Coaching Guide: A Training for Instructional Supervisors Contents Introduction Coach Training Overview Workshop 1 Making a Case for Coaching The Role of a Coach Effective Literacy Instruction in the Classroom Observation and Feedback protocols Organizing for Coaching Workshop 2 Reflection and sharing Developing Inclusive Classroom Practices Planning demonstration lessons Lesson Demonstration and Feedback Organizing for Coaching Workshop 3 Reflection and Sharing Classroom Visits: Preparation and Field Visits Debrief Classroom Visit Professional Development within Schools Organizing for Coaching Appendix: Video Resources 2 4 7 7 10 12 19 25 28 28 29 35 35 36 38 38 39 42 44 50 51 1 Introduction Background: In the diverse contexts where Save the Children (SC) and World Vision (WV) work, the people who are charged with supporting teachers in the classroom are often themselves poorly equipped to do so and, perhaps relatedly, largely absent from this role. A coaching component to support the Literacy Boost (LB) teacher training program is a step towards addressing this gap by building the capacity of school administrators and government officials to provide in-class mentoring and guidance on literacy instruction to teachers. A coach “partners with teachers for job-embedded professional learning that enhances teachers’ reflection on students, the curriculum, and pedagogy for the purpose of more effective decision making” (Toll, 2014). Coaches are not supervisors: the purpose of a coach is not to ensure that a teacher meets specific job requirements but to promote a teacher’s learning and growth (Toll, 2014). In the contexts where SC and WV implement programs, there is unlikely to be the resources to hire a specialized coach. A more likely, sustainable scenario is that instructional supervisors, such as head teachers and government officials, will be trained to perform a coaching role with teachers as well. Structure and Content The coaching training package has been divided into three, two-day training workshops so that the training is periodic with time in between for participants to apply their learning. Each workshop session has all required guiding PowerPoints and handouts embedded within it. An overview of the training content can be found on page 4. The coach training covers topics such as the role of a coach, observation and feedback protocols, supporting inclusive classrooms, components of effective literacy instruction, and establishing peer-to-peer learning opportunities at schools. Since the emphasis of the training is on coaching skills, and not on literacy instruction per se, the coach training package can easily be adapted to support any teacher training program. Intended participants: Teacher instructional supervisors such as head teachers and government officials Prerequisites Participants of this training should have prior teaching experience and a sound knowledge of the local curriculum. In addition, they should have already attended the Literacy Boost Training of Trainers (ToT), or the Teacher Training ToT of the program that is being supported with coaching if it is not Literacy Boost. Program assessment: 2 With six days of training for coaches, the following are reasonable expected outcomes on which to focus a program assessment: 1. Increased number and quality of classroom observation & feedback sessions (as reported by teachers and coaches) 2. Increased teachers’ perception of feeling supported professionally (as reported by teachers) 3. Increased number of peer-to-peer learning opportunities for teachers These samples of surveys can be adapted to collect information from teachers and coaches before and after the entire coach training is implemented: Teacher Survey.docx Coach Survey.docx Guideines to administer Teacher and Coach Surveys.docx The following are desired outcomes, but they are gradual, long-term outcomes, and it would be difficult to both measure changes in these areas as well as to attribute them to the coaching package: 1. Improved literacy instructional practices by teachers 2. Improved ability to reflect on lessons, curriculum, and children’s needs (on the part of teachers) 3. Improved ability to foster reflection and guide instructional practice (on the part of coaches) Reference: Toll, C. A. (2014) The Literacy Coach’s Survival Guide: Essential Questions and Practical Answers (2nd Ed) International Reading Association 3 Coach Training Overview Workshop 1 Session 1. Making a Case for Coaching Day 1 2. The Role of a Coach 3. Effective Literacy Instruction in the Classroom Resources Key Topics Establish a clear, shared instructional vision Current teacher support practices Three reasons for coaching: 1. The gap between the support teachers require and the support teachers receive 2. Low literacy learning of children in the early grades 3. Research that shows adding coaching is more effective in changing teachers’ practice than the combination of theory, demonstrations and practice The role of a coach and the coaching cycle Characteristics of a successful coach with an emphasis on the ability to establish trust and being willing to learn The difference between a coach and a supervisor Key components of effective literacy instruction: 1. The use of time 2. The use of materials 3. Purposeful talk 4. Direct Instruction 5. Assessment PowerPoints with guiding notes for each session Handouts for participants: 1. Print rich classroom checklist 2. Fostering class discussions 1. Observation and Feedback protocols Day 2 2. Organizing for Coaching Resources Lesson observation protocols (before, during, after) Coaching skills: 1. Observation and note-taking 2. Listening 3. Promoting Reflection 4. Giving