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This has been a fantastic year!  We have a great team in place, connections with coaches in the local area are growing, and our work is making an impact on 73.5!  Just yesterday in McMea/Admin we reviewed the results of the May PD survey.  Of the 53 respondents approx 90% worked with coaches this year!  They were able to describe how coaches made a positive impact on their practice in the classroom.  Additionally the mini-conferences were positively received with many staff members commenting on how they implemented changes immediately.  The majority of these sessions were run by coaches.
Kudos to our team for a great year and making an impact!

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What an amazing year!  Lisa W. and Stephanie L. have added so much to our team. They have both truly propelled me as a coach. I have learned so much from watching, talking and collaborating with both of them. Yay!

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73.5 is AWESOME!!! :) It's been so great to work with amazing teachers, amazing coaches, amazing leaders and amazing kids! People are so supportive and excited about learning more to support our kiddos. I can't thank my Middleton coaching peeps enough for showing me the ropes and helping me understand more about life in the district. Here's to a great, collaborative year, and to many more!

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I want to celebrate my roommate, Annie.  I haven't had a roommate since college and I have enjoyed living with Annie.  I have learned so much from her and appreciate all of the time she has spent coaching (putting up with) me and being my friend.

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I am very excited about 7th grade science ending the year on a fun STEM activity. They are creating a McCracken arcade - inspired by Caine's arcade. Students are creating arcade games out of cardboard. Here is the link for some pictures....https://drive.google.com/a/sd735.org/folderview?id=0B2Va4vzGyXxSLWs4WXExUi1ZZzg&usp=sharing

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Loving collaborating with coaches!

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I want to celebrate Lynn Tucker. Her kids are using Kidblog the way that we want them to. They are using academic language in their posts and providing constructive feedback in their comments. She has started creating categories based off of CC standards which enforces their understanding of learning targets.

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I am so excited that the 8th grade art students will be blogging about their art for the 2nd Semester this year. Way to go Bill MacBeth!

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May 27
A teacher who has some rich year-long  goals identified using cooperative learning structures to help her students engage more in conversation. She and I decided that in addition to Fan N' Pick, she would have her students do Inside Outside Circle (Kagan) as a pre-writing strategy. She reported that her students were better able to express their ideas in writing after rehearsing with partners, and hearing partners' ideas. I'm hoping to go deeper with student to student conversations next year.

Teachers said that the revamp of the Drive folders for Math Stations/App+ activities is very helpful (now aligned by standard). I also worked with a teacher to address a need on the team that the data for the addition pre-assessment was very overwhelming. I created a data chart for kids' names for each standard and where they fell (K/C or App+) and the teacher and I modified it for the team. She said it was really helpful for grouping her students. Next I'd like to follow up and ask if it could be used as a formative checklist to keep track of how students are doing throughout the unit, and if it would be a good addition to other math units.

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I have enjoyed partnering with my Principal and Assistant Principal on various items.:)

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Teachers are LOVING Versatiles! It's been fun to meet to talk about how they can be used in the classroom, and I'm learning so much from teachers through some of the challenges they are experiencing with them. Grade levels are very positive about NGSS and RCDC timelines. NGSS training was amazing yesterday - learned lots of new things with Martha and Jen. Lots of positivity around Eureka! math pilot. Planning text structures with a teacher is proving fun! Working with teacher around 1st grade NGSS, seeing ideas come to fruition, and talking through challenges.

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It was exciting to see a teacher proud of the differentiation she had implemented in her classroom. She said she is motivated to continue this practice after her evaluator commended her on the differentiation of a lesson.

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I would like to celebrate two groups who have used Touchcast with their kids. 7th grade Special Ed ELA teachers - persuasive argument with evidence and a poll. Also the 6th SS teachers had the extensions group research topics for the entire grade to use for a Service Learning project. We created a webite to house the touchcasts so that all students can use the information gathered by a few of the students

Here is the site: https://sites.google.com/a/sd735.org/first-amendment/Home

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i would like to celebrate a teacher who went beyond her comfort level to incorporate technology into a real world math scenario....she even thought of a creative way to extend the lesson using technology.

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Excited to work with all Meyer teams on RCDC, and to have teachers thankful that I am there. :) Moving toward that Instructional Coach role.

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I would like to celebrate a McCracken teacher who used the swivls in her classroom to collect data on student engagement. She watched two 40 minute segments and assessed time on task of her students during different activities. We then looked at that data together to set a goal and are trying some strategies to achieve the goal.

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Dreambox and Student Learning Tools PDs were attended by 8-11 people each!! Yay! I showed AG how to Tweet a picture today, and she did. I have two new staff members booked (using You Can Book Me--such quick learners!) to work on their websites. Stephanie and I came up with a list of questions to make Coaches' Corner more useful to teachers and to Coaches. Two Meyer teachers have booked me next week to co-teach iPad rules and to roll out an app for students to become independent with responsible iPad use and to prepare to roll out Dreambox. The K teachers are starting math stations!!! Woot woot!!!

