Coach+mentoring+Group+1

Group 1

=Coach Mentoring=

// Guiding Question: What elements of coach mentoring can we as TIMs use to assist coaches in helping teachers develop engaging and academically challenging assignments and reflect on their work? //


 * 1) What do we already know about this topic?
 * 2) What are the challenges to address this need?
 * 3) What do we need to know to create a solution? (Positive/Negative)
 * 4) What resources are available to us?


 * __Group 1:__**

Lucky to work w/ PIIC person – who coached first at a District – this was invaluable. PIIC BDA helpful for meetings and for planning. Nice to have way to plan. Template for every meeting. Use “Do Now”s, Think-Pair-Share. Use these at meetings. First time for Ts to do some of this – thought Ts knew this. We can model for Cs, we can be a funnel for information. Can point out to Cs to point out to Ts how much we’re already doing of PBL. To break it down and make it clear that it’s not completely new, and is less intimidating. In Year 1 we were hung up on Tools. We talked about this tool and that tool. It gets boring. Need to put it into a mind-set of “how can I be a better T” – to choose which tools to use because there are so many. One IU does a meeting section on teaching and another section on Tools – for sharing “wow” tools. Part of mentoring is allaying fears, and alleviating anxiety. Use questions to ascertain where they are so you can provide support. We know how to frame Qs for reflection. Need to build trust and feel safe. So they can share what they don’t know, and what they do know, and what’s happening to them. A lot of fear at this transitional time. Need safe place to come together and talk. Mentor gives her cell phone # so that Cs can not put things in writing. Cs know that they can say anything to Mentor and other Cs. Elluminate did work well for another TIM. 5 out of 9 participated and really liked it. Archived for others – but that makes it less confidential – no longer Vegas. Skyping also works – for Cs who can’t attend meetings. Some Districts may spend Extra-curricular $$ on staff for PD. Cs could still go to IU meetings and take things back to Ds. Face to face is important too. Seeing C in their setting can help understand their predicaments. Virtual session great for mostly giving information. Encourage IU Exec Directors to keep up the outreach. Even without TIMS still need to spend the time and do the outreach to Cs in Ds. Want PDE Mentors to tell Exec Directors to keep these visits going. TIMS want to keep doing this, hopefully Execs will keep letting TIMS/IU staff out of building. District strategic plans and Tech plans – ask Ds to revisit these and make sure they happen. Show Ds what they’ve committed to in plans and that they need to keep it up. Tie plans to D instructional and achievement goals. Show the connections and the value of keeping a C in place. Tie Cs to other D initiatives in curriculum changes. Make the links between curriculum and technology. Some Ds don’t have goals. Some Ds don’t have goals for PD. “Can you come this day?” = goal Hard to work with group of Ts, when you know they don’t have a reason to be there. Goals for PD would help in planning useful PD. Like teaching Q – What do you want them to learn? Solutions to Challenges: Tell Exec Dirs of importance of face to face. Have PDE Mentors tell Execs about the good work TIMS do so that Execs know what good things are happening. TIMS doing a lot and it’s important. Have Holly tell IU Execs about importance of face to face. Amy Morton would be great to do this. How many people are planning to keep offering this next year? Call it a Tech Integrators meeting or another name. Offer a monthly meeting because they asked for it. Call it a PD series. Keep all people on list even if they don’t C anymore. Send info and resources. School visits without $$ may be hard. Meetings may be hard – would D pay for subs to let former C Ts out for a meeting? Call if a PD series to help Ds release Ts and Cs. Virtual may help with this. E courses. Offer Act 48 for meetings – yes! It is PD.
 * Know:** Started before TIMS – thought Cs would need someone. At first it was more as a referee. Needed to move on from complaining to “When the stuff comes what will you do?”
 * Challenges:** Reduced Cs. Reduced time. Can’t C, can’t get out of building. Possible solution = virtual meetings. Some Cs don’t want to do virtual meetings because colleagues don’t respect their time.