New Favorite Launching Resource for Writing Workshop

Every year when we start writing workshop, we start with "What can we write in our writer's notebook?"  Every year students make heart maps and territories and write about what they like.  I think this works for a short period of time, but then students "run out" of things to say. What other options can we give them to help them be independent when writing so that workshop can run smoothly?

Aimee Buckner's Notebook Know How was recommended to me by the director of the Spartanburg Writing Project.  It's the first book that really made sense to me about how to launch the notebook.  The heart map is part of that, but students also learn to write/answer questions, make lists, go back and look for patterns in their notebook, expand, and more.

Another thing I love about this book is that it works at any grade level.  We've used it within the first weeks of school to launch 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st grade notebooks.  I've received a lot of positive feedback from teachers.  My second grade teacher told me today that her students are able to write 15-20 minutes independently and she feels like she has a handle on the notebook for the first time.

It's a great quick read.  It's practical and you can take the suggestions and implement them the next day.  My favorite kind of text.  Check it out if you are looking to expand your professional resources on writing!

https://www.amazon.com/Notebook-Know-How-Strategies-Writers/dp/1571104135/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472695238&sr=8-1&keywords=notebook+know+how+aimee+buckner

Using a Coach Menu to Differentiate Coaching

I got the idea to use a coaching menu through Twitter and connecting with other coaches.  My menu is based on the menus of other coaches.

Here is the link to view:
Coaching Menu

A word of caution based on my experiences this year.

If you want the time to work with teachers in other opportunities other than rounds/cycles, be careful how many rounds/cycles you take on.  I am very grateful to be "booked" at the beginning of the year this year and I am in classrooms or planning with those teachers constantly, but I am feeling the pinch of available time.  The beauty of coaching in a school is the flexibility to meet teacher's needs with your time; however, if you stretch yourself too thin, you'll have a hard time being effective.

I started the year with four cycles and a mentee.  It is a lot. I'm enjoying it, but it's not leaving me a lot of time to get in other classrooms.  At the end of the month when I send coaching invitations again, I'm only going to take 3 for next round.  Lessons learned!

The New First Day of School

When you are a classroom teacher all the anticipation leads up to when those smiling faces walk through the door.  You've prepped your room by adding personal touches to make it feel like home because it will be the place where you and your students spend the most time for the next 180 days.

What about when you leave the classroom?  As a coach, there may not be students waiting to come in the door, but there are teachers.  On the first staff development day in August, I feel a lot like I did when I was expecting new students and a lot has gone into preparing for that day as well.

Teachers, we've worked hard to plan a day that will build our professional learning community.  There are those business "have tos" but we try to balance that with something that will excite you for the year ahead and make your first day back special.  We know it's hard to leave summer behind.  Our slides and agenda have undergone many revisions and we've really talked about this day since even before your last one back in May.

The night before, I'm a little nervous.  Does the room look ok?  Was there something I forgot to do?  Who's getting the biscuits?? When the morning finally arrives, I can't wait for you to get there.  I can't wait to show you what we have waiting for you and all the great things we'll do together this year.

So, no I won't be walking in a classroom of my own with 22 little people.  I'll be walking into a group of some 35 faculty members who will touch the lives of 420 children.  Wow.  What an opportunity.  I can't wait for your first day of school!  Welcome Back!!

New Year's Resolutions

As much as I love summer, we are quickly counting down towards the start of a new school year.  This summer we asked our teachers to reflect on their year, identify an area of growth, set a goal, and create an action plan.  We had great honest reflections and I felt that I needed to complete one as well.  Since I was able to see teacher goals, I feel I should also share my goals with them.  I'll do this on my "Coaches Corner" newsletter during our first week back.  I think this helps clarify my purpose and direction as a coach and allows teachers a window into my world.  I also wanted to share my goals with you.  Through various chats this summer, we've talked about the power of reflection and self-evaluation.  I think it is one the singular most important things that we as educators can do.  So, without further adieu, here are my goals for 2016-2017.

1.  Blog
I want to use this as a tool for reflection this year, a record of my thought process, and a place to celebrate the work I do with teachers.  This is my first step toward that goal.  :)

2.  Diversify my coaching.
I spent a lot of time working in coaching cycles last year and while that was great, I felt that I needed to be in more classrooms.  Diane Sweeney says it is not realistic to try to engage in a cycle with every teacher, nor is it necessary.  That alleviated a little of my guilt.  I developed a coaching menu at the end of last year and I plan on sharing that early on and periodically throughout the year.  I will also be more proactive about looking for opportunities to plan with and have coaching conversations with teachers.

3.  Be present and listen.
As teachers we pride ourselves on being multitaskers; however, there is a time and a place to clear head space and just be there in the moment.  I need to make this a priority.  It shows teachers we value them and their time.

4.  Consider what's next and not what's wrong.
Thank you Eric Sandberg of https://yourinstructionalcoach.com/ for giving me a new philosophy.  It's all about growth and we have to learn from the past and leave it there.  I'm going to post this on computers, walls, etc.

Have you taken the time to reflect and set goals for next year?  There's still time.  I think it helps us zone in and prioritize in a world of crazy.  Enjoy these last lazy days and Happy New Year!!

Engagement vs. On Task

Until last year, I had not given engagement much thought.  I felt that if students were working they were engaged; however, after using Serravallo's Engagement Inventory and reflecting with other coaches, I defined engagement quite differently.  As Jim Knight says in his book, Focus on Teaching, there is a big difference between engagement and compliance.

Students who are compliant:

• Take notes
• Look at you
• Look at the board
• "Follow along"
• Turn in papers

BUT.....with engagement, there has to be original thought and creation.  

• Are students actively reading?
• Are students actively writing (not copying)?
• Are students solving problems?
• Are students questioning?
• Are students THINKING?

If your answer is "I don't know" or "no" to any of the above questions, what can you do to create opportunities for engagement.

Here are some quick tips:

• Model conversation
• Allow choice in reading and writing
• Create opportunities for productive struggle-STEM and STEAM challenges naturally lend themselves to that
• Know your kids.  How do they learn best?  How do they want to respond to you?

Engagement is not on task.  Engagement is students taking control of their own learning and creating new understanding or knowledge based on the process.  

Adventures in Coaching

My name is Briana Wright and I am a Reading Coach in South Carolina.  I work in the school district I grew up in and even though we are small, we are passionate about our students, teachers, and professional growth.  Coaching has opened up a whole new world of learning side by side with teachers through coaching cycles and professional development.  I learn from the teachers I work with and my goal is to be a resource in my building.  My interests/areas of focus include:

• Technology
• Using Twitter as PD
• Best Practices in the Workshop Model
• Data Driven Instruction
• Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
• Arts Integration