effective feedback Plan for coaching and homework: 1. Meet with teachers to fill our Teacher Professional Development Plan 2. Observe and give feedback (xx frequency) 3. Identify one common development need and provide targeted support in this area PowerPoints with guiding notes Time 2.5 hours 1 hour 3.5 hours 6 hours 1 hour 4 Sample Teaching Scenarios Handouts for participants: 1. Lesson observation 2. Effective Listening 3. Promoting reflection 4. Feedback 5. Teacher Professional Development Plan template 6. Questions for Observation 7. Observation Schedule template Required but not provided: Videos of classroom teaching in the local context--at least one short one (10-15 minutes) and one longer one (a full lesson). Workshop 2 Session 1. Reflection and Sharing 2. Developing Inclusive Classroom Practices Day 1 Day 2 3. Planning demonstration lessons Resources 1. Lesson demonstration and feedback 2. Organizing for coaching Key Topics Reflection on practice and consideration of implications for future coaching activities Who is not learning and way? Different modalities of teaching and learning Theory of multiple intelligences Strategies and accommodations to meet diverse needs Planning inclusive, model lessons for literacy instruction Time 1 hour 3.5 hours 2.5 hours PowerPoint with guiding notes Handouts for participants: 1. MI activity checklist 2. MI activity tally sheet 3. MI activity visual chart 4. Strategies and Accommodations Modeling inclusive, literacy lessons Peer feedback on model lessons 6 hours Plan for coaching and homework: 1. Observe and give feedback (xx frequency) 2. Review and update Teacher Professional Development Plans 3. Support lesson planning. Model and co-teach when appropriate and possible 1 hour Workshop 3 Session 1. Reflection and Sharing Key Topics Reflection on practice and consideration of implications for future coaching activities Time 1 hour 5 Day 1 Day 2 2. Classroom Visits: Preparation and Field Visit 3. Debrief Classroom Visit Review goals and protocols of Classroom Observations Field visit to classrooms 4 hours 10 minutes Sharing observations and feedback from classroom visits 1 hour 50 minutes Resources PowerPoints with guiding notes 1. Professional Development Within Schools Review Existing Professional Development opportunities Why invest in school-based PD Peer-to-Peer Observations Teacher Learning Circles Plan for coaching and assignment: 1. Observe and give feedback (xx frequency) 2. Review and update Teacher Professional 2. Organizing for Coaching 3. 5 hours 1 hour Development plans 3. Establish and support at least one school-based PD opportunity for teachers Resources 1. 2. 3. PowerPoints with guiding notes Handouts for Participants: TLC Meeting Structure Peer Observation Tracker TLC Tracker 6 WORKSHOP 1 DAY 1: Introductions After participants have introduced themselves to the group, briefly introduce this workshop as the first in a series of three workshops. Sample PowerPoint for ‘Coach Training Overview’: Coach Training overview.pptx Expectations & Overview of the day’s agenda Session 1: Making the Case for Coaching (2 hours 30 minutes) Objectives for participants: • To establish a shared understanding of good teaching • To share current practices in teacher support • To understand the need for coaching within current teacher support practices Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies, and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint for ‘Making a case for Coaching’: Making the case for coaching.pptx Slide 3: Starting with the end in mind--What is a Coach? Slide 4 & 5: The Complexity of “Good Teaching” 7 Objective: To establish a shared understanding of good teaching by having participants reflect on the skills and characteristics of a good teacher. Time: About 40 minutes Description: 1. Before discussing coaching, establish a shared understanding of what good teaching is so that all participants have a clear instructional vision. 2. Explain a concept map: A concept map helps to organize and represent knowledge about a subject. It begins with a main idea or concept (in this case, “good teacher”) and then branches out to show how that main idea can be broken down into specific topics. The number of boxes/arrows varies according to need. 3. Group participants into threes to have them reflect on what good teaching is and then represent their reflections with a visual diagram on flipchart paper (instead of a list). Explain that the concept map should capture the range of skills and characteristics to be a good teacher. [20 minutes] 4. Have groups post their visual representations around the room and give participants time for a silent gallery walk [6 minutes] 5. Allow participants to share observations and orally synthesize a summary of contributions. [6 minutes] 6. Share map on slide 4 to highlight the complexity of being a good teacher and the many roles teachers play [8 minutes] Slide 6: Model lessons and classroom, and barriers Objective: To establish a shared understanding of a model lesson, a model classroom, and the barriers to becoming a good teacher Time: About 30 minutes Advance preparation: Prepare “bus stop” signs Description: 1. Arrange 3 bus stops around the room with the prompts written on different sheets of flipchart paper. 2. Divide participants into three groups, one at each bus stop, and give each group 5-7 minutes at their bus stop to answer the question/prompt and record their thoughts. Then have groups rotate until each group has visited and added input to all three bus stops. 