LEADING
Modern Learning
SECOND EDITION
A Blueprint for Vision-Driven Schools
Jay McTighe | Greg Curtis
Foreword by Yong Zhao
A joint publication
Copyright © 2019 by Solution Tree Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McTighe, Jay, author. | Curtis, Greg, 1950- author.
Title: Leading modern learning : a blueprint for vision-driven schools / authors: Jay McTighe and Greg Curtis.
Description: Second Edition. | Bloomington, Indiana : Solution Tree Press, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018060838 | ISBN 9781947604445 (perfect bound)
Subjects: LCSH: School improvement programs--United States. | Educational change--United States. | School management and organization--United States.
Classification: LCC LB2822.82 .M395 2019 | DDC 371.2/07--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018060838
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Solution Tree Press
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We dedicate this book to the memory of Dr. Grant Wiggins (1950–2015). Grant was an intellectual force and beloved friend who challenged educators to question the status quo, examine “unthinking habits,” envision the future, and always plan with the end in mind. While no longer with us, his influence permeates the book.
What the Experts Are Saying About Leading Modern Learning
“Making a remarkably timely contribution to the modernization of learning organizations, McTighe and Curtis provide clear and creative guidance on how to move from ‘old school’ to new. The transition is a challenging one, requiring specifics on operationalizing fresh visions coupled with practical, realistic steps. Administrators, teachers, curriculum designers, and community members will find solutions and imaginative possibilities here. Learning Modern Learning: A Blueprint for Vision-Driven Schools is a must-read for the right-now educator.”
—Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Author, Director of Curriculum 21 Project
“Both practical and aspirational, this book provides a clear, detailed, and informed plan for closing the considerable gap between how teaching and learning are often planned and implemented and how they would be designed and enacted if we were determined to do what we already know to do. This is no Jetson-like school of the future, but rather a familiar place made extraordinary through deep thinking and sustained planning. Leading Modern Learning provides the tools and guidance to for leaders with the vision and courage to use them.”
—Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor, Curry School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia
“School staffs and educational leaders wishing to modernize their curriculum will profit from following the logical and detailed processes offered in this practical guide to curriculum design. It is built around three essential curriculum decisions: what’s worth learning (outcomes), how to determine if the outcomes have been achieved (assessment), and what instructional strategies best facilitate students acquiring those outcomes (instruction). It all starts, however, with creating and committing to a vision—not only for learners and schools but also for a more thought-full world.”
—Art Costa, Professor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento
“This book makes a significant contribution to the current thinking about transforming schools into systems where thoughtful work takes place at every level. Jay McTighe and Greg Curtis refresh the original book with new insights and field notes from their practice. Regardless of the programs you are considering, this book provides a critical roadmap for change. Thank you, Jay and Greg, for writing this second edition. It is a real commitment to sharing your continuous learning journey.”
—Bena Kallick, Cofounder and Codirector of Institute for Habits of Mind, Program Director for Eduplanet21.com
“The one certainty for which we must prepare students now and in the future is change. This book offers a powerful, systemic framework for guiding educators in the move from vision to action in school revitalization. Practical strategies, tools, and examples guide the evolution of a modern learning institution toward greater relevance, authenticity, and personalization to best prepare today’s learners for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
—Judy Willis, Neurologist, Former Teacher, Neuroeducation Speaker
“An amazing tool for schools—clear, practical, and intentional. Leading Modern Learning: A Blueprint for Vision-Driven Schools will empower schools to move toward excellence through a deliberate process by providing a complete blueprint designed to impact student learning from every element of the school experience. From vision to mission, learning targets, authentic assessment, and instruction—a complete system.”
—Gail Seay, Director of Teaching and Learning, American School of Doha, Qatar
“This second edition of Leading Modern Learning provides a fresh lens for looking at contemporary education. Jay McTighe and Greg Curtis peel away the layers of quality schooling to reveal the most critical steps necessary for our contemporary context. The style and substance of this book both engage and challenge the reader, often simultaneously—it is a call to action for educational leaders. This book offers so much more than theory, and it should be a book club choice for educators