The extra degree

It is the final push ..... the end of the year ....and everyone is exhausted! 

I was thinking about how this is similar to a race (I know, I know I love my running). This had me thinking how at the very end of the race, you see the finish line and it up to you to push yourself to sprint that last distance or casually stroll on in. That push can be that one decree, that one second, that one point that wins it all! Anyway check out this cool video if you haven't seen it before- focused on the 212 degree attitude. 

Keep a schedule....

Wish you could be everywhere?

I know the feeling - and distractions are everywhere.

A student needs you, your principal has a question, wait and now there is an emergency in the cafeteria. You suddenly feel pulled in every direction to help everyone...right?

But what about that teacher you were on your way to visit at planning.....

And just like that your schedule has been changed. NOW I am not saying we should not be flexible but a schedule is created to ensure you able to plan time to be effective.

Try these creative ways to create more time in your schedule

1. Create a routine. Create habits and build predictability in your schedule. example: set times to check emails don't feel obligated to respond immediately.
2. Maximize your efforts. Avoid distractions that will suck your time with no benefits to student learning.
3. Say "NO"! Make judgement calls and prioritize, say no or delegate when appropriate.
4. Schedule for the unexpected. Build in margins of time to deal with the unexpected. When something arises respond that you will get to it at that designated time.
5. Try the Pomodoro technique. This time management technique is based on the idea that frequent breaks in focus can improve mental agility. It works like this: work diligently for 25 minutes, then take a three to five minute break. Repeat this cycle four times and then take a longer, 15 to 30 minute break. The purpose here is to keep your mental acuity sharp and avoid focus fatigue.

Thankful thoughts ...

I have always been thankful for the career path I have chosen. As a classroom teacher I was thankful for the students I served, the parents I supported and the teachers I worked alongside of as team leader or peer mentor. This passion grew as I became the Reading Specialist out of the media center and began working with not just 25 students in my class but teaching K-8 and over 700 students.
I never thought I could be more thankful, but then as a school site coach, my heart swelled with thanks. I soon took on the love for helping my teachers who I knew ultimately impacted my former students that had a special place in my heart. I came to work full of energy knowing I could help students, teachers and support staff on a daily basis.
Now here I am coaching my coaching friends! I can't even explain how thankful I am work alongside some of the strongest, passionate coaches I have ever met. Above and beyond does not even BEGIN to touch the work you do everyday and I am so very thankful for you and all you do driving our vision and mission within our teachers, and working with our students to exceed the highest expectations!!!!
Don't forget to tell those around you that you are thankful for them! with words, with small acts of kindness or simple notes. check out this simple note to leave

What are you thankful for??

Wearing many hats

Do you sometimes feel you wear a MILLION hats???
I get it, you have your data hat, your collaborative planning hat, your model hat, the resource hat.... I mean the list just keeps going! So "hats off" to you for the amazing work you do!
Honestly, these "many hats" only emphasize how critical planning your schedule and reflecting is SO IMPORTANT!
Think of this as the coaching cycle:
1. assessing - assess your priorities as a coach
2.plan - plan your attack so that you are using your time effectively and making an impact
3.implement - this is our favorite part right? you finish a full day of modeling, planning with teams, working with teachers and you feel like a rock star!!!!
4. reflect and complete a gap analysis....what are your next steps!?

I like the way this fellow coach defined the many things we do....

Teacher Time

Time is the most precious commodity!

There is NEVER enough time in the day. When talking to teachers, always remember time is the most precious commodity! Make EVERY minute count! Don't waste time :) and always have a take away that assists the teachers, don't add to their plate. 

when attending a data or planning meeting be sure teachers walk away feeling they have planned for their future lessons.

DATA CHATS should always result in planning for differentiated instruction and PLANNING should alway be focused on standards based assignments that are focused on end results. 

Coaches not only respect this time but find ways to make this time collaborative and easier for teachers to make purposeful connections. 

MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT! share with us in the comments what you do to make "every minute count"

Planning with a Purpose!

"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much" Helen Keller

The impact of collaborative planning is nothing short of phenomenal. We underestimate the tremendous power teachers have in deciding what kids will learn and how they will learn it. Teachers are making decisions every day and it is up to us to make these choices explicit and data driven. As coaches we guide teachers in making intentional choices.

Autonomy in lesson planning for all teachers only guarantees one thing: That some teachers will have the "freedom" to fail to plan effectively.
To continue to have planning success ensure the following as you coach teams:

• Maintain end goal driven- create objectives that aligns with the end goal assessment ensuring a focus on student needs!
• Provide sufficient guidance- don't ever shy away from assisting teachers in planning. Though autonomy is valuable, planning is a challenging and often counterintuitive skill that requires guidance, especially early on. I liked a reference a read once, imagine if a piano teacher did not teach students how to read music, time notes or switch keys.....the only "freedom" that piano teacher offers is the freedom to fail! There would be no music! Likewise if we give teachers autonomy to plan without guidance we are not assisting our teachers in meeting their potential!
• Planning goes beyond a textbook. Intentional planning involves in-depth conversations about differentiating, questioning techniques, and complex tasks. Simply sharing the objective and the page students will read is not planning....that is sharing resources.
• Keep plans ALIVE!!!! change them, make adjustments, GIVE FEEDBACK!!!! 

Here is the bottom line: Planning works when it starts from assessments, not from standards that is the roadmap to rigor! Begin by showing the assessment you want your students to master, then talk about how you want to get there! Think about: what students will need to do, teacher order and prioritization, and ultimately what activities will engage students.

Determine what matters most...

There are times it is hard to see the path-

we "can't see the forest through the trees" as they say.

So how do we determine what matters most?
Establish Priorities! Lay a foundation, set the expectations and then decide.... "What will give you the most bang for your buck"? 

Focus first on teachers that accept change and ask for feedback. Often there are teachers that are keen to try out new ideas and approaches, including to their own professional learning. Begin by working with these teachers to boost confidence in the school culture and developing a growth mindset for professional learning. 

Next use the data! There are two types of data to inform your coaching decisions. 

Student data & Teacher data

The use of student data to inform the  direction of coaching contributes to a common language of the outcomes to be achieved by the implementation of specific strategies. It is essential to use benchmarks and common assessments for collaborative teams to review data and student work.

The purposes for using student data include:

• track individual students’ progress over time
• improve the quality of instruction looking at student outcomes
• guide the direction of differentiated instruction 

The use of teacher data to inform the  direction of coaching may be collected by walkthroughs, observations, and reflections from targeted professional learning.

The purposes for using teacher data include:

• track individual teachers’ progress over time
• improve the quality of instruction with high yield strategies
• guide the direction of differentiated professional learning 

Both types of data create the basis for ongoing coaching conversations between the principal, coaches and teachers and establish the priorities for what matters most!