• Advisories that Work by Billie Donegan and Grace Sammon, 2003, GMS Partners, Inc.
• Battling the Hamster Wheel^TM: Strategies for Making High School Reform Work by Grace Sammon, 2006, Corwin Press
• Creating and Sustaining Small Learning Communities: Strategies and Tools for Transforming High Schools Grace Sammon, 2008, Corwin Press
• Health Care Standards in Work-based Learning Practice by Grace Sammon and Billie Donegan, 2000, GMS Partners, Inc.
• Insights, Shadows and Mentors, A Comprehensive Series of Work-based Learning Experiences
  Grace Sammon and Billie Donegan, GMS Partners, Inc
• Partnerships and Work-based Learning, Strategies for building relevance and results into your improvement practices
  Antonia Essig, 2006, GMS Partners Inc.
• Standards of Mind and Heart, Creating the Good High School
  Peggy Silva and Bob Mackin, 2002

Advisories that Work

Billie Donegan and Grace Sammon, 2003, GMS Partners, Inc.

Each of us is responsible for our own learning, yet relationships are fundamental to the learning process both in and out of school. Advisory groups, even in large schools, establish environments that create conditions for improving student achievement and behavior, as well as enriching the lives of both students and teachers through personalization of the learning experience. Based on research that highlights five key areas for successful advisories - "purpose", "organization", "content", "assessment" and "leadership" - this comprehensive guide, with nearly 90 lessons, a special section on Freshman Orientation, implementation strategies, resources, handouts, and rubrics provide schools and districts with a firm foundation and ready to go lessons for implementing advisory programs

Please contact us at information@gmspartnersinc.org for purchasing information. This tool is delivered electronically with a limited licensing agreement for use within a school or district.

Battling the Hamster Wheel^TM: Strategies for Making High School Reform Work

Grace Sammon, Corwin Press, 2006

Hamster Wheel^TM opens with a scenario typical of schools in the throes of change. In an evening faculty meeting Sammon noted that while the principal had vision; and the faculty were deeply engaged in the work; and the parent, community, and post-secondary partners were at the table there simply was no progress being made! No one was more surprised, however, than Sammon when she realized she no longer expected anything to happen. The image was clear! The committee members, albeit well intentioned, were like hamsters, running hard on their wheel, going nowhere. What made the moment worse was that Sammon realized she had just jumped up on the wheel with them!

Join Grace, and a 'Noah's Ark of characters', as she confronts low expectations and the acceptance of the status quo evidenced in too many of our schools. Her metaphors, humor, wit, and insight are coupled with a sobering look at America's high schools. Her solid research, and proven best practices help uncover the truths of the hamster wheel, and more important how to get off! The included Study Guide provides educators and practitioners with a rich resource for focused work that leads to strategies for effective school improvement.

$24.95 plus shipping and handling

Amazon | Corwin Press
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Creating and Sustaining Small Learning Communities

Strategies and Tools for Transforming High Schools Grace Sammon, 2008, Corwin Press

Transform your high school into a high-performing environment for teaching and learning!

This research-based, fully revised edition of Creating and Sustaining Small Learning Communities demonstrates how to empower school teams and foster the professional practices that create a true climate for success. Author Grace Sammon offers school leaders a step-by-step approach for redesigning high schools into small learning communities (SLC) that cultivate sound instructional methods and personalized learning environments for students.

Presenting a hands-on process that addresses data, personalization, partnerships, curriculum, and instruction, this book moves educational leaders and school reformers from an appreciation of SLC to the nuts and bolts of collaborating and doing the work of improving school culture and academic achievement. With a focus on getting results, the text offers:

• A CD-ROM tool kit with over 30 planning templates and data collection and assessment tools for developing, sustaining, and evaluating a successful school transformation to SLC
•  Frequently asked questions about how SLC benefit students and schools
• Procedures to create school-based teams to jump-start and sustain data-driven discussions and decision making

This resource and collection of tools is ideal for school leaders who are serious about continuous improvement to ensure success for all students.

$38.95 plus shipping and handling

 

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Health Care Standards in Work-based Learning Practice

Grace Sammon and Billie Donegan, 2000, GMS Partners, Inc.

This three volume set provides teachers, partners, students and their families with a series of three work-based learning programs directly linked to recognized health care industry skill standards. INSIGHTS is a structured program that provides small groups of students an opportunity for beginning career exploration and the introduction of workplace behaviors related to the health care professions through thematic on-site visits and seminars. SHADOWS serves as an individualized career exploration program that matches a student's interest in health care to the health career opportunities available in their communities. Activities for students, hosts, and school staff are clearly outlined. MENTORS is designed as the final step in a carefully articulated work-readiness program and provides students interested in health care careers with an opportunity to develop superior employability skills, while striking a balance between work and school.

$30 includes shipping and handling

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Insights, Shadows and Mentors

A Comprehensive Series of Work-based Learning Experiences

2006, Grace Sammon and Billie Donegan, GMS Partners, Inc., available September 2006.

Built from the highly successful work-based learning program that help transform one of the nation's toughest high schools, this detailed guide, with downloadable and adjustable files, leads teachers, partners, students and families through a multi-stage work-based learning experience solidly grounded in industry skill standards, SCANS, and Work-Keys(r).

Due in 2009: additional chapters on "Brief-cases: Exercises in Employability: using partners in school-based settings to increase rigor and relevance in the curriculum"; and Teacher Externships: Staying on top of the learning curve.

$60, plus shipping and handling

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Partnerships and Work-based Learning

Strategies for building relevance and results into your improvement practices, Antonia Essig, 2006, GMS Partners Inc.

Standards of Mind and Heart

Creating the Good High School

Peggy Silva and Bob Mackin (2002) Standards of Mind and Heart: Creating the Good High School. New York: Teachers College Press.

For ordering information please visit Teachers College Press.