Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

Exploring the Why of Instructional Coaching

Simon Senik’s advice to focus communicating the WHY of your organization before the how and what has a direct application to a staff’s understanding of “why” an investment in instructional coaching would be made. Decisions about a coaching model, the selection of coaches, the training provided to coaches, as well as the expectations for administrators, coaches, and teachers should all be connected to the program’s “WHY.”

Agile Classrooms for Student and Teacher Empowerment

Agile Classrooms provide for student-centered learning, collaboration, iteration, continuous feedback, and adaptability. Experienced teacher and Agile coach, Jessica Cavallaro, describes how Agile revolutionized her teaching practice and shares how teachers can create classrooms where students are active participants, planning alongside teachers, making informed decisions about their learning tasks.  Agile classrooms foster independent learning where students tackle problems with creativity and critical thinking.

E-mail Jessica: jessica@the-agile-mind.com

Find Jessica's resources here. 

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Another Look At Educator Beliefs and Behaviors

"Stop Saying These Kids Don’t Care About School." That’s the title of an op-ed piece written by podcast guest Laurie Putnam, superintendent in St Cloud, MN. Laurie identifies how this sentence buries the real challenges and daily struggles that many of her students’ face.  That belief undermines our collective responsibilities to nurture future generations. Hear examples of some strategies that St Cloud has implemented that have positively impacted student engagement. Consider how you create an environment for educators to safely explore beliefs that are often unconscious.

Read "Stop Saying ‘These Kids Don’t Care About School’" here. 

E-mail Laurie: laurie.putnam@isd742.org

Find Laurie's LinkedIn here. 

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Podcasting for Learning

Thanks to staff at PLS3rdLearning and scores of educators and authors, we are celebrating our 500^th podcast! We took a few minutes to share our experiences with you. It has been exciting to have my learning extended as we created an opportunity to ponder about teaching and learning with guests and listeners.

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

Exploring Student Learning With Teachers

Liz Keable, a specialist in guiding increased student leaning through metacognition practices, provides insights and suggestions for supporting and coaching teachers. "If we want to have a real impact on the next generation, there is one thing vastly more important than our teaching, and that is their learning.” You’ll find “look fors” and questions to build into your coaching practices.

Contact Liz: success@lizkeable.com  

Visit Liz's website here. 

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

Educators’ Beliefs Drive Educators’ Behaviors

Kyle Coppes, a secondary principal, shares the thinking behind an opinion piece he wrote titled, "Student Laziness Is a Myth. Here’s Why" - "The belief that laziness exists will limit the behavior of any teacher who encounters it, and that is harmful. Essentially, it is a teacher’s get-out-of-jail-free card: If a student does not complete a task on time, and if laziness is the culprit, then giving a zero or assigning detention is the right tool for the job.” How do you explore teachers’ beliefs and generate reflection upon those beliefs as part of coaching?

Read Kyle's article, "Student Laziness Is a Myth. Here’s  Why" here.

Visit Kyle’s website here.

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

 

Tech Tools and Student Engagement

Heather Lyon, the author of, "Engagement is Not a Unicorn, It’s a Narwahl" and "The Big Book of Engagement Strategies," shares her insights on student engagement and teacher strategies from her new book, "50 Ways to Engage Students with Google Apps." Teachers' knowledge and understanding of pedagogical choices is key to tech tools tapping student engagement.

Find Heather’s many resources here.

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

Communicating Interest and Positiveness in Coaching

Just as teachers use a focus on communicating interest and positiveness to inspire, motivate, and foster a positive learning classroom environment, coaches need to communicate the same with their coachees. Interest and positiveness can impact an individual's self-esteem, motivation, and performance. Communicating interest and positiveness is not just about what you say but also how you say it. The effectiveness of your communication lies in your ability to make the other person feel seen, heard, and valued.

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

Supporting Your Child as Learner

With many years of experience as a Success Coach supporting the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged students, Liz Keable provides concrete "do and don’t do" guidance for parents and caretakers.  Learn ways to build students’ understanding of their own role in the learning process, their belief in their capability as a learner, and the internal motivation to face challenges.

To receive a free copy of 'The A-Z of Supporting Learner Achievement," e-mail Liz at: success@lizkeable.com

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

Coaching Post Conferencing

How do coaches increase teacher voice and reflection in post conferencing? Too often the coach’s voice can sound more like a report being given (similar to supervision conferences) rather than a conversation. You’ll gain some mindsets, strategies, and questions in this podcast.

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