Articles written by Jim McGrath

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About me - Jim McGrath

Physically, I'm about 5'11-6'0 tall, and as the joke goes, it depends on which convenience store I'm leaving. For most of my adult life, I weighed between 160-165; then I married a good woman who can cook, and I'm pushing 190 now. My loves in life (aside from

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Education > Early Childhood Ed How children learn: 2 of 24
Examining the Early Childhood Theories of Piaget The Piagetian approach to cognitive development is one worth examining when studying the learning stages of young children. Whether one agrees or disagrees is a personal opinion, but his thoughts are worthy of review. The ages of two through seven fall under what Piaget calle... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Instructional strategies: 1 of 12
The Fishbone Although its name is synonymous with the leftovers of a good seafood dinner, the fishbone is also used as an effective learning tool because of its unique shape and structure. Also known as the Ishikawa diagram after its author, the model is used to show causes of a certain event. Ishikawa, a Japanese ... More..
Business > Management (Other) Women in leadership positions: Must they work harder?: 1 of 10
In 1909, when Ella Flagg Young became the first woman superintendent of the Chicago public schools, she declared: Women are destined to rule the schools of every city (cited in Blount, 1998, p.1). By 1928, 1.6% of all superintendents in the U.S. were women (Shakeshaft, 1989). However, not much changed over the next 70 years.... More..
Education > Secondary School Issues Implementing changes in education: 3 of 21
Examining Fullan's "Leading in a Culture of Change" Michael Fullan opens his preface to Leading in a Culture of Change by noting that the more complex society gets, the more sophisticated leadership must become. I am thankful that Fullan didn't prove this point by inundating the reader with hundreds of pages of material reg... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy The educational costs of standardized testing: 2 of 11
In spite of the negative criticisms caused by the two words, author and researcher Richard Phelps is a true believer in standardized testing. At the 15th Congress of the World Association for Educational Research in Marrakesh, Morocco last June, Phelps presented his theories on the benefits of standardized testing, As part of... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Cultural Relations Adaptation and integration: 2 of 11
Separate But Equal? Norfolk (VA) Schools Integration History (1953-1960) In 1954, a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for equal rights in education. This decision came on the heels of some landmark events, such as Thurgood Marshall's argument for school integration in front of the Supreme Court s... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Recognizing mistakes: Helping future generations improve their education: 3 of 16
Skills for the 21st Century Student As the world becomes increasingly complex and diverse, it is obvious that new skills are going to be needed by the 21st Century student in order to have a successful future. It would be easy to go into detail with some of the obvious ones, such as technological awareness, but I believe... More..
Sports & Recreation > Football Coaches A look at the best coaches in NFL history: 2 of 10
Diversity in Leadership: A Look at Joe Gibbs It is difficult to compile a list of the greatest leaders in sports without giving serious consideration to Joe Gibbs. Gibbs is unique in the world of sports. As a football coach in the 1980's and 90's, Coach Gibbs won three Super Bowls as the coach of the Washington Redskins. On... More..
Business > Leadership Strategies What qualities define a leader?: 6 of 27
The Importance of Ethics in Educational Leadership In spite of all the additional pressures placed on school administrators of all levels since the Nation at Risk report, there is one aspect of educational leadership that appears to have been neglected, and that is the study of ethics. Leaders in education have very little,... More..
Education > Early Childhood Ed Successful behavior modification techniques for young children in schools: 2 of 9
Early Childhood: Developing a Sense of Self and Relating to Other Children For the first dozen or so months of toddlerhood, young children stumble through life with very little awareness of what is going on around them. However, at about 18-24 months of age, children begin to see themselves as unique beings separate from the ... More..