Week 6: Coaching and Communication

L&T Chapter 5 (questions 1 and 2) 

Question 1:  

I feel confident in critical communication.  I feel like every time I would plan with a teammate (weekly), this was a type of communication that came up.  We’d bounce ideas off each other.  We’d ask each other for help in a certain area.  We’d give each other ideas to try.  Given, trust had to form to be able to do this.  But after I’ve set the climate in my school, hopefully open and honest, I will be able to talk with teachers this way.  I think the important part of this is asking teachers for their help and suggestions too.  Not thinking, “because I’m the reading specialist, I need to know all the answers.”  I feel my personality is good at admitting when I don’t understand, and I’m good at asking others for their help.  

Questions 2:  I think the area I’m struggling most with is the “speaker’s message” on page 89.  I am going to be pre-conference, observing, and de-briefing a teacher on Thursday.  She is so nervous.  This chapter has helped me learn some ways to ease that anxiety.  I’ve talked to her and tried to explain some of the questions I might present her with and this helped her grasp the ideas.  She feels better about picking a goal and/or standard to focus on now.  Before she’d never thought of teaching this way.  The chapter helped me choose terms to use.  For example, saying “ this sounds like an exciting lesson, can’t wait to learn from you.”   Trying using “we” instead of “I”.  I’ve already decided to bring a little treat to help break the ice!  I’m thinking in the future a candy basket that comes with me to classes would be fun!  Candy always makes me happy!  I think my needs are just practice.  It’ll get easier the more I do it!.

Finally, think about how communication skills are important as you read about working to create a shared knowledge base.

It’s vital to foster an open and honest environment within a school.   Knowing how to communicate in different situations will help in resolving conflict, delivering, information, and helping the environment learn.  The coaching atmosphere is really dependent on the reading specialist.  The reading specialist job is to listen, provide feedback, teach, model, discuss, persuade, encourage, create written documents, and present information.  For each of those areas, communication in required.  Reading specialist must be poised and precise with their words.  I kind of think of a reading specialist as the ring leader.  They get everyone excited.  They help create an organized environment; while showcasing the special talents everyone obtains.  They have to keep peace and help everyone get along.  The reading specialist can improve or hurt the environment of a school depending on their attitude and communication skills.  Allowing everyone to voice their thoughts and knowledge opens a shared knowledge base.  Everyone can learn from each other.  Teachers must feel heard and valued.  Knowing your knowledge can help others, builds confidence.  When your skills are acknowledged, you feel respected.  Feeling free to be the teacher you are, helps everyone feel appreciated.      

Meeting:

My birthday is Saturday, don’t plan it around me, BUT if at all possible I have family in all day Saturday to celebrate and would love to be able to see them!  Other than that I can do any day in the evening to discuss our results.  I would love to have Dr. Beach facilitate too!  I’m feel unsure of exactly what needs to be done!  How long do we need to set aside for this conference?

Also, for our survey results…

 Dr. Beach, do you want us to send you the actual google excel form that the results collected in?  Or would you like an organized chart showing the top results for each section? or both?