Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

Learning Through Problems and Struggles

“Neuroscientists have found that mistakes are helpful for brain growth and connectivity and if we are not struggling, we are not learning. Not only is struggle good for our brains but people who know about the value of struggle improve their learning potential.” (-Jo Boaler) Creating student’s understanding of the value of struggle and creating a psychologically safe environment for that struggle is a teacher’s task. We need the same safe environment for teachers to collaboratively tackle the problem and struggles in student learning.

Read Jo Boaler's article, "Why Struggle Is Essential for the Brain- and Our Lives" here. 
Watch the Edutopia video, "What Makes Productive Struggle Effective" here.
Watch Robert Kegan's "The Evolution of Self" here.

Peer Observation and Peer Coaching: Defining a Difference

Peer Observation and Peer Coaching - both build opportunities for teacher reflection, growth, and collective teacher efficacy. There is a difference between the two activities. Clarity on expectations of a collegial peer engagement may positively impact the experience and learning outcomes.

Read Steve's blog on learning walks at Manheim Central School District here.

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Continuous Teacher Growth

Director of Learning at American Community School of Abu Dhabi, Dr. Jen Ricks, explores the changes in moving from a focus on a teacher performance appraisal system to a professional growth model. She identifies options that are offered to teachers as they plan their growth opportunities around what their students need them to learn.

E-mail Jen: jenniferricks@acs.sch.ae

Find Jen on Twitter: @Jenricks

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

What to Look for in Your Kids’ Coaches

Volunteer and paid coaches connecting with your children can play an important role in developing important life skills as well as performing skills. Five elements of building developmental relationships and a strategy called “compete, learn, honor” are explored. How does a focus on safety, fun, and growth reinforce respect and empowerment?

Read "Tips for Youth Sports Coaches" from the Search Institute here.  
Find Coach Pete's videos here.

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

Traits of Effective Teams and Team Members

Just as instructional coaches need specific skills and mindsets to be an effective coach, teachers need specific skills and mindsets to gain from being coached. Similarly, team facilitators need important skills and mindsets, and team members need critical skills and mindsets of membership. Patrick Lencioni suggests that team members need to be hungry, humble, and smart. Gather insights and resources to reflect on your team and your team membership skills and mindsets.

Watch "Are you an Ideal Team Member" here. 
Read "Assessment: How well does Your Team Function" here. 

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

Coaching Generating Reflection Generating Growth

"If you don’t question what your experiences mean and think actively about them on an on-going basis, the evidence shows you are unlikely to improve.” - Alexandra Spalding

Using the Gibbs Reflection Cycle, Steve explores how a coach's questions and observations can maximize a teacher’s reflection and thus learning. Teachers’ insights are empowering.

View Spalding’s Guide to Reflective Practice in Teaching here.
View Gibbs Reflection Cycle here.

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

Leadership in the Classroom and Beyond

The author of "Leading Beyond Your Title: Creating Change in School from Any Role," Nili Bartley, shares reasons and strategies for generating leadership opportunities for students to lead. She identifies the value of teachers leading with their passions and learning the passions of others. Countless opportunities to create real change exist in every school just waiting for someone to take the lead.

Find Nili's book, "Leading Beyond Your Title: Creating Change in School from Any Role" here.

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

Supporting Teacher Leaders

How do teacher leaders work to build a coaching culture in a school? They should be the most coached teachers in the school.

Steve responds to these questions from teacher leaders:

• If I observe something that the teacher can easily fix, should I point it out?
• What if the teacher asks, "What should I do?”
• What do you do when a teach asks for suggestions and then doesn’t use them?

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

Encouraging Teachers to Teach with Big Concepts

Using science teaching and learning as an example, Dr. Stephanie Sisk-Hilton illustrates the importance of exploring big concepts and connected systems with students. She shares her work with colleagues, designing a program leading to a Climate Justice Education certificate. Suggestions on how coaches can assist teachers to expand current instructional practices are included.

Email Dr. Sisk-Hilton: stephsh@sfsu.edu
Read, "A New Program Will Train Teachers to Teach Climate Change, Without the ‘Doom and Gloom’" here.

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

Learning to Learn From Mistakes

Dr. Maleka Donaldson, parent, teacher, education professor and author of "From Oops to Aha: Portraits of Learning From Mistakes in Kindergarten," shares her vast experiences for parents’ consideration. Children at all ages are reading cues concerning the acceptance of mistakes. As parents, we need to be aware of the message we are communicating. How have our past experiences influenced our unconscious responses?

Visit Dr. Donaldson's website here.
Find Dr. Donaldson's book, "From Oops to Aha: Portraits of Learning From Mistakes in Kindergarten" here.

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