“Are we giving students answers to questions they haven’t asked and solutions to problems they have never encountered?” Author and consultant with an expertise in blended learning options, Catlin Tucker, explores bringing relevance, curiosity, and inquiry into our students learning opportunities. She describes "onboarding" students to learning opportunities.

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

What impact is created when teachers play a greater role in guiding the observations that school administrators conduct? Ty McGee, an administrator with the Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools in Saudi Arabia, describes the design process used and the plan that emerged to increase teacher’s satisfaction with observation feedback. Consider how this plan for teacher feedback models what we would want to see happening for students.

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

“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.

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.

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

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.

Find Jen on Twitter: @Jenricks

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

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?

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

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.

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

"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.

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

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!

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?

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