Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

Switching Students’ Focus: From Grades to Learning

Many teachers get frustrated with students’ questions such as, "Does this count in my grade?” or "What can I do for extra credit?" Middle school math teacher, Crystal Frommert, shares strategies that teachers can implement to encourage students to focus on learning rather than “getting a grade.” Crystal’s goal: making grades more accurate, collaborative, and much less stressful.

Find Crystal's article, "Five Ways to Help Students Focus on Learning Rather Than Grades" here.

Find Crystal on Twitter: @mrs_frommert

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Coaching and Program Fidelity

The implementation of new curriculums and/or instructional strategies should create an opportunity for increased team building across a school system. Fidelity is important and unlikely to be built through supervision. Reminding teachers of fidelity in statements rather than in discussions and telling them to “trust the program” may not have the desired impact. Engaging teachers in a partnership with school leaders to learn from the implementation of a new program with integrity should be our goal.

Read the Iris Center article, "Understanding Fidelity of Implementation and Its Importance" here. 

Read Jim Knight's article, "High-Quality Teaching High Fidelity Teaching" here. 

Parents, Caretakers & Kids: Yay for Yoga

Listen in as experienced teacher, founder of Mari Fox Wellness, and author of "Yay for Yoga," Mari Irwin shares her passion and beliefs in the joy of yoga for families.

Visit Mari's website here. 

Find Mari's book here.

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

A Gratitude-Based Approach to Problem-Solving

What changes if we approach problem-solving with a focus on love instead of a focus on fear? Hear how students have become engaged in exploring change by starting with gratitude rather than beginning with “What needs to change?” Adam Fishman, the founder of Onora, a company with a focus on impacting climate change, shares how his change to a gratitude approach reshaped his company’s approach and how he is sharing that possibility with students.

Visit the Onora website here.
Contact Adam: adam@onoraglobal.com 

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

 

Psychological Theories and Principles Connected to Coaching

Explore how five different psychological theories or frameworks appear in a coach’s practice: person centered, solution focused, self-efficacy, self-determination, and positive psychology. Steve shares how he sees elements of each in his coaching work.

Read "Creating Coaching Cultures in Schools," here. 

Watch Daniel Pink's video on Motivation here. 

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

 

Encouraging Students to Slow Down, Breathe, Unplug, and Have Fun

Listen in as Steve talks with experienced teacher, Founder of Mari Fox Wellness, and author of "Yay for Yoga," Mari Irwin. Mari provides yoga workshops at schools and for participants of all ages throughout her community. Explore what teachers can take from an understanding of Yoga to create positive experiences for students that are empowering.

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

Where Are They? How Did They Get There? Where Do They Want to Go?

These three questions can guide your coaching pre and post conferences. They help you understand what the teacher is thinking, what experiences have influenced the teacher’s current thinking, and where the teacher would like to be in the future. Possible questions for a post conference and a sample pre-conference with a teacher are included. 

View the Questions for Learning here.

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

Podcast for Parents: Coaching Math Learning

I began the podcasts for parents at the start of the quarantine when I wanted to support parents as they worked with their children learning at home. I described the role for parents as a learning coach rather than teacher.  Our guest for this podcast, Dr. Hilary Kreisberg has written two books around parents being partners with schools in generating students’ success in math. She offers action parents as coaches and advocates can take.

Find Hilary on Twitter: @Dr_Kreisberg
Visit the Center for Mathematics Achievement website. 
Find Hilary's Book, "Partnering with Parents in Elementary Math" here.
Find Hilary's book, "Adding Parents to the Equations: Understanding Your Child’s Elementary Math" here.

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

 

Food for Thought: Gratitude-Based Curiosity Conversations

What might your students discover by entering into conversations over holiday meals that are gratitude-based and curious? Hear Adam Fishman describe his experiences exploring sustainability with teachers, students, and communities. Discover why gratitude is a door opener to curiosity and connection.  Gain resources to explore the possibilities with your students.

Visit the Onora website here.
Contact Adam: adam@onoraglobal.com 

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

Strengthening Teacher Professional Learning: PLC’s and Coaching

A paper from the Research Partnership for Professional Learning identifies the “what and how” from studies exploring teacher learning impacting student learning. The findings around teacher collaboration and coaching point to practices that are important for the implementation of new curriculum and the work of instructional coaches. Administrators should be exploring their roles in supporting effective PLCs and maximizing instructional coaches’ impact on teacher learning for student learning. What encourages accountability for continued teacher learning?

Find the paper, "Building Better PL: How to Strengthen Teacher Learning" here. 

Find Steve's blog on building developmental relationships here.

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