I am super excited whenever I get to talk with Will Parker, and today is no different.
Today we are tackling three questions that principal listeners have shared with us from our podcasts, covering these topics:
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What to do if or when your teachers give you the cold shoulder about learning something new.
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How to manage student dynamics in competency-based instruction.
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Ways to measuring student growth in Social Emotional Learning settings.
Listen-in for the complete conversation.
Questions for Jethro and Will:
1. My teachers give me the cold shoulder when I try to introduce them to new ways of teaching. What should I do?
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Jethro and I discuss the following:
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Modeling for teachers
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Observation of other teachers
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What is he/she doing well already? Praise first, then instruct.
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Lead with the question, “Where do you want to grow?”
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Creating an enviornment where teachers ask for help
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Celebrating innovative teaching
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Learning to say yes before saying no
2. How do you make sure that students who struggle don't feel embarrassed or ashamed that they aren't working with their peers? When competency-based, what happens?...
We discuss this question with suggestions about:
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Defining expecations so that students measure against standards, not other students
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They are already in different places! Your expectations matter in their perceptions...
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Help them identify where they are good. And celebrate!
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It’s not about competition with peers, but competition with themselves.
3. How can Social Emotional Learning success be measured?
We respond with the following:
Discover the importantce of self-reflection. It’s okay to embrace different standards for everyone.
Resilient students don’t really need more resiliency training. They need something else.
A student with trauma needs different things than a student without.
Creat an environment where you want your own chidren
You can measure the indicators like discipline, attendance and graduation/completion rates
We share examples of SEL through FOMO -- karaoke cafeteria -- from Principal Kim Coody’s High School in Okahoma and Amy Fast’s emotional learning practices in Oregon
Recource recommended: Barb Sorrels - http://transformativeprincipal.org/episode269
Now It’s Your Turn
What is one new method or strategy you could model for your teachers or team? How can you instll in others the freedom to believe it’s okay to try and fail and in learning? And how can you celebrate the wins along the way?
Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL, and Renaissance Learning:
As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.
We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.
If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.
These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.
We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.
IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
- Simplify and streamline technology
- Save teachers’ time
- Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
- Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.