Sept 4

Most teachers at Meyer are revamping their websites, and I've been booked TONS! One teacher has continued her learning on her own, and has been able to utilized lots of Google Sites tools to make the site her own. Math Stations are up and running at Meyer! Teachers are teaching students to use the materials, navigate the room, and work with a partner. They have designated an extra meeting time to focus only on math!

Oct 16

There are some great conversations happening at Meyer about math assessments and teaching using the Stations model. Now I have to figure out how to stop missing the mark on the resources I'm providing to support instruction.

One Meyer teacher brought up Plickers, so I'm going to get to apply my learning from using them with a K class last year to collaborate with her.

Nov 24th

Excited to work with all Meyer teams on RCDC, and to have teachers thankful that I am there. :) Moving toward that Instructional Coach role.

Jan 22

Teachers are investing in math stations more by using (precious) meeting time to discuss pre-assessments, sort activities for beginning/developing and advanced learners, and share ideas for teacher-table lessons.

A teacher booked me to introduce Plickers to her class, and we set up her account and planned the questions and lesson today.

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I am so proud of the persistence of the 6th grade social studies teachers who worked collaboratively with Annie and me to create a differentiated, engaging and challenging project. Initially, students were "giving up" and the teachers asked Annie and I to help them over the hurdle. Everyone stuck with the project and it turned out to be a great success for both teachers (now wanting to try additional ways of differentiating) and for the students who showed mastery of the standards being assessed.

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I am working with a Math teacher to use Exittix.com for quick check-in formative assessments through out her unit. She said to me today, "This is amazing, it is going to change my life."

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We wanted to show a potential medium for staying in touch with our teachers, sharing tools, tips or strategies and celebrating our accomplishments. This was the first take with no edits.

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9-4-15 Most teachers at Meyer are revamping their websites, and I've been booked TONS! One teacher has continued her learning on her own, and has been able to utilized lots of Google Sites tools to make the site her own. Math Stations are up and running at Meyer! Teachers are teaching students to use the materials, navigate the room, and work with a partner. They have designated an extra meeting time to focus only on math!

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Lisa It was rewarding to receive positive feedback after Annie and I presented at Institute Day.

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Lisa It was rewarding to receive positive feedback after Annie and I presented at Institute Day.

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9/4/15: I want to celebrate the McCracken Science Department. I am inspired by their eagerness to try new things and genuine interest in collaborating for the benefit of students!

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8.27.15 Exciting summer work with the coaching team to get us set up for success this year!  Also work behind the scenes to ensure that schedules and expectations at the building level mirror those at the district level.

9.4.15 We have now completed our roll out at each building- each was successful and created positive energy around our program.  Today the Supt shared that while attending a township meeting with our BOE president other districts were saying things like "we don't have anyone to help our teachers."  Our BOE president wrote her a note that said "we do- our coaches!"

10.16.15  I am excited to be attending this event in a few days, and to bring back information for our team!!

Northwestern University Educational Coaching NetworkThe Northwestern University Educational Coaching Network is a professional learning community for educational coaches. The Coaching Network provides a dynamic, collegial setting for coaches to strengthen their craft. Working together, we embolden our coaching skills to enhance classtoom instruction and student success.

Included in membership:

Three three-hour, after-school coaching networking sessions (October 20, February 23, May 12). Dinner will be served.

An all-day coaching conference (April 21, 2016) at Northwestern's Norris University Center.

Access to Edthena, a robust online video coaching platform.

Study materials, including a choice of a book, either Jim Knight's Instructional Coaching or Elena Aguilar's The Art of Coaching.

Ongoing coaching resources and support.

11.24.15

I am excited to be signed up to attend "Coaching Coaches" in April.  This will provide me the opportunity to learn more about the success factors related to our program and determine the best methods for sharing fidelity and outcome data with our supporters.

1.22.15

In admin last week we previewed the new teacher pre and post observation forms.  The post forms now include a provisional version of the identify questions!  These changes will apply to all certified staff forms, providing coaches a great means of engaging with teachers.  Earlier this month I participated in a planning meeting for ICIC- they are looking to expand offerings to Pk-5 coaches!
2.19.16
This week I was proud to share what our coaching program is all about and how coaches help teachers!  The best part was doing it along with two of our very own coaches.  Later that same day there was a successful training with 2nd grade to help them ready for implementing their first NGSS unit.
3.18.16
I received this amazing email from a teacher.  I am so proud of our program, and now on another level after getting this feedback.  What we do is all about helping teachers!
Hi Becky!

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for revamping and instituting a (coaching program). I turned in my portfolio today and, while evaluating myself, noticed much of my growth is due to my coaches. I so value having these resources. They make it easier to admit I need to revamp the way I do things and less scary to do so. This is not a plug for the ladies, although their personalities and expertise make (it) worth while. I am just grateful our district offers such resources.

Have a great day!

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8/27/15 - I have met and had conversations with all classroom teachers and am getting to know their students through classroom visits. Many teachers interested in Math Daily 3 to begin next week.

9/4/15 - After our coaching kickoff, a teacher emailed right away to say she wanted to go through the coaching cycle for math, so we will meet this week. I'm busy! Coaching Collaboration emails.

