Realizing Relationships

Last year was my first year as an instructional coach at Burch PK-8. When the PK-4 school at which I  taught for several years and the middle school in the same community merged the position became available.  The new position seemed familiar and alien at the same time. I knew most staff and programs we were using but not from this prospective. I grew during the school year and I am now ready to begin my second year as instructional coach. My experiences last year taught I must get into the classrooms even more to support both new and veteran teachers. Each group of teachers have their own set of strengths and weaknesses to address. We all do.

As I begin planning for this year I want to spend time in every classroom. I will make sure every teacher has what they need. This summer as I went to training sessions around my home state of West Virginia I keep hearing one word repeated "RELATIONSHIPS"!  The first step for me will be to add depth to the relationships I have with the staff in my school. Yes, I call it my school! In order to take pride in my school I must own a stake in the success of the school. Every year we should learn something new about our colleagues both personally and professionally.

I must address curriculum issues which will certainly arise as the year begins. The basic housekeeping tasks will be first. Do we have enough books and licenses for software we will be using? More important to the learning will be assisting teachers as they unpack their standards and plan lessons. I want to inspire them to create experiences not just create a good lesson. I have been inspired by Dave Burgess' book "Teach Like a Pirate". Don't settle for a good lesson instead plan lessons which inspire and challenge your students. My job will be to help ignite a fire in the teachers in my building as they plan such lessons and stoke the fire when necessary.

WV Technology Conference

West Virginia Technology conferences are places where among the laptops, document cameras, and  projectors you find lego bricks, chart paper, and markers! Educators today definitely use technology but we also value more traditional learning tools as well. Everyone was tweeting and adding thoughts and ideas on many social media platforms, but discussion about the sessions were also held in the rooms, halls, and meal halls  of the conference center. Some of the discussions which caught my eyes and ears were about creating opportunities for our students to think, collaborate, and build new additions to their world. 

We must enable them to learn by  providing  them with the tools they need. Booker Watson, III pointed out that having a tool available is pointless if there is no access. Our students deserve to have these resources whether it's internet resources without service, crayons, or a new book. We must use every avenue available to secure them! 

  

We must encourage our students by listening to what they are  thinking and discover their passions. The teachers from Spring Mills High School made me rethink data. They weren't talking about test results  but the data we get when we build relationships with our students by talking with them and watching how they interact with others. At times students need grouped using test scores but many times they thrive by using valid relationship data.

We must empower our students by always be prepared for class and challenging them to think as they create authentic projects to positively change our world. Shannon Miller and Derek Oldfield gave examples of how this can be accomplished. Every program and resource we have isn't always necessary as educators we must decide which tool to use with today's lessons and bring it on with our passion!