3. Review and summarize each bus stop with the full group. Bus stop 1: Describe a model lesson (Focus on what is happening) Bus stop 2: What would a model classroom look like? (Focus on physical space and how it’s used) Bus stop 3: What are the barriers to becoming a good teacher? *Note: This discussion can be made content specific: “model literacy lesson” (Bus stop 1) and “model classroom to support literacy instruction” (Bus stop 2). 8 Slide 7: Teacher support-- Small group discussion Objective: In light of the barriers that have been identified previously, to identify potential areas of opportunity in the support teachers currently receive. (Reason 1 for coaching) Time: 30 minutes Advance Preparation: Summarize findings from teacher survey (if conducted) Description: 1. In the same groups of three that they worked in earlier, give participants up to 10-15 minutes to think about the following two questions (one at a time), and record these contributions on flipchart paper when they are shared with the full group. • What kinds of support do teachers require to become good teachers (referencing the characteristics, skills and expectations of a good teacher as well as the barriers to becoming one identified in previous activities)? • What kind of other professional development and support do teachers in the local context receive and how frequently do they receive this support? How do you support the professional development of teachers at your school? [Probe to get details. For example, if teachers receive trainings, ask what topics these trainings cover. If teachers get observed, ask who observes, for what purpose, and how often.] 2. If a teacher survey was conducted prior to the coach training, share highlights from it to further demonstrate the need for teacher support. [5 minutes] 3. Reason 1 for coaching: There are gaps between the support teachers require and the support teachers receive. Slide 8+: Why Literacy Coaching?-- Data sharing Objective: To understand the role of the coaching training package within the context of current low student learning outcomes Time: 5-10 minutes Description: 1. Review results of local literacy learning assessments. Instructional supervisors might already observe and provide feedback to teachers and perform other coaching roles. To explain the added value of the “coaching training”, situate the training within the context of literacy learning specifically. Through this training, instructional supervisors will be encouraged to support the professional development of teachers to improve student literacy learning outcomes. 2. Reason 2 for coaching: Low literacy learning of children in the early grades Slide 9: The Power of Coaching-- Think-Pair-Share Objective: To understand how different elements of professional development can contribute to a teacher’s knowledge level, skill level, and change in practice Time: 5 minutes Description: 9 1. Think-Pair-Share Think: Participants read and reflect on the key messages being represented by the table individually (1 minute) Pair: Participants discuss their thoughts with a partner (1 minutes) Share: The pairs share key learnings with the rest of the group and group discusses value of coaching in addition to theory, demonstration and practice (2 minutes) 2. Reason 3 for coaching: Research shows that adding coaching is more effective in changing teachers’ practice than the combination of theory, demonstrations and practice. Slide 10: Summary—Why coaching? Session 2: The Role of a Coach (1 hour) Objectives for participants: • To understand the role of a coach and discuss characteristics of successful coaches • To understand the difference between coaching and supervision Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies, and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint for ‘The Role of a Coach’: The role of a coach.pptx Slide 3: What is a Coach? The role of a coach Slide 4: Examples of Coaching activities Slide 5: The Coaching Cycle Slide 6: Coach as “partner”—characteristics of a successful coach 10 Slide 7: Establishing Trust—Quick Write Objective: To reflect and share ideas on the ways in which coaches can establish trust with teachers Time: About 15 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to think of somebody they trust and to individually take a few minutes to note down the qualities of that person and the way in which that person established their trust. 2. Invite participants to share and note contributions on Flipchart sheets. 3. Ask what coaches would need to do to establish trust with teachers. Allow sharing of ideas and note them on chart paper as they are shared. 4. Emphasize the importance of: Being empathetic (teaching is a difficult and under-appreciated job)—Ask coaches to recall their own difficult experiences as teachers and invite sharing with the full group. Coaches need to show they understand the challenges and that they care. Being open and honest: explain your role, share your own struggles, admit when you do not know. Good leaders are humble. Supporting teachers’ efforts: help assess students, co-teach, and help with instructional materials development. Invest in the success of teachers’ efforts by taking part in them. Slide 8: Learning as a lifelong pursuit for all-- Pair sharing Objective: To recognize that learning is a life-long pursuit and that we learn in different ways and from different people. To understand that a willingness to learn is an important characteristic of a coach. Time: About 15 minutes Description: 1. Have participants reflect on the last time they learned something new, and give them the opportunity to share what they learned, when they learned it and how they learned it with a partner. 