Learning to learn all over again....

Communication is the key in forming lasting professional and personal relationships. This is another segment as I think about the work that I do, specifically in working with Academic Coaches. This is a follow up letter that I wrote after a recent professional development offering.

Greetings,

Hopefully the coaching conference that you are attending today will provide additional strategies to add to your ever increasing toolbox. I look forward to continued professional conversations with a focus on your roles as Academic Coaches.

Your position comes with responsibility, however, imagine all the students you will impact with every teacher you support in their professional growth and learning. I am fully aware that we are at different places in the continuum with the coaching thing, and I am personally committed, along with the curriculum folk, to hold your hand along the way; to challenge your thinking; to give you a little push into uncharted waters; and of course, to step back when it is warranted.

With this in mind, I want to highlight some key points mentioned as you step out further in your role as Academic Coach. On the last page of the book I read aloud to you all, The Geraniums on the Windowsill Just Died, But Teacher, You Went Right On, Albert Cullum so eloquently says, " Teacher, come on outside! I'll race you to the seesaw! No, you won't fall off! I'll show you how! Don't be afraid, teacher. Grab my hand and follow me. You can learn all over again!....."

In your role as Academic Coach this is so fitting and right on the money. Confidence in what you are doing is key. Believing in your skill set by showing teachers how to seesaw, not in a way that puts your knowledge ahead of theirs, but in a way that, side-by-side, you learn new ways of doing: learning how to learn all over again. And finally, I want you to think about the student who was most challenging to you in your teaching and constantly revisit those strategies that worked in making a difference. You will find that these same strategies will work for our teachers as well.

Possible Outcomes: As an outcome to the training provided, I want you to "try it on". This is what you do: first, locate a classroom teacher who is willing to have you demonstrate a shared text engagement with his/her students. This can be someone you have developed a relationship with, however, to go to the place of discomfort, challenge yourself to seek out the teacher that possibly needs a hand to hold, and learn together. Second, the way in is this: first, ask if the content lead teacher shared the information with them on Shared Reading within the Context of a Comprehensive Reading Program. Second, if the answer is yes, then ask them if they have tried some of the techniques outlined. If the answer is no, then tell them that you would like to demonstrate the strategies outlined with the training. However, it is important no matter what means that the classroom teacher remains in the classroom with you. A strategic read aloud can also be tried. I had conversations with some of you concerning options. This is perfectly acceptable and tells me you are thinking. After the demonstration lesson, reflect on what worked and what didn't work so well. Be prepared to share these at one of the next meetings for a period of time.

Coaching: feedback vs. evaluation: The way we phrase our questions, for the most part, directly impacts the outcome. Therefore in highlighting strengths, recommendations and next steps consider these possibilities:

Strengths: You might think about using ...I noticed... at the beginning of your sentence. Then making a statement directly connected to student outcome and evidence noted. Be genuine in your thinking.

Recommendations: You might think about using ... Have you thought about...? In this way, it provides options that doesn't slice or dice what is happening. Choose your words succinctly. And another tip: Focus on one or two easily achievable goals.

Follow up: You might want to think about having a coaching conference where you speak one-on-one to the classroom teacher. You might think about using... Based on the recommendations provided, what are you willing to try next time?

And as always, if you have questions, points of success or wonderings, do not hesitate to contact me. Enjoy your weekend.....until next time-Teach

The geraniums on the windowsill just died, but teacher you went right on.....

Do you remember the exact time, place and location of where you bought a treasured book? Follow me as I reflect and rediscover one of those out of print long lost treasures that are pathways to the soul.....

The leaves were changing and falling from the branches. A few days previous a soft blanket of snow covered the hills of New England and the winter weather sweaters had been unpacked from their plastic shells. I was a few short months away from the end of my last internship and two away from matriculating with a degree in elementary education. At one of our evening seminars in late October, my professor and mentor at the time read aloud from this book and I knew I had to own it. After numerous phone calls around the area, I finally tracked it down at a store located on the cobbled main street of a northern town some 40 miles away. It was 1983 and sadly, the themes resonating from the pages still hold true twenty-five years later.

So when I re-discovered this "pathway to the soul" at the bottom of a rectangled box located on the top shelf of a rarely used closet; some 929 miles from where it was first discovered twenty-five years earlier, I knew that in some way it needed to be shared.

