I agree, though certainly new teachers need support. I always think about Piaget's research that says that children learn best not from experts, but from those a few steps ahead. I do not mean to set myself up as expert--far from it--but sometimes I find myself coaching over the heads of new teachers who just aren't ready for this yet. It is a self-reminder I must give frequently.
On 9/28/08 10:34 AM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Oh, yes, Lori, I totally understand. In fact, I'll just bet the coaches would > rather be working with us vets dedicated to delving, but the powers that be... > However, I would like to say that I think the district would get a lot of bang > for its buck if it would help us at the higher levels and let us help the > newbies. > Just a thought, > Judy > > > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: ljackson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Amen, Judy, but this is not always the doing of coaches. Sometimes it is >> the administrative pushing for mentoring vs. coaching. I see a need for >> both, but some at the admin level see it as synonymous--pushing towards >> working only with the new staff. >> >> >> On 9/28/08 8:27 AM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> I've saved all of your posts and have reread this one several times. I've >>> reflected deeply on the sentiment that some of you are trying to move >>> teachers >>> in a direction they don't want to travel...and I've tried not to let your >>> posts bother me. But now, LOL, I can't stand it anymore and I'm going to >>> tell >>> you why they do. >>> >>> As a teacher who WANTS with all her heart to teach deeply and to the highest >>> of expectations, I am bothered that our coaches think I need no help. All >>> coaching help goes to the new teachers. I find this sad for two reasons: >>> first, I want to improve. >>> >>> Secondly, the help that is going to our new teachers is not deep. Believe >>> me, >>> our new teachers are hard-working, but the standard in my district is high >>> and >>> they're swimming as fast as they can just to survive day-to-day. We have 2 >>> brand new teachers (of 4) at my grade level. I've put in a lot of time >>> helping them and I believe they're just not ready for deep thinking as they >>> don't know anything about teaching reading. Perhaps Ellin will say that ALL >>> teachers can start off with comprehension strategies on day #1, but it seems >>> to me these darling new teachers need some foundation in the more tangible >>> aspects (like decoding, fluency, and surface/literal comprehension). It >>> seems >>> to me that they just don't have enough understanding of the reading process >>> to >>> be ready for the really tough stuff. I hope you'll say I'm wrong and that >>> they can do it all, but I wonder.... >>> >>> Judy >>> >>> >>> >>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>> From: Steve Mabry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> HI all! >>>> >>>> I am intrigued by the final question for our first reading. >>>> >>>> ....In what ways can we live our adult lives as intellectually curious >>>> leaders >>>> for our students and for our colleagues? >>>> >>>> I can't tell you how many nights I stayed up thinking - why didn't my >>>> teachers >>>> get it? Why don't they want to help their students - to move them beyond >>>> the >>>> expected curriculum and into differentiation and individualization and >>>> understanding? Why they didn't have an internal drive and motivation to >>>> replicate what Ellin and Debbie and everyone was writing about and modeling >>>> in >>>> their books? I modeled the ideas and goals at faculty meetings and in our >>>> weekly newsletters by both taking pictures of the activities and usage of >>>> the >>>> strategies in classes and including snapshots and ideas from the books >>>> themselves. >>>> >>>> But I could not motivate the teachers who were in the "been there done >>>> that" >>>> mode. They made fun of the teachers who were taking leaps. They got >>>> extremely >>>> cliquey. It was just so depressing! What kept me going was the fact that >>>> I >>>> knew what I was writing/talking/modeling was right for both the teacher and >>>> the >>>> students. >>>> >>>> So....to answer the question - by modeling, blogging, dicsussing, showing >>>> how >>>> to >>>> never stop learning...our actions speak louder than words. The sad thing >>>> is >>>> that there are so many of us who are isolated islands of application. The >>>> good >>>> thing is that there are places like this where the isolated islands can >>>> find >>>> refuge, mentorship, and relief. >>>> >>>> But how to be there for our colleagues? I think they have to be ready >>>> first. >>>> >>>> I obviously never figured out the answer to that one! >>>> Lori >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Understand mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.or>>>> g >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Understand mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org >> >> -- >> Lori Jackson >> District Literacy Coach & Mentor >> Todd County School District >> Box 87 >> Mission SD 57555 >> >> http:www.tcsdk12.org >> ph. 605.856.2211 >> >> >> Literacies for All Summer Institute >> July 17-20. 2008 >> Tucson, Arizona >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Understand mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Understand mailing list > [email protected] > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute July 17-20. 2008 Tucson, Arizona _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list [email protected] http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