2. Invite a few participants to share with the full group (depending on time available) 3. Use these shared memories to make the point that we are all learning. Nobody knows everything, and coaches should be willing to learn from teachers. Slide 9: Other characteristics of a successful coach Objective: To generate additional ideas about the characteristics of a successful coach. Time: About 10 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants what they think are other characteristics (in addition to the ability to establish trust and a willingness to learn) of a successful coach before sharing the content of the slide. 11 2. List ideas on flipchart paper as participants brainstorm suggestions 3. Reveal slide contents and have participants reflect on the listed characteristics and discuss characteristics that they do not agree with or did not think of. Slide 10: Coaching vs. Supervision Slide 11: How to manage being a coach and a supervisor? Objective: Given that the role of a coach has different, and often opposing, objectives to that of a supervisor (slide 10), participants will generate ideas about how one person can perform both roles in the absence of a dedicated coach. Time: About 10 minutes Description: 1. In pairs, participants will brainstorm responses to the question: How can you build a climate of risk-taking and relationship of trust as a supervisor? [5-7 minutes] 2. List ideas on flipchart sheets as participants share suggestions with the full group 3. Emphasize that establishing trust with the teacher is a crucial step. Session 3: Effective Literacy Instruction in the classroom (3 hours 30 minutes) Objective for participants: To identify and discuss key components of effective literacy instruction in a classroom setting and ways to support them Assumption: All participants have already attended the LB Teacher Training ToTs so they are familiar with the content of LB Teacher Training toolkit. Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint Effective Literacy Instruction in the Classroom.pptx Slide 3: Identifying key components of effective instruction 12 Objective: To identify key components of literacy instruction and to identify gaps in current teacher practices. Time: 20 minutes Materials: Sticky notes (one stack per table group) Description: 1. Ask participants what the key components of effective literacy instruction in the classroom are. Table groups of about 5 participants can generate ideas together and write each component on a separate sticky note. [5 minutes] 2. Together with the group, organize the notes into broad categories that should include the following: [5 minutes] a) TIME spent on reading/writing activities b) MATERIALS to read c) Purposeful TALK (conversational rather than interrogational) d) DIRECT INSTRUCTION e) ASSESSMENT If any of these categories were not touched on, raise the issue to the group. 3. Ask: What do you observe in a typical literacy classroom? Where are the gaps? Record responses on Flipchart paper [10 minutes] 4. Tell participants that the rest of the session is going to focus on discussing components of effective instruction and ways to address them. Note to facilitator: While the five broad areas above are discussed below, the ‘effective Literacy instruction’ session should be shaped to address the specific gaps raised in the context. Participants may also raise additional components of effective literacy instruction that are not discussed in the guidance notes for this section, but should be addressed. Slide 4: Use of Time Objective: To discuss how the maximum amount of time can be allocated to reading and writing during a lesson. Time: 10 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to reflect on how much time is spent on children reading/writing in classrooms they have observed—children repeating after the teacher without following a text does not count as reading! 2. Ask participants to generate a list of things that are happening in the classroom when children are not reading/writing: attendance taking, checking homework, teacher talking (lecture), rote repetition etc 3. Discuss ways in which more time can be used on reading/writing compared to on other tasks. Examples: a. Coach can help teacher realize ratio of ‘teacher talk and student repetition’ to ‘student engagement with meaningful tasks’ and, by doing so, encourage the teacher to do less lecturing and rote teaching 13 b. Ideally, a teacher should check homework after class, but if the teacher needs to do so during the lesson, the teacher can check homework while students are working on a reading/writing task [If the class is large, the teacher does not need to check every child’s homework but can check 5-10 different students each day] c. Teacher can create a routine of a “warm up” reading/writing task, that is related to the day’s lesson, for students to work on as soon as class starts so the teacher has a few minutes to do other necessary activities d. An attendance chart like the one pictured below: if the class is small enough, children can put up their ‘hand’ when entering the room. [children practice recognizing their names, chart contributes to print-rich room, teacher can scan chart for the day’s attendance and not spend time on attendance-taking] Slide 5: Availability and use of Materials Objective: To discuss how to make early grades literacy classrooms rich with print. Time: 25 minutes Materials: Print-rich classroom handout [sufficient copies for there to be one for each person] Print_rich_classroo m.pdf Description: 1. Before revealing the contents of the slide, ask participants to share why materials are important and what materials would be good to have in a classroom. [5 minutes] 2. Ask participants to reflect on the following questions for classrooms that they have visited and will be supporting: [10 minutes] 14 Are there