4-25-2012+coaches+meeting+notes

 Objectives:  
 * ==To share successful coaching strategies between schools ==
 * ==To collaboratively determine effective strategies for implementing instructional coaching without or with limited release time ==
 * ==To use questioning techniques to help teachers and student become more reflective ==
 * ==To develop an understanding of the appropriate use of questioning in the coaching/teacher relationship ==
 * ==To actively develop measurable and realistic goals for our group ==
 * ==To become proficient at incorporating Type 1&2 writing opportunities into content area lessons ==
 * ==To examine the effects of teacher reflectiveness on student engagement and performance ==

 __Notes: __ We began the day with a share out session to discuss successes and concerns we have encountered since out last meeting.
 * ** Successes ** ||  ** Concerns **  ||
 * * Trying new strategies with success (Think-Pair-Share; Discussion Journals, Word Splash, etc.)
 * Collaboration improving
 * Using department meetings for quick professional development/ coaching opportunities
 * Facebook Literature Circles- Sarah shared her success using Facebook as a means to run a book club. Students posted summaries, discussion topics, and pictures to support comprehension. || * NO TIME!
 * Small failures lead people to fall back onto old, familiar strategies
 * It seems that people are still not buying into “experience” of learning…curriculum too wide? ||

After a share out session, we explored “Corkboard Me,” an online interactive bulletin board that students can create and share posts. Another tool we tried out was the “Digital Dropbox.” The Digital Dropbox can be used to access files saved on any computer when stored in the dropbox. A shared folder was created for PIIC materials, in which all members can access.

As stated in the agenda, we were to discuss how to use questioning techniques to help teachers and student become more reflective, as well as to develop an understanding of the appropriate use of questioning in the coaching/teacher relationship. Before lunch, we had a brief discussion about Questions and Reflection, focusing on when we reflect as teachers. To extend the discussion, teachers skimmed/scanned the article, //It’s About the Questions.// Using the whip around strategy, members shared highlights from the article including questioning techniques and ground rules for coaching. Next, teachers participated in role-plays, simulating a teacher-coach relationship. During this process, teachers created scenarios in which the coach would ask questions/follow up questions to get beyond the surface of the reflection process with the teacher. Afterwards, teachers provided example questions that could be used to help teachers/coaches become more reflective.

The final task of the meeting was to discuss the potential goals and ideas for our “coaching future.” Teachers met in collaborative groups with representatives from each district to discuss ideas for coaching at the start of the school year; the use of professional development opportunities for coaching; using PLCs, Learning Walks, and Model classrooms to build and maintain the momentum of coaching opportunities; as well as specific and measurable coaching goals for our districts. Please see the wiki for individual group notes.