What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets

Karen D. Olsen - Mid-California Science Improvement Program
What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets
February 2010 | 224 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452271255
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781412980494
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Description

"Karen Olsen has put budget topics into perspective so that school administrators can make decisions based on what is best for children, not what is easiest and most efficient for adults. This book is a powerful guide in helping our principals see through the fog of mandates, policies, and red tape and get to the priority of students!"
—Terri Patterson, Director of Elementary Education
Waco Independent School District, TX

"This book boldly asserts that brain research should be applied wherever human brains are working. Not only can and should brain research inform how and what we teach in the classroom, it should be brought to bear in boardrooms and the school budgeting process as well."
—Linda Jordan, Associate Professor
Hope College

Make objective budget-cutting decisions that will truly impact student achievement!

In tough economic environments, budget cutting is a daunting but necessary task for many school administrators. Karen D. Olsen takes an exciting, unique approach by applying brain research to budgeting. Now educators can make the decision-making process more objective by using analytical thinking in school budgeting rather than responding to emotion, tradition, or outside influences. Providing a strategy-builder chart, this book

  • Offers action items for putting the strategies into practice
  • Helps leaders determine where money should be reinvested or reallocated
  • Provides specific tips for working within a group decision-making setting
  • Includes more than 30 analytical charts to aid in gathering needed information

What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets offers principals and district leaders a methodical process for taking subjectivity out of the budgeting process.

Contents

Foreword by Susan Kovalik

Foreword by Susan Kovalik

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Introduction

  • 1. Where to $tart
  • Attitude Is Important
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 2. Instruction: Tools
  • A Brief Summary
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 3. Instruction: Organization and Use of Time
  • Optimizing Organization and Use of Time
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 4. Staffing
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 5. Professional Development
  • Professional Development Is a Survival Imperative
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 6. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Movement and Aerobic Exercise
  • Movement to Enhance Learning
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Myths Versus Brain Facts
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 7. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Emotion
  • Impact of Emotion as Gatekeeper to Learning and Performance
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 8. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link One
  • A Context for Content
  • Content for Link-One Curriculum
  • Action Task 1: Analyze Your Curriculum for Age Appropriateness
  • Action Task 2: Analyze How Well Your Standards Enhance Pattern Seeking
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 9. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link Two
  • Link-Two Content
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 10. Testing: Does the Emperor Wear Clothes?
  • What Do Tests Test?
  • Standardized Tests Don't Test Learning
  • Where and What to Cut
  • Homegrown Isn't Necessarily Better
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist

Appendix A: Pattern Seeking

Appendix A: Pattern Seeking

Appendix B: Developing Programs

Appendix B: Developing Programs

Appendix C: Age Appropriateness

Appendix C: Age Appropriateness

Glossary

Glossary

List of Figures

List of Figures

About the Author

About the Author

References

References

Index

Index

Description

"Karen Olsen has put budget topics into perspective so that school administrators can make decisions based on what is best for children, not what is easiest and most efficient for adults. This book is a powerful guide in helping our principals see through the fog of mandates, policies, and red tape and get to the priority of students!"
—Terri Patterson, Director of Elementary Education
Waco Independent School District, TX

"This book boldly asserts that brain research should be applied wherever human brains are working. Not only can and should brain research inform how and what we teach in the classroom, it should be brought to bear in boardrooms and the school budgeting process as well."
—Linda Jordan, Associate Professor
Hope College

Make objective budget-cutting decisions that will truly impact student achievement!

In tough economic environments, budget cutting is a daunting but necessary task for many school administrators. Karen D. Olsen takes an exciting, unique approach by applying brain research to budgeting. Now educators can make the decision-making process more objective by using analytical thinking in school budgeting rather than responding to emotion, tradition, or outside influences. Providing a strategy-builder chart, this book

  • Offers action items for putting the strategies into practice
  • Helps leaders determine where money should be reinvested or reallocated
  • Provides specific tips for working within a group decision-making setting
  • Includes more than 30 analytical charts to aid in gathering needed information

What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets offers principals and district leaders a methodical process for taking subjectivity out of the budgeting process.

Contents

Foreword by Susan Kovalik

Foreword by Susan Kovalik

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Introduction

  • 1. Where to $tart
  • Attitude Is Important
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 2. Instruction: Tools
  • A Brief Summary
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 3. Instruction: Organization and Use of Time
  • Optimizing Organization and Use of Time
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 4. Staffing
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 5. Professional Development
  • Professional Development Is a Survival Imperative
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 6. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Movement and Aerobic Exercise
  • Movement to Enhance Learning
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Myths Versus Brain Facts
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 7. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Emotion
  • Impact of Emotion as Gatekeeper to Learning and Performance
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 8. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link One
  • A Context for Content
  • Content for Link-One Curriculum
  • Action Task 1: Analyze Your Curriculum for Age Appropriateness
  • Action Task 2: Analyze How Well Your Standards Enhance Pattern Seeking
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 9. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link Two
  • Link-Two Content
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 10. Testing: Does the Emperor Wear Clothes?
  • What Do Tests Test?
  • Standardized Tests Don't Test Learning
  • Where and What to Cut
  • Homegrown Isn't Necessarily Better
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist

