My first year as a coach, I learned more in 180 days than I did teaching 9 years in the classroom. When I was thrown into a D.O. coaching position in October the following year, I learned more in one day than I ever thought possible! Most important of my "new knowledge" was learning that many of our teachers are talented in ways they do not even realize. Their ideas are WONDERFUL! The problem is, they don't see their ideas that way and therefore do not share them out. They also don't realize that, while I was modeling teaching strategies for them to coach them in their teaching practice, I was also learning from them. Education is a LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITY which is why I love it so much. I learned techniques from veteran teachers and first year teachers alike that I plan on using with the kids (and adults!) I work with throughout the rest of my career.
I have learned that being a coach is more than just being a "resource." It is more than me giving you "stuff" to use in your classroom. Although this "stuff" is great, it's not going to help us meet our goal of student success. Especially if you are unsure of how to use it. It is my sincere hope that this blog will be a place that we can all collaborate (anonymously if you so choose) to share not only "stuff", but also ideas in ways to use this "stuff." Okay, I'll stop with the "stuff." :-) ANY resource that you see on here, please know that I will be glad to either model how to use it in your classroom myself or set you up with another teacher to model for you. We are also happy to plan with you using the resource if this is what you would like for us to do. The resource may also be changed according to your suggestions. Change is how we grow.
I want to make it clear that I will NEVER dictate that you use a certain instructional "program" to the letter as scripted in a book. Scripts are guides. While they are good starting points for beginning something new, they aren't teachers. You have to bring the teacher into the teaching. I used to be part of a "program" district. My question to them was always, "you want to see Jan (Jan Richardson guided reading), you want to see Lucy (Lucy Calkins reading and writing workshop), when do you want to see SUZIE?" All I got in return was a dirty look (I'm good at getting these...)
After this experience, I promised myself I would never be a dictator telling you to say what's in the book and nothing else. What I strive to do is show you some "tried and true" programs/methods that have worked for me and/or other teachers and help you MODIFY it to the needs of your students.
Okay, off my soap box...for now ;)
Some things you need to know about how this blog is set up:
The "What's Up, Doc" came from my daddy who not only loves Looney Tunes, but loved saying it to me right after I received my doctorate. :)
Anytime you see the picture of Bugs Bunny, that's just my 2 cents on the subject I'm talking about or a piece of advice for you. Those who were here the past 2 years know that I always have at least 2 cents on any subject... take the advice, or don't, it's up to you. But, if you have advice to add to it, share it with us and give us your 2 cents! The pages of the blog are set up by the most asked for resources from last year. If you would like to see a page/idea added to this blog for us to collaborate on, please let me know. After all, this is for your use, not mine.
Contact me any time! Dr. Larsen
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