The #educoach hashtag is used by instructional coaches around the world. We chat each Wednesday at 8pm CST on Twitter and use the hashtag throughout the week to share resources, ask questions and collaborate with instructional coaches.
Hello from Central Iowa! Beth--Instructional Coach & ELA, journalism adviser. #educoach win this week=serving two new Ts through data collection & coaching conversations.
Hi #educoach! Fran, Middle Level Academic Specialist in SC, checking in. Success story: I’m incredibly proud of all of the teachers and students I see really digging in during the later part of the school year in order to see gains!
Greets everyone. Tamika from Bessemer, Al. 8th grade math. I'm here to gain knowledge. Win this week was I defended my research for my Eds degree. #UMedTech#EDL577UM#educoach
Greets everyone. Tamika from Bessemer, Al. 8th grade math. I'm here to gain knowledge. Win this week was I defended my research for my Eds degree. #UMedTech#EDL577UM#educoach
Hi #educoach! Fran, Middle Level Academic Specialist in SC, checking in. Success story: I’m incredibly proud of all of the teachers and students I see really digging in during the later part of the school year in order to see gains!
Ellen. Instructional coach form Vermont. #eduwin is getting over the hump on my future dissertation proposal because of sub-optimal weather over April vacation. (And patient tween children). #educoach
Oh and a success from this week... reaching out and building relationships with teachers I only see once in a while versus just the ones that see me all the time. #educoach
A1 Our system is launching a new LMS, so I am supporting Ts through a big transition. Also looking at extension and enrichment to deepen Ss learning #educoach
A1. Can I answer with a question? I am a mom of two high school boys. What are ways that I can support my kids' many teachers at this point in the year? #educoach
A1: Wrapping up coaching cycles before state testing, cumulative benchmark analysis for final instructional adjustments, spiraling back through all curriculum, and motivating teachers to stay strong through the end of the year...to name a few. #educoach
A1: Feeling redundant because I’ve already tweeted about this this week but this time of year is all about collecting feedback and needs from teachers. I like to offer them dorky tattoos for their time and thoughts. #educoach
A2: The EOY is a challenging time for everyone, but especially classroom teachers. One of the greatest potential challenges is teacher-shutdown. Being overwhelmed can lead to disengagement. #educoach
A1: We are working to use our final benchmark data to inform instruction for the last few weeks of school. We are also celebrating successes from the year and preparing for summer professional learning. #educoach
@AHenrey AKidsmathtalk We are also heavily into end-of-year testing. State mandated universal screener, district math screener, grade level outcomes. No cycles now! #educoach
A2 There are some great opportunities to talk and celebrate with teachers about reflecting on the year in the midst of all the state tests and special events. #educoach
Make it short and sweet! Drop motivating messages in mail boxes. Stop by to be a sounding board. Offer to take the class for a coffee refresh. Be a resource gatherer. Keep relationships going! They still need us! #educoach
Make it short and sweet! Drop motivating messages in mail boxes. Stop by to be a sounding board. Offer to take the class for a coffee refresh. Be a resource gatherer. Keep relationships going! They still need us! #educoach
Q3 I am trying to get T’s to do some of the amazing pieces I have shared with them throughout the year that we didn’t feel we had time to do. I.e Convince me that statements, Splat, 3 Act Task #educoach
A3: all of my Ts are terrified of rigor walks and using manipulatives right now. I plan to provide them with opportunities to attempt doing well at both before the district cracks down next year. I will be right by their side to try things out. #educoach
A3: all of my Ts are terrified of rigor walks and using manipulatives right now. I plan to provide them with opportunities to attempt doing well at both before the district cracks down next year. I will be right by their side to try things out. #educoach
A3: Keep it in perspective. Closing up the school year is important for teachers, but it shouldn’t suck their marrow. Present and even keel. Expect nothing, but be a sounding board for reflection. #educoach
I believe in doing this with intentionality. If it helps move along the process to help someone by finding something for them so they can stay focused on the real issue at hand then I do it. Cognitive overload is hard this time of year #educoach
I see this, too. Our 1st and 2nd grade Ts are nearing exhaustion with all the students who have challenges with staying on task and following directions. Some behaviors are really accelerating! #educoach
A3: Because coaches are so involved in many facets of the school, we have to make ourselves stop (HARD) to reflect and strategize next steps. Prioritizing action steps and scheduling appropriately for the here and now, as well as for sustainment, are critical. #educoach
I believe in doing this with intentionality. If it helps move along the process to help someone by finding something for them so they can stay focused on the real issue at hand then I do it. Cognitive overload is hard this time of year #educoach
This is so true! A colleague and I have a mantra from Essentialism we try to remind ourselves of, "If it's not a clear yes, it's a clear no." As much as we are able - prioritize, strategize, follow through on those essential "yes" items! #educoach
A3: Because coaches are so involved in many facets of the school, we have to make ourselves stop (HARD) to reflect and strategize next steps. Prioritizing action steps and scheduling appropriately for the here and now, as well as for sustainment, are critical. #educoach
A4 keep it meaningful! There needs to always be something to work on up until the end! Keep it joyful! No busy work! It’s a great time to try something new with students. Novelty is needed. #educoach
A4 keep it meaningful! There needs to always be something to work on up until the end! Keep it joyful! No busy work! It’s a great time to try something new with students. Novelty is needed. #educoach
A4 In the past I’ve offered to take the class for tech lessons so teachers can plan or learn the new tech with students too. It’s one less lessons they have to plan and a treat for the students...A treat for me! #educoach
A3 Guiding T’s to do some of the activities we have shared throughout the year and haven’t been able to fit in. I hope that by allowing them to experiment with them now they will be able to make time next year to do them. #educoach
A4 In the past I’ve offered to take the class for tech lessons so teachers can plan or learn the new tech with students too. It’s one less lessons they have to plan and a treat for the students...A treat for me! #educoach
A4: An excellent way to support student focus is by collaborating with teachers to provide a clear and intentional learning focus. Teacher focus breeds student focus. #educoach
Hello #educoach! My name is Jason and I'm an instructional coach from Garland, TX. My success story from this week is that I will be meeting with a teacher for the very first time this week...and he reached out to me!