appropriate books in the classroom that students are able to access? A reading corner? Are the materials on the wall appropriate, organized, and relevant to what children are currently learning? Is student work on the wall? Overall, is the classroom environment print-rich? 3. Distribute the “Print-rich classroom” handout to participants, describe the checklist as a list of possibilities to make an early grades classroom more print-rich, and invite participants to add items to the list. [10 minutes] Coaches should: Observe classrooms for print with an eye for relevance and accessibility to children. Encourage teachers to make choices about the print they display in classrooms so that it is relevant to classroom routines or to what children are learning or experiencing. Observe print with an eye for organization. “Print-rich” does not mean “print chaos”! Materials on the wall should be posted neatly and should be organized by topic/subject area. Advocate for books to be available in classrooms (Do books exist at the school, in unused libraries or the principal’s office, that can be made available to students in classrooms? Does the school have funds to purchase reading materials?) Support teachers with creating books and other materials (Guidance from the LB Community Action toolkit on book creation as well as pictures of samples in the “Print-rich classroom” handout embedded above) Encourage teachers to have a changing display of student work in the classroom so that all students have an equal opportunity to have their work displayed over the course of the year (especially for large class sizes when it may not be possible to display all students’ work at one time). Optional activity if deemed necessary for the context: Making Materials Assign participants with the task of creating a contextually appropriate sample of one of the examples on the checklist, that they do not typically see in classrooms they visit, to take back with them. Invite participants to share their materials with each other. [Add at least 45 minutes to the workshop] Slide 6: Purposeful Talk Objective: To discuss and practice ways to enrich the talk that happens in classrooms. Time: 40 minutes Materials: ‘Fostering Class Discussions’ handout [one copy per participant] 15 Fostering Class Discussions.pdf Description: 1. Before revealing the contents of the slide, ask participants to share examples of the talk they have heard in classrooms (Who talks? How much talking is there? What kind of talk is there?) [5 minutes] 2. Ask participants to reflect on the following questions for classrooms that they have visited and will be supporting, if not already discussed: [10 minutes] Do teachers ask questions for which there are multiple appropriate responses? How much of the talk in class follows the Initiation-Response-Evaluation pattern? [teacher asks a question, student responds, teacher evaluates response] How much are children engaging in learning talk? With each other? Do children ask questions? Express opinions? 3. Ask why it is important to ask different kinds of questions to students? (keeps students engaged, promotes participation and inclusion, fosters critical thinking and deeper comprehension) 4. Ask participants to work in groups to think of different ways in which teachers can break out of the Initiation-Response-Evaluation pattern of classroom talk. Ask groups to share out, recording on Flipchart. [10 minutes]. 5. Encourage participants, in their practice as coaches, to observe and note the kinds of questions teachers ask in the classroom and to what extent students engage with the class discussion and discussion with each other during class observations. 6. Distribute the ‘Fostering Class Discussions’ handout and go through the content, giving an example for each suggestion that has not already been discussed and allowing time for comments/questions. Clarify that teachers should not be expected to immediately use all of these ways of fostering classroom discussion! Begin with open questions, wait time, and responding positively to children, and only introduce other tips as teachers are ready for them. Coaches should encourage any attempt to foster discussion in the classroom. [15 minutes] Slide 8: Open vs Closed questions--practice Objective: To practice distinguishing between open and closed questions. Time: 10 minutes Description: 1. Reveal each question one at a time and ask participants to indicate whether the question is open or closed using the hand signals introduced on the previous slide. For each question, select a participant to explain his/her choice. 2. Point out that using hand signals like this is a way to engage all students in a classroom. Slide 9: Generating Open Questions 16 Objective: To practice generating open questions linked to curriculum content. Time: 25 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to work in pairs to select a lesson from an early grades textbook to generate at least 5 open questions for that lesson. If done early, participants can select another lesson [15 minutes] 2. Invite sharing of questions [5 minutes] 3. End with this question: What should a teacher do if none of the students are able to answer a question? (Sample responses: ask the question in a different way, ask simpler questions that will help the students to answer the more difficult question, give students an opportunity to discuss the question in pairs first) [5 minutes] Slide 10: Direct Instruction Objective: To discuss and practice strategies readers and writers use that teachers can model and demonstrate to students. Time: 20 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to reflect on the following questions for classrooms that they have visited and will be supporting: [5 minutes] Does the teacher model and demonstrate useful strategies that good readers and writers employ? Is explicit teaching followed by structured practice by students? 