Weekly Coaching Communication
Make it a great day -- every day!
09 - 13 January 2017
On the Standards Front . . .
Relationships before Standards (Curriculum)
Before you even consider a plan for your first day of content, or the standards, or the changes in proficiency scales and curriculum, remember to get to know your students first (this includes if you want to build better or repair old relationships, as well).
Without the foundation of a relationship, the rest will not matter.
Kelisa Wing is a guest blogger for ASCD's InService page and she shares five critical components to consider in building relationships with students in her recent post, "Relationships Matter: Beyond Curriculum" (16 December, 2016).
5 Critical Components to build relationships with students:
- Get to know students from day one. Educators must understand how students prefer to learn. Interest surveys work very well in providing this information. Educators need to find multiple ways to measure knowledge because education is not one size fits all. We will only learn how to reach our students by getting to know them on a personal level.
- Set high expectations for all students. I let my students know that they can do ANYTHING if they set their minds to it. At the same time, I let them know that their education is an “us” priority as opposed to a “them”, meaning we have to take ownership for our students or lack thereof. We must bring their parents in early and ensure that we communicate with them along the way.
- Celebrate ALL success. Teachers must begin to embrace the idea that any growth is growth that should be celebrated. We need to unplug from the idea that students are numbers when clearly every child is unique and different. We must celebrate those differences and adapt our pedagogy to respond to their diversity. Growth is growth, and it is our job to celebrate our students’ accomplishments. Children need for us to be their cheerleader.
- Listen to students. We have to take students’ feelings into consideration when we make decisions that impact them. By listening to them, we show them that we respect and value their opinion. Even when we plan lessons, we should give them a voice and a choice as to what their learning should look like. When we respect our students, our students will respect us, and they will open their minds for us.
- Last, but not least, be vulnerable. I am not ashamed to admit to my students when I make a mistake, and I find that this is a trait they appreciate. Educators need to be vulnerable in front of their students. I can recall a time when I had my students doing a service project where they were collecting canned goods. I shared with my students that when I was younger, we were going through a tough time and needed a food basket. As I confided this with them, I began to cry and apologized to my students, but many of them thanked me for being “real”. My vulnerability put a human face on a very real condition. Do not be afraid to be who you are in front of students.
Growth Mindset
A quick catchy tune to remind us of how and why to have a growth mindset . . . Thank you Mrs. Kelly (and Jordy) for the suggestion and the link.
IC Survey Results and Goals
One hundred percent of you marked that I am maintaining transparency and confidentiality and meeting your professional needs. I am humbled by your feedback with these three statistics, and although the results are beyond positive, know that I will continue to work to build and maintain the trust and work of this position.
One area I need to focus on is improving collaborative structures. Although 77 percent of you noted that I am helping to improve collaborative structures, the comments indicate that the opportunity and need is not necessarily of concern. As of now, I am only privy to the English, Spanish, and CTE meetings (outside of data team mornings). I would like to be able to help that collaborative structure be more productive, as I wonder if the issue is one of three: 1) understanding the purpose, 2) finding the time, and or 3) organizing an agenda. I will be emailing data team leaders to inquire about how I can help or improve these structures.
The other area of focus, for me, is to be more visible and cognizant of maintaining contact with you. The first half of the school year was heavy in professional learning for me, missing at least one day a week in the months of September and October and several in November and December. The Spring schedule for training and professional learning sessions tapers quite a bit. Before the next survey (which will be late February, I believe), I want to work my number for approaching teachers in conversation a few and several times to above 90 percent.
New to the survey this time was the feedback about my weekly communication. That feedback is so appreciated, as I've been producing this work for you, to meet your needs. Based on the results, I have realized that I need to target more specifically groups based on content and interests. I will continue to produce a weekly communication; however, I will be using more email to target those specific audiences. And, since this portion of my weekly communication is buried at the bottom, I will be sending this out via email, as well.
If you have questions or concerns about the survey or these results, please come see me or drop me an email.
Coaching Schedule -- see Google Calendar for specific "Busy" times **schedule subject to change**
LINK to Mr. Libolt's Weekly Calendar & Communication
Monday, 09 January
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observations
- 10:30 AM -- cover teacher for IEP MTG
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Tuesday, 10 January
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observations
- 10:00 AM -- cover teacher for IEP MTG
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Wednesday, 11 January -- FINALS
- LCI Series: Steve Ventura Professional Learning @ GWAEA -- All Day
Thursday, 12 January -- FINALS
- 8:00 - 10:30 AM -- 23rd January PL Planning w/ Dilyn McNeill @ MS
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observation
- 12:30 - 1:15 PM IC/Principal Mtg
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Friday, 13 December -- LAST DAY OF FINALS -- END OF 2nd QTR/1st Semester
- 10:00 - 11:25 AM Observation
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 12:00 PM IC Team Learning/Data Meeting
Monday, 16 December -- NEW QUARTER/SEMESTER
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