Weekly Coaching Communication
Make it a great day -- every day!
23 - 27 January 2017
On the Standards Front . . .
Having a High Impact
~Atul Gawande, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance as cited in Jim Knight's High-Impact Instruction: A Framework for Great Teaching (2013).
The Instructional Coaching Team is reading Jim Knight's book High-Impact Instruction. Our goal is to share the instructional practices and advice in Knight's book with you over time. However, I want to start with just this quotation that opens the book and sets the tone for the learning.
I share this quotation with you because it reflects the tone of our staff. No matter the frustration that festers from multiple changes and initiatives, we are a staff that believes in better. We move forward with diligence. We model moral clarity. We have proven ingenuity. And we have gone beyond "above all" in our efforts and willingness to try.
Knight writes that "teachers profoundly affect the future . . . [w]ith what they teach, what they believe, and how they act . . . There is no doubt that teachers leave a legacy with every student they teach. To teach is to leave a legacy" (25). Gawande's quotation is reflected in this idea of legacy, as most of us are teachers because we want to make that profound impact and be the model for bettering lives.
I want to celebrate you with this quotation -- thank you for what you do and for what you take a stand. And I will leave you with a question for thought . . . What is the legacy you want to leave with your students?
Why We Don't Learn . . . And How to Change That
The three main reasons we don’t learn:
1. Stories and limiting beliefs: When we don’t believe in our ability to learn that subject, that move, that equation, that play
2. Fear of looking bad: When we’re afraid of being judged for failing so we’re resistant to the ugly, the struggle, effort, and failure that can lead to development
3. Buy in: When we don’t see the purpose of or value behind learning that subject, that move, that equation, that play
Stories, fear, and buy in.
Stories
We can use science and growth mindset to combat the stories and limiting beliefs that hold us back from growth. Growth Mindset = the belief in our capacity to learn and grow. A belief that’s supported with science. The science that tells us that skills are built, not born — and that they can be yours if you earn them.
Fear
Fear is trickier.
Step #1 is to upgrade the way we talk about it.
It’s common to tell ourself and others to be “fearless” or “don’t be scared.” This is flawed because it actually leads to more fear and hiding.
Why?
Because fear is hardwired into our brains. It’s our natural response to anything where the outcome is unknown or that involves effort and struggle. The only way to get rid of this fear is to hide— never put yourself out there, to not care, or to pretend like we don’t care.
If I’m taught to be “fearless” and faced with the inevitable fear that comes with a big moment (test, game, date, performance) I then assume that something is wrong, that I’m not ready, and my fear snowballs.
It’s best to be real about fear— to teach where it comes from, that we can’t get rid of it, that it’s normal to feel it, that we can learn to use it.
Step #2 is to understand that you will be bad first.
No matter what it is you’re trying to learn- that subject, that move, that equation, that play- you’re going to be bad first. We are literally built to learn through challenges and from mistakes. Rather than resisting these stumbles we have to lean into them. Understanding their value helps this leap.
Buy in
The hardest one of the three. This is more of an art than science, and art doesn’t come with a blueprint.
Things that lead to more buy in:
Autonomy
Understanding the ‘why’ or purpose behind what you’re doing
Feeling appreciated
Feeling like you matter
Feeling supported
Feeling seen
Feeling understood
The art is to figure out how to connect these things with each and every one of your people— and it’s going to be different each time.
Which is why we call it art.
Coaching Schedule -- see Google Calendar for specific "Busy" times **schedule subject to change**
LINK to Mr. Libolt's Weekly Calendar & Communication
Monday, 23 January -- Professional Learning Day -- NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 24 January
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observations
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Wednesday, 25 January
- AM Reflectionn Meetings w Dilyn
- 11:55 CTE Meeting
- 12:30 - 1:15 PM IC/Principal Mtg
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Thursday, 26 January
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observation
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM Feedback Webinar
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Friday, 27 January
- 9:00 AM Jeremiah McGraw MTG
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observation
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
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