The opportunity arrived just yesterday when I spent the afternoon with a group of twenty academic coaches and read aloud The Geraniums on the Windowsill Just Died, But Teacher, You Went Right On by Albert Cullum. Through the lens of childhood, we discover all over again the way we felt; the way we were; and how, sometimes, we lost our way miles from the heart of the matter. Though I can't re-print the pages, these few need to be shared:

"Teacher, let me swim in a puddle, let me race a cloud in the sky, let me build a house without walls. But most of all, let me laugh at nothing things. " -page 16

"On the mornings you tell us about the night before, you're like one of us. The dress you bought, or a movie you saw, or a strange sound you heard. You're a good storyteller, teacher, honest! And that's when I never have to be excused." -page 20

"I have a messy desk, I have milk money that rolls, I have a lazy pencil, a book that won't open, a mouth that whispers. I have a zipper that doesn't want to, homework that won't work, and a hand that throws crayons. I have a shirt that's out, shoelaces that won't tie. And sometimes I wet my pants---but never on purpose." page 22

However, sprinkled within are those teachers who are our raindrops of hope. Those individuals who continue the work that they do and truly listen to the voices of children; who allow the children to lead the way; and side by side, splash through the puddles amidst this ever-changing landscape.

And finally, in the words of Albert Cullum who said it so eloquently those many years ago.....

"Teacher, come on outside! I'll race you to the seesaw! No, you won't fall off! I'll show you how! Don't be afraid, teacher. Grab my hand and follow me. You can learn all over again....."-page 62 ...until next time-Teach

Sunday Scribblings: Is it "Forbidden" to change the scribble....? I did nonetheless. This one is called "Shortcuts"..

The scribble for this week was "forbidden". Veering off the course somewhat I chose to go into forbidden territory and write instead an experience that I call "shortcuts".

Sometimes, a shortcut leads you on the road to nowhere and gets you to your destination quicker. Sometimes, unintentional happenings get in the way. Yesterday, on my way back home again, I veered off my regular path and took a road less traveled. My guide was the voice on my GPS telling me where to go. Then.....

.....the unexpected happened. Idling in the left turn lane I noticed that the traffic lights were not working. Thinking to myself that this was a disaster waiting to happen due to the fact that the cars to the left and to the right were not slowing down, I inched my way past the line ever so slowly. Then, looking in front of me I saw a red car make it's way across the barren land and as it inched across the median, it was slammed by one of those fast moving cars to the left. With my foot still on the brake I moved it back as "the car" came toward me. Watching and then watching some more, it came to a stop about six inches from my passenger side bumper. Then, I put it in park and ran over to the woman in the front leaning against the steering wheel with her head resting on the deflated airbag. The horn of this car was blasting and smoke was billowing out of the car. (OK, OK, in truth, it wasn't billowing. I believe it was the radiator hose causing the smoke. So in this case it would be a softer billow.)

Within seconds the emergency service workers arrived and took over all the time my car staying put until Trooper Jackson (I like that name: Trooper Jackson. Say it out loud and I do believe you will agree with me.) came and gave me permission to move it out of the way. The woman was all right as were the four in the other vehicle.

If there is to be a lesson here it might play itself out like this:

First, in theory, there are shortcuts that will cut a few miles off the journey. In theory this lends itself to be true. However, in truth, the unintended happenings along the way dictate that there are no shortcuts.

Second, not everyone plays by the rules and Robert Fulghum would be disappointed that the lessons learned in kindergarten about taking turns doesn't always stay with us into adulthood.

And third, if it is a shortcut you take, remember that there are more important things along the way that may need your attention. ...until next time-Teach

Sunday Scribblings: Wedding....

I was going to skip this scribbling entirely and then I remembered that I was asked to do a reading at the wedding of Leah and Mike and figured what the heck, this scribbling thing sure has my attention. So though I wrote it years ago, it still holds true today for they are still going strong with three kids in tow.

One Note, One Song, One Love
JPAM

Your love will need the rain.
It will need to feel that gentle sprinkle
of the rain sometimes
lightly spraying your face.
You will need the magic of the rain.
To feel the hard pounding rain sometimes
soaking at the embers for it will cleanse the soul.

