Coaches Meeting

December 1, 2008  12:00 - 2:00

 

Facilitating:  Paul           Recording:  Ann         

Party Hats:   Amy  (Come on - we gotta CELEBRATE!!)

 

Informational/Calendar

Review of Agenda

Calendar - - - Updates, Schedules, Meetings

     was awesome

 

Karen - update on Smartboard grant status

     Round 2 congrats letters go out this week with equip list and other details

     In the process of contacting principals to notify them of amount required for installation $179 per board plus a $150 for the building permit

     79 people will be getting boards- 9 additional teachers were funded. Yipee!

     Teacher observations are being set up for round 1 people at day 2

     Putting together a video for the Morgridges of classrooms 3 elem and 3 H.S.

 

Report from Dave on status of the website and content management system vis a vis  hosting content from C2MO participants.

•      It's probably a year out at best. It's a huge project. C.M.S  is a way that schools can update their own part of the website without going to the webmaster. The content management system is in place but the support components around it needs a lot of work. Materials are all over the place. There is no core place / intranet except First Class and that is not a friendly place.
•      First Class web site publishing was for individual teachers not for schools. Some schools are going ahead and creating their school web site, this creates another solution or silo. People have taken off on this on thier own.
•      How can we create a central repository for resources?
•      A lot of the issue is training.
•      Can't make the decision on our own as it involves a lot of different departments. Need a system and an agreement from the group.
•      Dave will take this concern to C2MO leadership.
•      Short answer- no answer

 

iTunesU- Apple does not want a disctrict to be the lead on a state consortium so we are on hold. Has to be a state-wide initiative

 

Wiggle Works feedback- small pockets of use, very limited

 

One more thing.... question about Google Docs

     Have to be 18 to have an account

     Ben thought we could put the accounts all under our domain so it's OK.

          Ned can put individual names in under the CCSD domain- he needs

 

 

 

Professional Learning

Mary's visit- Ann

How does our discussion with her impact our work?

Please prepare by reviewing the content of Mary's visit in what ever way makes sense for you.  The audio recording of the presentation is posted in the First Class IT coaches conference.

 

Points of discussion:

 

• What was discussed at the meeting, which had meaning and impact with your work with teachers?

Still trying hard and ineffectively to change the culture of a site based district.  We're talking organizational development.  ie  It's bigger than just me

 

Somehow I have to figure out how to make "it" happen.  What is our consciousness about ouf job? It's my fault  ---->  It's not my fault  ---->  It might be my fault and what can I do differently?  How can we change and grow to face the needs of differnt schools?

What role do belifes play in teaching, our coaching?  Are we to the point where we might be able to say some programs aren't worth it?  The gap between what we're supposed to do, and what we believe about teaching. 

We all hold beliefs about our work that manifest in what we do.  Connect to the aspects I believe in, and move those forward.  Being one of the "them" is kind of creepy, especially when I see how they seem to be ignoring classroom realities.  It's OK to ask our people if we're helping them.  A lack of congruence between what we try to do, and what we believe ( which teachers can easily perceive )  hampers our effectiveness. 

Be conscious of your own style and that of the person with whom we work as long as we are all aligned toward the same goals.  That awareness helps us connect and become more efffective.  It also keeps the door open for the next time. 

Locus of control - work on the things that we can affect.  Do the teachers fit these district programs into their teaching, or do we fit the programs into their teaching.  Spend more time reading the situation so that the work you do is on the right topic.

Our greatest strength should be in the diagnostic.  Being a better scholar about states of mind and cognitive coaching will help our work. 

Congruency - it's not about us, but about meeting them where they are and meeting them there, with the intention of bringing them into a better understanding of that work.  I can be more conscious about my effectiveness by listening to my own coaching through a recording of my coaching conversation. 

Senge vs. Guskey.  Atitudes first then behaviors, or behaviors and then attitude?  Since the district is so much behaviour first, how do we differentiate for those who need to change their attitudes first.  It was fascinating to watch how Mary flexibly adapted to her constant appraisal of the situation. 

 

• Where are you in terms of consciousness with the TL Cycle?

 

• What do you do to diagnose present state in order to move to desired state?

 

• What meaning does congruence have for you and how does that fit into the work that you do with teachers?

 

"Congruence is the state achieved by coming together, the state of agreement. The Latin congruere means to come together, agree. As an abstract term, congruence means similarity between objects. Congruence, as opposed to equivalence or approximation, is a relation which implies a kind of equivalence, though not complete equivalence.

     In psychology and NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming), congruence could be defined as rapport within oneself, or internal and external consistency, perceived by others as sincerity or certainty."

 

Walk away prompt: " I hear a lot of desire for craftsmanship. I encourage you to focus on your own self-reflection. I would encourage you to live a little more in consciousness about your own beliefs and values, the context you are in, the context that your teachers are in. I think that that will guide you. You have to be really conscious of what is in your heart and head. You need to deepen your own consciousness about your own context and beliefs."

 

 

 

New Technologies

 

Yak Pack:  Cindy and Paul

 

 

Instruction and Classroom practice

 

Paul - The Brave New Web 2.0 World