No...you are not way off. I do agree with you that you should be getting coaching too. I also agree that you would have a LOT to offer these new people as well. Is there any reason why you can't offer your help now? I would watch for any opportunity you have to open that door. If they are making comprehension salads, yet don't understand what is behind good comprehension, maybe you can help! How about a book discussion or lesson study? I learned a TON last year from teachers who had more than ten years less experience than I did as we went through the lesson study process together. I just think that teaching for depth IS...or maybe I should say SHOULD BE, a basic. Of course, we need them to master things like classroom management, effective lesson planning etc first before we get into any of the pedagogy of teaching reading. If your newbies are not even coming with classroom management, then the coaches ought to spend every spare moment with them! Jennifer In a message dated 9/28/2008 1:13:38 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Jennifer, you make a really good point when you say "if only the newbies are getting the coaching then we had better integrate the teaching for depth right away." With three, we have even fewer newbies than you, but I think you're assuming that they have something to "integrate the teaching for depth" into. Maybe our new teachers just didn't get the training in teaching reading in college, but they are clearly in unknown territory (as I was when I first started teaching). So I'm politely asking, don't they need to know some basics? For vets, I want to back up a bit. The 2 most dedicated Keenites in my school are 2 of the oldest and we figured it out ourselves (from books and conferences) before we had coaches. Our first coach worked with everyone, but with this year's California budget cuts, our coaches are now sharing schools and we see them even less. I completely understand admin's priority on new teachers, but I'm wondering if coaches were able to give us some time, perhaps we could help the newbies. I am a reader. I have always been a reader and I have always taken teaching reading seriously. I'm worried about teaching newbies to dive before they can swim on the surface, but perhaps I'm being elitist and don't really understand at all. I do know that it makes my teeth grate when new teachers are mixing comprehension salads that are "so cute" and understand nothing of comprehension. But, again, maybe I'm way off the mark. Judy **************Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators. (http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001) _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list [email protected] http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