Love is like that.

Your love will need the sun.
It will need to feel the hot penetrating heat
of the sun sometimes
darkening the fibers
You will need the magic of the sun.
To feel the heat of the sun sometimes
peeling away the rough-hewn layers
for it will be the key to your heart.

Love is like that.

Your love will need the wind.
It will need to feel the soft wisp
of the wind sometimes
fluttering at your feet.
You will need the magic of the wind
To feel the tip-tapping song-dance of the wind sometimes
swan-singing its melody
for it will uplift the spirit.

Love is like that.

Love needs the rain
and the sun
and the wind
sometimes

The gentle sprinkle for it cleanses the soul.
The penetrating heat for it is the key to your heart.
And the swan-singing, tip-tapping, song-dancing celebration
for it will uplift the spirit.

Love is like that.

My wish for you this day

is to always keep that sense of wonder

within arms reach and to remember

what brought you to the altar in the first place.

A place where hope lies within

that makes the possibility

of dreaming close at hand.

This moment is layered with promise

and we find comfort in knowing

that this is one more story

to be shared around the supper table of our lives.

A piece of our collective history.

Another story that has made

the moments of our lives matter.

A moment that God has entrusted to you.

To love deeply.

From this day forward

an angel will be resting on your shoulder

and the silent whisper that is spoken in your ear

is a love song that only the two of you can hear.

This music, it comes from a chord,

a note that the angels record.

And once this soft-slow waltz

written on the page is choreographed

you will dance to the rhythm

sung only in God's name.

One Note, One Song, One Love.

Until the next time....-Teach

For more entries of weekly writing practice, go to: (http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com)

I just added...

I just added shelfari to my blog. Check it out. Listed are some of my favorite finds or the ones I read to take me away Calgon. My new favorite is Where the River Ends by Charles Martin. I picked it up and started reading while on vacation in Vermont. Once in my hands I couldn't put it down and ended up taking it back with me to North Carolina, and then finishing it up before mailing it back to my mom. A story of a man who travels one last time with his wife to where the river ends. A last goodbye between two people in love-until next time...

On the road ramblings...

I have a great deal of time to write when I am on the road. I don't mean writing drafts on paper, but crafting the lines inside. Somehow driving and writing in the literal sense would not be a good idea, though honestly, I have seen some things drivers do that surprise the heck out of me. One morning on my way out of town driving down Monroe Avenue, I saw a woman balance the application of eye shadow while driving. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

On second thought, that is so wrong.

My recent purchase of a Garmin (GPS) has proved to be a worthwhile investment considering the traveling I have been doing lately. The voice speaks to me and when I make a wrong turn, I am waiting for the voice from the box to say: "You dang fool. Turn the other way!!!" I also find myself talking to the box on the windshield calling out: "Hey Lady, which way you taking me this morning?" I have yet to name it. For some reason I'm thinking that if I did, it would be time to check myself in... until next time-Teach.

Sometimes...

Over the course of the next few days, I will be writing my thoughts on supporting classroom teachers and the responsibility of instructional coaches to meet this end.

Over the years, I've listened to more nonsense than I can count; attended more workshops that ship me off to "johnny-land"; and sat through numerous planning sessions. And the ending note is the same: a colleague looks into my eyes and I into theirs, and with the glazed look, I say to myself out loud, HUH! what just happened here? And the realization after all is said and done is what we have left is a bunch of nonsense to put on the shelf of nothingness.....

Therefore.....

.....sometimes the responsibility of an instructional coach lies in the listening. Sometimes I just have to listen to what they are saying, and oftentimes, to what they are not saying. Then, based on what they give will determine what they get.

......sometimes the responsibility of an instructional coach lies with autonomy. Classroom teachers having control in making informed decisions. This doesn't mean they do so without question, however, it can be done in a way that values all perspectives.

.....sometimes the responsibility of an instructional coach is to find solid ground. Sometimes being placed on a pedestal is hard work and one never knows when you will be knocked off. And when you fall on your head, it hurts. It is important to find colleagues who won't let you stay on that pedestal for long, and if you are having trouble finding one, let me know. I have a few I left behind.....until next time-Teach