Weekly Coaching Communication
Make it a great day -- every day!
02 - 06 October 2017
Hats off to you!
So I'm starting a little something new in the newsletter: I want to recognize some of the people, events and situations from the week that have a positive impact on our students, staff and school/community. I know we have the staff recognition sheets in the office, but only one person is publicly recognized; I would like to expand that publicity a little more. Some pretty amazing things are happening all over this place.
I am not "the eyes and ears of this institution, my friend" (Breakfast Club), so please feel free to send me an email or write a sticky note and post to my door of things that are happening that have a positive impact. . . and continue to honor colleagues and staff with the sheets in the office, as well -- amazing how one of those in your mailbox can make your day brighter.
Here's this week's amazement:
- Kudos to all of you for surviving Homecoming week and making the "week after" successful for our students and getting them back to a routine;
- We are working in a pretty darn good school and are raising/mentoring some great kids here who include ALL students in their school and community; Video Link if you missed it or just need some uplifting affirmation;
- Be sure to thank Colleen Barnes for help with the Homecoming aftermath and returning our halls and commons to their original status -- I do miss the color and banners, though;
- No one broke the camera for picture day -- at least from the staff;
- Thank you so much for completing the literacy survey Wednesday morning -- the data serves as a baseline for our work with the book study Rigorous Reading, which begins on October 9th, the morning of our full-day PL;
- 1st Floor Teachers -- thank you for the delicious food for conferences; 2nd floor you're up next Thursday;
- PTCs -- we're serving 184 students (between the two days) . . . keep the two-way (and one-way postcard) conversations going!
#nobetterplacetowork
The LEARNER in a Blended Classroom
As our enrollment at Center Point-Urbana continues to increase, I am frequently asked how teachers are supposed to manage such large classes with limited resources, space and time. A blended approach is a great way to negotiate the content with the obstacles presented in a growing district.
By putting students in charge of their learning, they can more easily move towards proficiency of the content standards and be engaged with what they are learning.
At the secondary level, station work is often thought of as an elementary protocol and rarely used for learning; however, station work or activity rotations is a great way to make a classroom student-centered and manageable for learning.
As noted in the graphic below, courtesy of Beth Swantz at Grant Wood AEA, the learner and teacher work together to make the best learning possible:
- Learner Centered Classroom -- Stations or activity rotations address students' needs for learning and provide an easy opportunity for scaffolding or extension activities based on each student's playlist of learning; Playlists can be created by the teacher or the student or in collaboration.
- Learner Control of Pace & Place -- Because students are working in stations or from a playlist, the learner has control over how fast or slow they move through the content and the activities. Even in timed rotations, students can better regulate their pace of learning better than a whole-class setting.
- Web Access 24/7 -- As much as we want this to be true, 24/7 Web Access is not a reality for all students. Districts are making progress with accessibility, however, not all learners will have this luxury, so teachers need to be aware of specific student needs and situations.
- More Peer Interaction -- Because students are in rotations and not always in a teacher-led group, more peer interaction will happen, and front-loaded problem solving strategies (i.e. ask three (peers) before me (the teacher)) will increase not only interaction but independent problem solving.
- Instructor/Student Interaction -- In a rotation schedule, teachers have fewer students to interact with at one time. A teacher-led rotation for direct instruction, a Q & A, feedback cycle, etc. can allow teachers and students to interact at a higher level and allow for a better student-teacher relationship to develop.
- Formative Assessment for Immediate Feedback -- The crux of a blended classroom depends on formative assessments that provide immediate feedback that comes from the teacher directly, or from peers, or from performing self-assessments. If a learner has to wait on feedback, maximum growth is not happening.
If you want to know more about Blended Learning, feel free to ask one of the team members or me about our experience and work in the blended format.
Coaching Schedule -- see Google Calendar for specific "Busy" times **schedule subject to change**
Monday, 02 October
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 4:00 - 5:45 PM JV Lift & Practice Volleyball; Varsity @ IOWA LIVE 9.2
Tuesday, 03 October
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- VB PINK GAME -- Wear PINK! Sophs @ 5, Fresh & JV @ 6, and Varsity @ 7:30 vs Benton (Home)
Wednesday, 04 October -- Data Team MTG (1st of the Year!) -- 9:00 Late Start Schedule
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 9:00 - 10:00 AM IC/Program Lead MTG
- 12:30 - 1:15 PM IC/Principal MTG
- 1:45 - 2:45 PM Math Screeners w/ Emily Logan, GWAEA Math Consultant
- 3:45 - 5:15 PM Volleyball Practice
Thursday, 05 October -- Early Out PTCs
- 1:15 - 1:50 PM SBL Council MTG
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- VB Sophs @ 5:30 & Varsity @ 7:00 vs Iowa City Liberty (AWAY) Bus @ 4:30)
Friday, 06 October
- 7:30 - 8:15 TRIAD: IC/Principal/Program Lead
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 3:45 - 6:00 PM Volleyball Practice
ARCHIVE LINKS
Click on the link to access 2015-16 prior weekly communications.
Pope's IC Weekly Communication Archive & Index 2016-17
Click on the link to access 2016-17 prior weekly communications.
IC/Principal Weekly Meeting Notes
Click on the link to view the Friday notes.
Contact Information
Center Point - Urbana CSD
Email: epopenhagen@cpuschools.org
Phone: 319-849-1102+91015
Twitter: @Epopenhagen