It's Our School, It's Our Time: A Companion Guide to Whole-School Collaborative Decision-Making

It's Our School, It's Our Time outlines a whole-school approach to teacher-pupil collaboration, illustrating how aspects of social inequality can be addressed by involvement in the school community and active participation in decision-making from an early age. The book presents insights into the psychological processes that are at work when pupils and teachers share decision-making, and how this can harness and increase motivation for teachers and their pupils. Combining both theory and examples of practice, this book provides clarity about the impact of collaborative decision-making and how it can help pupils to take ownership of their classrooms and promote greater cooperation and productivity. This book: - draws on 25 stories from Dr Rowe's own study and experiences as an educational psychologist, and the accounts of other educators and researchers. - shows how teachers and school leaders have overcome some common hurdles that those in conventional schools might encounter. - provides research-evidence and practical examples from real-life classrooms that will inspire teachers, teaching assistants and school leaders. Written by a highly experienced educational psychologist, this companion guide will help teachers, head teachers, teacher educators and student teachers to transform achievement, behaviour and motivation through greater collaboration with their pupils.

Dr Geraldine Rowe has worked as an Educational Psychologist for over 30 years in several UK Local Authorities, in over 100 schools, nurseries and colleges. Her website is www.pupilparticipation.co.uk.

Introduction 1. It is possible! A study of three teachers 2. Rationale and psychology 3. Monitoring and evaluation 4. Which decisions? Which pupils? 5. How to collaborate 6. Negotiating the curriculum 7. Culture and leadership 8. Teachers and CDM Conclusion