Weekly Coaching Communication
Make it a great day -- every day!
04 - 08 September 2017
On the Standards Front . . .
Google Offers Ease for Writing Process
One writing standard that is applicable to several content areas is the use of the writing process. Standard 5 describes the writing process and reads the same across all content areas:
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
Managing the writing and feedback cycle this standard requires just became a little easier. From Eric Curts (31 Aug 2017) blog, "Control ALT Achieve," learn how Google has provided an easier way to track and manage multiple draft work.
Teachers who ask students to write and want to provide teacher or peer feedback over multiple drafts, you can now save and name the "version" of the document in the "Version History." No more multiple files, named "Draft 1," "Draft 2," "Final." No more sharing multiple documents for the same writing project.
Click on the link (blog title) and see just how convenient student writing and feedback can happen. If you need help with managing this process, please feel free to email me a time to chat and plan so you can use the power of Google in your classroom.
Teachers as Designers
The primary task of the teacher is to design engaging tasks and activities for students that call upon students to learn what the school has determined they should learn and then to lead students to success in the completion of these tasks. Teachers are, therefore, leaders, designers, and guides to instruction, and the role of teacher needs to be redefined to reflect this view.
Too often, as educators, we cut ourselves short in our design process because of other obligations and the sheer factor of time. Schlechty is offering a different way of viewing the art of teaching as a designer of education, which partners the teachers and students in a process of finding different ways to allow students to "be attentive, persistent, and
committed" -- just like we want them to be. "Students value and find meaning in the work and learn what they are expected to learn" when teachers design lessons with engagement in mind.
In the coming weeks, I will share Schlechty's framework and the different levels of engagement. In the meantime, take a moment to reflect on the design of your lesson and not just what you are asking the students to learn, but also how you want them to learn it -- what value added are you providing to (or generating in collaboration with) your students to push them to their optimal level of learning?
Coaching Schedule -- see Google Calendar for specific "Busy" times **schedule subject to change**
Monday, 04 September -- NO SCHOOL -- Labor Day
Tuesday, 05 September -- NO SCHOOL -- Professional Learning
- 8:00 - 11:30 AM Pacing Calendar Work -- all secondary
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM Google Read and Write -- HS Teachers w/ Sharon Vaupel
- 2:15 - 2:45 PM SMART Goal work
- 3:30 - 4:00 PM Teacher/Principal/IC MTG
- 4:30 PM Bus to South Tama for Conference Volleyball
Wednesday, 06 September
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM @GWAEA PL for ICs to support SS teachers
- 12:30 - 1:15 PM IC/Principal MTG
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 3:45 - 6:00 PM Volleyball Practice & Lift
Thursday, 07 September
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM IC/Program Lead MTG
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
- 4:15 - 7:00 PM Volleyball Practice & Lift
Friday, 08 September
- 7:30 - 8:15 AM TLC Triad MTG w/ IC/Principal/Program Lead
- 12:00 - 3:30 PM IC Task MTG
- 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