Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

Supporting Teacher Wellbeing

Keith Young, a co-author of, "The Teaching Strategy Handbook: 200+ Solutions for Common Classroom Challenges," explores the strategies from the book’s Chapter 8, "Teacher Burnout and Stress." Keith shares the practices individual teachers can implement as well as the roles that teacher leaders, instructional coaches and administrators can play in support of teachers. The impact that effective PLCs can play is highlighted. Coaches can support teachers in exploring “circles of influence” as a way of focusing energy investment. Having options addressed throughout "The Teaching Strategy Handbook" support teacher wellbeing.

Listen to Keith’s earlier podcast, "Observing and Coaching Classroom Management" here. 

Visit Keith's website and get in touch here. 

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A Coaching Model of Coachability

It’s rather clear to most people that to be an effective coach one needs an appropriate mindset for investing in the growth of others and a set of listening and verbal skills for coaching conferencing. Less often considered are the mindsets and skills needed to gain from coaching input. We might label it as one’s coachability. Robyn Vierra, the Teaching and Learning Coordinator at the American School in New Delhi, shares her experiences with being coached. Consider your coachability as you hear Robyn’s story.

Connect with Robyn: rvierra@aes.ac.in

Find the Instructional Coaching Micro-Credential Program here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Real Objects, Curiosity, and Inquiry

Tania Lattanzio from Innovative Global Education examines the impact of real objects and the real environment on student learning:

When real objects and real environments are the starting point:

• Curiosity leads the learning.
• Questioning feels purposeful.
• Wonder is protected.
• Understanding grows from evidence.

It communicates that learning is not about receiving information, but about making sense of the world. Honoring students as thinkers.

Visit the Innovative Global Education website and connect with Tania here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Building Teachers' Trust for AI Adoption

Roney Nascimento, an IB Diploma Mathematics Teacher and AI solutions developer describes his response to this insight.

"Teachers weren’t avoiding AI because they didn’t understand it. They were avoiding it because they didn’t trust it or trust themselves to use it responsibly. They were skeptical and wary."  

Gain insights for your professional learning design both in and out of technology adoption.

Read Roney's ASCD article here.

Find Roney's book, "Generative AI for Teachers: A Practical Guide to Educational Technology" here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Coaching Around the Fidelity Question

Have you heard this from school leaders? “We invested heavily in this new curricular program. Teachers were invited to give input during the decision-making process. Resources were purchased. Training was completed. Expectations were communicated. We all want greater consistency across classrooms and stronger outcomes for students. So why aren’t teachers implementing the program with fidelity?” Fidelity to purpose that engages teachers as professional partners is likely necessary.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

 

The Intersection of Curriculum, Technology, and People to Deliver Learning Outcomes

Sari Factor, the Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at Imagine Learning, explores the intersection of curriculum, technology, and people. These questions are explored:

• What makes a curriculum high quality?
• How can technology best support the teaching and learning process?
• What role might AI play in extending this intersection?
• How should schools be considering the questions around screen time?
• What role do instructional coaches and school leaders have in supporting high quality learning?

Visit the Imagine Learning website here.    

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Coachee Driven Coaching

As a guest on another podcast, I was asked what were my thoughts, after all my years in the coaching field, what the ideas and ideals of coaching done well would be? "Coaching done well"
begins with the coachee’s thinking driving the work, and continues with the coach intentionally choosing responses that move that thinking forward. It isn’t about selecting the "right" strategy —it’s about selecting the response that best supports the coachee’s reflection and growth at that moment.

Check out the Coaching Done Well Podcast here. 

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Rigor and Scaffolding

Rigor doesn’t mean more work, and it doesn’t mean figuring it out on your own without support. It should mean achievement at a level just outside of a student’s ability to do things unaided. Just like temporary building support structures, scaffolds for learners are designed to provide access to rigorous learning for all. We want our learners to have what they need to experience productive struggle at a higher level of challenge. James Fester describes strategies to create that support.

Read James' article, "How to Scaffold Learning and Maintain Rigor" here. 

Visit the National Park Classroom website here.

Visit James' website and get in contact here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

 

Building Resourcefulness, Resilience, and Collaboration

Resourcefulness, resilience, and collaboration are critical mindsets, and skill sets, for students to develop. For schools to support those outcomes, educators must have the opportunity to develop the same. Mitch Weisburgh, the author of, "Mindshifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success," explores the importance and possibilities.

What’s the role of wellbeing and hope in achieving long term, deep learning?

Visit the Mindshifting Website & connect with Mitch here.

Download "Why We React Instead of Respond" — a free MindShifting Conversation Circle for your educator team here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

 

Starting Post-Conference Conversations That Lead to Reflection

What’s one of the first questions you tend to ask a teacher after you’ve broken the ice in a post-conference? Here’s one I hear very often: “How do you think that went?" I cringe a little when I hear that question. The reason is something I learned the hard way early in my coaching career.  That question can lead to teachers protecting and the moment protection enters the conversation, reflection usually leaves it.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!