Appendix A: Pattern Seeking

Appendix A: Pattern Seeking

Appendix B: Developing Programs

Appendix B: Developing Programs

Appendix C: Age Appropriateness

Appendix C: Age Appropriateness

Glossary

Glossary

List of Figures

List of Figures

About the Author

About the Author

References

References

Index

Index

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What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets

Karen D. Olsen
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February 2010 | 224 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412980494 $41.95
Lifetime 27/02/2023 9781452271255 $38.00

"Karen Olsen has put budget topics into perspective so that school administrators can make decisions based on what is best for children, not what is easiest and most efficient for adults. This book is a powerful guide in helping our principals see through the fog of mandates, policies, and red tape and get to the priority of students!"
—Terri Patterson, Director of Elementary Education
Waco Independent School District, TX

"This book boldly asserts that brain research should be applied wherever human brains are working. Not only can and should brain research inform how and what we teach in the classroom, it should be brought to bear in boardrooms and the school budgeting process as well."
—Linda Jordan, Associate Professor
Hope College

Make objective budget-cutting decisions that will truly impact student achievement!

In tough economic environments, budget cutting is a daunting but necessary task for many school administrators. Karen D. Olsen takes an exciting, unique approach by applying brain research to budgeting. Now educators can make the decision-making process more objective by using analytical thinking in school budgeting rather than responding to emotion, tradition, or outside influences. Providing a strategy-builder chart, this book

  • Offers action items for putting the strategies into practice
  • Helps leaders determine where money should be reinvested or reallocated
  • Provides specific tips for working within a group decision-making setting
  • Includes more than 30 analytical charts to aid in gathering needed information

What Brain Research Can Teach About Cutting School Budgets offers principals and district leaders a methodical process for taking subjectivity out of the budgeting process.


Table Of Contents:

  • Foreword by Susan Kovalik
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1. Where to $tart
  • Attitude Is Important
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 2. Instruction: Tools
  • A Brief Summary
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 3. Instruction: Organization and Use of Time
  • Optimizing Organization and Use of Time
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 4. Staffing
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 5. Professional Development
  • Professional Development Is a Survival Imperative
  • Action Items
  • Brain Research
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 6. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Movement and Aerobic Exercise
  • Movement to Enhance Learning
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Myths Versus Brain Facts
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 7. The Inseparable Bodybrain Learning Partnership: Emotion
  • Impact of Emotion as Gatekeeper to Learning and Performance
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 8. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link One
  • A Context for Content
  • Content for Link-One Curriculum
  • Action Task 1: Analyze Your Curriculum for Age Appropriateness
  • Action Task 2: Analyze How Well Your Standards Enhance Pattern Seeking
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 9. Double-Link Curriculum for Two-Step Learning: Link Two
  • Link-Two Content
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endnotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • 10. Testing: Does the Emperor Wear Clothes?
  • What Do Tests Test?
  • Standardized Tests Don't Test Learning
  • Where and What to Cut
  • Homegrown Isn't Necessarily Better
  • Action Items
  • Resources
  • Endotes
  • Action Summary Checklist
  • Appendix A: Pattern Seeking
  • Appendix B: Developing Programs
  • Appendix C: Age Appropriateness
  • Glossary
  • List of Figures
  • About the Author
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"Olsen addresses a current national issue with a focus on budget deficits and identifying a process for making decisions about budget cuts. This is definitely a different and unusual approach to budget cutting—a compelling contribution to the field."
Laurie Emery, Principal, Old Vail Middle School, Vail, AZ
"The entire nation is struggling with budget cuts, and this book is a very practical guide, a guide that has longevity and can be used time and time again with the same profound results. I would recommend this text as a must-read for anyone affected by budget cuts in education."
Lyndon Oswald, Principal, Sandcreek Middle School, Idaho Falls, ID
"I’m very pleased to see a book bold enough to assert that the realm of brain research should be applied to wherever human brains are working and whatever challenges we face. Not only can and should brain research inform how and what we teach in the classroom, but it should be brought to bear in boardrooms and the school budgeting process. This book is brilliant and groundbreaking. Every school in America should have a copy in its professional library."
Linda Jordan, Associate Professor, Hope College
"Karen Olsen has put budget topics into perspective so that school administrators can make decisions based on what is best for children, not what is easiest and most efficient for adults. We used this book in our district with all our principals and it was a powerful guide in helping them see through the fog of mandates, policies, and red tape and get to the priority of students!"
Terri Patterson, Director of Elementary Education, Waco Independent School District, TX

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