News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. III No. 4 - April 3, 2008
Who knew that publishing a book would be such a long and interesting adventure?
Back in 2004, when we invited Madison teachers to collaborate on an anthology of Classroom Action Research studies, we supposed it would take six to eight months from start to finish. The task didn't sound too difficult. After all, the studies had already been written and all that needed to be done was a bit of editing, right? Wrong!
Three years and a book proposal, multiple drafts, freshly written epilogues plus additional chapters later, Creating Equitable Classrooms Through Action Research has finally hit the bookstores.
Focusing on the Madison Metropolitan School District's Classroom Action Research program, this book highlights the work of teachers who have undertaken equity-based research projects in their classrooms and schools.
The editors, authors, and families celebrated the book publishing with a reception at the Doyle building, where they autographed copies for other action researchers, school board members and district administrative staff.
Creating Equitable Classrooms Through Action Research highlights studies ranging in topic from exploring why high school students drop out to the de-tracking of biology classes. In other studies, effective teaching methods for English Language Learners and examples of culturally relevant pedagogy are explored.
The book also includes chapters that describe the history and implementation of MMSD's Action Research program and its partnership with UW-Madison's School of Education, as well as a final chapter that looks across the studies to share what has been learned about equitable teaching practices.
Written for classroom teachers, school district leaders, staff developers, and educational policymakers, the book provides authentic accounts of teachers passionately engaged in narrowing the achievement gap and addressing issues of diversity and equity.
Ryan Flessner and Ken Zeichner from the UW-Madison joined us in serving as editors and authors, and the 10 chapter authors — who each participated in the district's Classroom Action Research program — include Diane Coccari, Jane Hammatt Kavaloski, Denise Hanson, Kate Lyman, Julie Melton, Quynh Nguyen, Shannon Richards, Erik Shager, Van Valaskey, and Barbara Williams.
To order copies of the book, contact Corwin Press, or by phoning 800-233-9936. All proceeds from sales of the book go directly to the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools in order to fund future groups of Madison Action Researchers.
Mary Klehr supervises elementary education fieldwork in the Professional Development Partnership at Midvale and Lincoln Elementary Schools, and is the coordinator of the MMSD Classroom Action Research program.
Cathy Caro-Bruce is with the WI Department of Public Instruction as an educational consultant to school districts. For 30 years, she was a staff and organization development specialist for the MMSD, and also coordinated the district's Classroom Action Research program.
Editors of Creating Equitable Classrooms Through Action Research include Ken Zeichner and Cathy Caro-Bruce. Not shown - Mary Klehr and Ryan Flessner.
Book researchers and chapter authors include MMSD teachers Diane Coccari (retired), Erik Shager and Julie Melton.
Last Updated: Mon Apr 28 14:59:36 2008
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