Coaching 4 Ps
Review, Preview, Praise and Problems: February 22-26
Progress
- Set up time to observe kindergarten guided groups.
- Lead Fountas & Pinnell PLC on word study. We had many participants sick or with prior commitments so we rescheduled.
- Looked at fifth grade inquiry plan thru an assessment lens. Worked with teacher to create authentic formative and summative assessments.
- Attended coaches' meeting at Westminster Elementary.
- Met with a second third grade teacher to discuss the Revolutionary War inquiry unit and co-teaching "writing endings". Met with another third grade teacher on co-teaching plans for personal narrative lessons.
- Participated in faculty meeting focusing on the NWEA learning continuum. I worked with kindergarten. The discussion was strong, but there is a definite need to think outside the box when attempting to squeeze in RIT band instruction. I met with one teacher who had ideas for math groups, and we are trying to apply her same thinking to ELA groups.
- Gathered mentor texts to use with personal narrative and endings lessons.
- Completed March newsletter. I will send it out in the coming week.
- Planned a celebration to close a second grade classroom's resident in artist week. They studied the Japanese culture so we had a culminating activity with the book Maggie's Chopsticks (We discussed the Chinese culture with this and similarities with the Japanese culture.). Each child received a pair of chopsticks and we tried eating various foods with them.
- Observed various lessons across grade-levels. I observed a Type 2 writing lesson in second and third, a main idea lesson in kindergarten and third, and three math lessons.
Plan
- Meet with a third grade teacher to discuss grading with John Collins. We are going to go thru papers; I will model writing conferences after the teacher and I go thru them. (moved from last week)
- Add reading strategies/skills lessons to third grade Revolutionary War inquiry unit. Meet with teacher to discuss skills for the students. (moved from last week to this week)
- Work in two third grade classrooms co-teaching a personal narrative unit. I will co-teach only an endings lesson in another third grade classroom on Wednesday.
- A major portion of my time this week involves teaming with my "buddy" fifth grade teacher. We are introducing an inquiry unit by laying the foundation skills necessary for them to begin their research after Spring Break.
- Meet with two kindergarten teachers to tackle RIT band groupings for reading.
- Check-in with third grade RIT groups (particularly GT class and how to work within their RIT bands).
- Be a guest reader for Read Across America Day on Wednesday (and of course I have to get into "costume" for the day)
Praise
- It was exciting to meet with a kindergarten teacher and see how excited SHE was when she figured out a way to run RIT band small groups in her math. Our challenge now is to see how we can do it for her guided groups.
- I love the dedication of the teachers and the extra miles that so many of them go!
Potential Speed Bumps (not really problems)
My challenge this week centers around being back in a fifth-grade classroom daily. The teacher and I are working together to find ways to increase engagement in content. I want to be sure that I support the teacher, but with her struggles right now I feel she may want me to take lead. Things may not play out the way I feel, and that will be awesome. It is a challenge that may arise though.