10/16/2015 - Teams are making progress with iBlock planning, and we are all figuring out how to work together to make it happen. Pre-observation meeting was really helpful! Keri rocks. Working with teachers 1:1 is proving exciting, and helping them walk through the coaching cycle will be a focus for me in the next couple months. Hattie gave us some great information about mindframes for learning and research-based high-impact strategies. Meeting with Paul and Emily was great to learn more about them, and the building.

11/24/2015 - A handful of teachers and I are building nice working relationships that are great for coaching, and that allow us to ask some of the "tough" questions around students and instruction. A few have booked me in the last couple weeks. Admin meetings will start soon and I'm looking forward to that partnership toward common goals and increased communication. IETC was awesome. Night of Code planning is awesome. Coaches are awesome. Becky is awesome. Thanksgiving is awesome. I'm so thankful to work in this district! Bookfair is almost over, which means I can more easily access my room.

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I want to celebrate Stephanie. I'm so excited to work and learn from her. I am proud of the fact that 5th grade has already asked to have mystery skypes this year. They are thinking about the role it plays in the curriculum. They would like to do it soon because they are in their geography unit. Love my new digs.

9/4/15

I want to celebrate our coaching kick-off at Middleton. I think we were well received. I'm also excited to be modeling a Kagan cooperative learning structure in a teacher's class on Tuesday. Thanks to Stephanie for sharing her knowledge of Kagan.

10/16/15

Helped a teacher create a Google Site that resembles a Parcc test. Very excited that a 5th grade teacher has launched her Student Digital Portfolios. Annie found a way to make it easy and it worked. Yay!! Working with a teacher around Hapara Workspace- an digital unit of study that is easily differentiated and managed.

11/24/15

I'm actually participating in a semi-authentic coaching cycle (minus the 1-10 rating). We started working together in September. She identified a need; we discussed ways to address the need. We agreed upon a rubric as well as a means to deliver the learning. We are actually administering and assessing formatives and using that information to inform instruction. I'm really proud of this wok, because last year I did very little to impact instruction. Most of my work was around new learning and understanding of devices or help creating technology products/projects.

1/22/16

The rolling ball is finally gaining some momentum. I have 3 Osmos for the younger El and Sped classes. Appointments have been made; vocabulary albums have been made. We are ready to roll. KidBlog has also begun in some select classes. Trying to roll it out at a team meeting was fruitless. I'm having more success with individuals.

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8/27/15-Successful kick-off meeting with teachers at Meyer with Amanda

Productive Summer Meetings with Grade 3 regarding common standards based pre-assessments and formative assessments for ELA Unit 1 with identification of need for a Questioning Strategy (QAR)

Anita Archer/Vocabulary Summer PD--leading to Vocabulary routines for Grade 5 Sci/SS

Working with SpEd teachers--using program-based pre-assessments/placements and leveling students for reading

9/4/15 - Successful kick-off meeting with Keri and Stephanie at Middleton

Primary grades--working on developmental pre-assessments and differentiating word work in first and second grades (yaa!) for a balanced literacy program

Continuing to support SpEd and Tier 1 teachers with placement assessments (Fountas and Pinnell, Reading Mastery, etc...)

11/24/15 Loving collaborating with Amanda and K-Teachers on developing an Enrichment ELA "curriculum"

Walked into 2 second grade classrooms and saw them using a "beefed up" Daily 5--word work sorts, word ladders, fluency routines for those students who need that additional support. Hooray!

Heard from one of the McCracken teachers at the last Vocab PD...she tried something new and was going to try some more. Nice to get some traction....one person at a time.

1/22/16

Kindergarten Enriched ELA is up and running--differentiated word work and some guided-reading units prepared (more to come) for students reading at end Gr. 1/beg. Gr. 2 reading levels.

In "reflection" part of the coaching cycle with several grade 2 teachers regarding some fluency work!

Working with Grade 4 team on additional vocabulary units--shades of meaning and multiple meaning words. Grade 2 is working on the same two sub-categories of the CCSS ELA (as a result of the last mini-conference PD). Creating some vertical consistency and continuity (woohoo!)!

5/27/15

K-ELA RCD sessions complete (for now) and mostly successful! Building understanding about Standards, and highlighting to-do's in curriculum.....off to good start. Also giving final assessments to the Enrichment students to see how they've grown!

Continuing to discuss/build Word Work (not spelling) capabilities that look different and are appropriate to each grade. In primary, being more strategic, differentiated and explicit with foundational phonics--in upper grades, transitioning time from rote spelling to Greek and Latin Roots, vocabulary, multi-syllabic words. This will impact comprehension.

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Successful summer trainings - Student Portfolios, Formative assessment and screen recording.

Lisa and I had fun with our roll out of Coaching at McCracken.

Love being in my new office.

The 7th grade SS teachers are starting the your with some maker space - team building challenges. Just started today and the kids really seem to like it.

Sept. 4th - We have 5 Mystery location Hangouts scheduled for next week (4 in 7th and 1 in 8th). Keri, can we talk?