as a
teacher.
Summary
The introduction part provides the differences between leadership and
instructional leadership and defines the attributes of instructional leadership. The author’s
seven steps are (1). Establish, implement, and achieve academic standards. (2). Be an
instructional resource for your staff. (3). Create a learning-oriented school environment
and climate. (4). Communicate your school’s vision and mission to staff and students. (5).
Set high but attainable expectations for your staff and yourself. (6). Develop teacher
leaders. (7). Develop and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.
Chapters One through Seven describe each step in detail. The behavioral
indicators related to each step will enable you to evaluate yourself; solicit feedback from
the teachers, and afford them the opportunity to offer practical suggestions and solutions.
Moreover, each step includes research data, discussion and advice from instructional
leaders. The author presents some immediate things you can do to become an effective
instructional leader. A collection of must-read books to help you extend your learning
and understanding of the seven steps.
Page 6
EDD 710 Seminar in Leadership I
Shu-Chin, Su
Spalding University
Author: Elaine K. McEwan
Title: 7 steps to Effective Instructional Leadership second Edition.
Source: McEwan, E. K. (2003). 7 steps to Effective Instructional Leadership Second
Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Abstract
This book is a practical and more detailed guide to improving your school. no
matter whether you are a principal, leader, administrator, or teacher. It can help you
become a more effective instructional leader. The author provided 7 steps to lead your
school, staff, students, and parents to achieve the highest instructional goals. You can
know your current level of instructional leadership through the Instructional Leadership
Checklist, find out how your staff thinks you are doing, and evaluate your progress
toward your goals.
Who can use this book?
Is it easy to read?
What this book talk about? What is Instructional Leadership + 7 steps
Is it practical to use this book?
Is easy to take her ideas?
Which part that I don’t like?
What is good about this book?
Conclusion