Hello #educoach! My name is Jason and I'm an instructional coach from Garland, TX. My success story from this week is that I will be meeting with a teacher for the very first time this week...and he reached out to me!
A1: Between now and the end of the school year I am focusing on student creation because state tests are almost done so now T's are more willing to take risks and try new things. #educoach
A5 Conferences with T’s and Admin to look at our current years goals and the evidence to support the goal. Setting new goals and options for PD in the summer. #educoach
A5: As a new coach in my school this year - this is a great invitation for me to reflect with our team on this! Looking forward to hearing other traditions! #educoach
Q5 admittedly district wide (my roll) this is not a focus. Ideally surveys and a celebration with some activities around what was accomplished and what to look forward to accomplishing next year. This would be a great time for a site Edcamp #educoach
A5: If PLCs operate with fidelity, this process naturally occurs. Some collaborative teams may need more intentional nudging. We see the gamut, of course. Very interested in exploring Passion Projects for teacher choice/ownership during the summer. #educoach
And are the devices collected just a little too soon? Our elementary libraries stop checking books out to Ss about a month and a half before end of year. #educoach
A5: I mentioned the feedback, inventories, etc. I think coaches need to overcome #coachguilt that we’re not in the thick of it at the end of the year. We need not overcompensate. We must trust that the teachers we work with know that we alway work hard for them. #educoach
I think that may be the case at our high school...they have stuff to do without the coaches but at lower grades the support is very appreciated up until the last minute of the last day. #educoach
A3: I start small with the hopes that it snowballs. My hope is to at least start a conversation that will lead to some change next school year, if not immediately. #educoach
A6: Intentionally connecting the “next thing” to the “current thing” creates context & reinforces the importance of sustainability. This is why the reflection & refinement mentioned in Q5 are so important. #educoach
LOVE the idea of passion projects for teachers. We can't be preaching student-centered learning and not do the same for each other as professionals - LOVE the collection of PD ideas from @cultofpedagogy! https://t.co/ll9J2ER0iP#educoach#EmpowerED
A5: If PLCs operate with fidelity, this process naturally occurs. Some collaborative teams may need more intentional nudging. We see the gamut, of course. Very interested in exploring Passion Projects for teacher choice/ownership during the summer. #educoach
A5: At the end of the year, teachers do their reflections on their summative evaluations and make tentative plans. Not sure how meaningful this is. I wish we could talk about learning separate from evaluation. #educoach
#edcoach This is what people do not understand about teachers. They are so busy this time of year: planning for next year, keeping the Ss focused and engaged, trying to reflect, look towards growth in the summer. So many Ts taking classes in summer to maintain certification, etc.
A6: Connecting the "I wish I could..." to the "Yes, let's figure our now what we need to make that happen for you next year!" Starting pilots now, re-prioritizing goals #Educoach
For me as a teacher it was about my own self imposed passion project. Being freed up to find something I want to study over the summer and implement in the fall was exciting. My principal at the time asked us what we wanted to explore and gave us the freedom to do so. #educoach
A6: Build excitement or next year by integrating teacher choice and voice into their design. Perplexed that this doesn’t happen more often more meaningfully. #educoach
Dance parties! Not really (though we did that!) but joy! Spread joy and energy to teachers. Make positivity a priority for the culture of your site. Random acts of kindness and fun for staff #educoach
A7: Our dispositions are impacted by those around us. Demonstrating a thriving mentality is contagious—be the change! A little encouragement and celebration go a long way. Encourage others to remember the “why” of their work #educoach
A7: Avoid being overly dramatic to compensate for the guilt we feel for not having the end of year stresses. No one needs that. Be real. Help in ways that actually matter. Above all, respect the teachers with whom we work. #EduCoach
Or maybe a school wide photo challenge to keep on the look out for learning, etc... Here are some ideas we used in Nov. https://t.co/7tPUdNrAyo#educoach
A7: YES! Thriving is a lot of different things - from taking extra time to leave notes of thanks to colleagues, reminders to stop and breathe and eat that day, staying focused on the goal ahead, setting future goals and summer plans, we can support in many ways! #educoach
I hear you! We need to shift that mindset. One on one testing is an opportunity to spend time with each child. Don’t just test, bond. Ask about their favorite shows, tell jokes, tell them all the reasons you are proud the be their teacher #educoach
A8 - I'm looking forward to out temps rising and snow melting in Iowa so I can get out and get my walks in. This has been a long hard winter. My dog and I need fresh air! #educoach