2. Tell participants that we want to support teachers in shifting away from an assign-assess model (assigning a task and then assessing it only benefits children who can do the task already and not those who are struggling with it) or a copy-the-teacher model (when children recite after the teacher or copy what the teacher has written, they are rotelearning and it is not clear who has met learning objectives). Instead, we want teachers to model/demonstrate strategies good readers and writers use and then allow children to practice them with guidance. 3. Ask participants to generate a list of strategies that good readers/writers use that a teacher can model. This can be done in table groups for 5 minutes (examples below) [15 minutes]: Blend letters/syllables to make words Decode Figure out the meaning of a word using context clues Self-monitor for understanding and reread when necessary Summarizing while reading and extracting the main points Visualize and create images while reading Reading fluently and with expression Optional activity if deemed necessary for the context: Practice strategies 1. With the help of participants, model how to do each of the strategies listed using local early grades texts when possible [15 minutes] 2. Organize participants into groups of 3 and ask each group to: [30 minutes] 17 Select a text or lesson from the early grades curriculum. (If no texts exist, these should be created during the earlier activity on materials) Find places within the text/lesson where teachers could model strategies good readers use. Make a note of these in writing to submit to facilitator for consolidation and sharing after the workshop. Practice modeling the strategies within the context of the selected lesson/text 3. Invite participants to model strategies to the full group (in preparation for modeling to teachers), following this with reflection and discussion.[30 minutes] [Add at least 1 hour 15 minutes to the workshop] Slides 11 & 12: Assessment Objective: To discuss challenges to conducting classroom assessments and the role of the coach in supporting teachers to conduct assessments Time: 50 minutes Description: 1. Before revealing the content of the slide, review what assessment is, different types of assessments, examples of assessments, and why assessment is important. Participants should be familiar with this from LB TT TOTs but the main point is that teachers need to know students’ learning needs in order to tailor instruction to meet these needs. [5 minutes] 2. Ask participants to share their impressions on the following questions for classrooms that they have visited and will be supporting: [5 minutes] Does the teacher know when learning objectives of each lesson have been met? Does the teacher assess students informally during the lesson? Is assessment included in the lesson plan? Does the teacher know which students are struggling and why? Does the teacher change instructional approaches to meet students’ needs? 3. Ask for brief reflections on the cartoon: The cartoon is to prompt participants to think of inclusive practices when assessing. Assessment (and textbooks, curricula etc) is often not fair to students with different needs. Assessing students in different ways (not just written tests) is more inclusive to the various needs and learning styles of children. 4. Assign participants with the task of working in groups of 4 to think about [25 minutes]: a) The assessments that they observe teachers doing: What types of assessments are done? How often are the assessments done? How are teachers using the assessments to modify instruction in order to meet students’ needs? b) What would participants like to see in the area of assessment? What realistic goals do participants have for teachers in the classroom when it comes to assessment? c) The barriers to assessing children regularly and meeting various students’ needs in the local context. d) The role of the coach in supporting teachers with meeting assessment goals. For each barrier listed above, indicate at least one way in which a coach can support teachers. Examples of ways in which coaches can support teachers in this area: I. Teaching/supervising a class while the teacher assesses children individually 18 II. Help teachers plan an assessment—a classroom-based assessment can be as short as a single question III. Review assessment results with the teacher and help the teacher plan remediation for struggling learners IV. Note children who are struggling during classroom observations and share this information with teachers V. Engage SMCs to see if community volunteers could support with assessment by, for example, supervising a class while teachers conduct individual assessments VI. Promote teacher-to-teacher support for assessments Etc. e) Invite each group to share their top two suggestions for the ways in which coaches can support teachers with assessments without repeating what other groups have said [10 minutes] DAY 2 Overview of the day’s agenda Session 1: Observation and Feedback protocols (6 hours) Objectives for participants: To further develop classroom observation protocols for the context in order to promote a relationship of trust and collaboration between teacher and observer To discuss and practice observation, note-taking, listening, promoting reflection, and effective ways of giving feedback Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint Observation and Feedback.pptx Slide 3: Purpose of observation and feedback (for teachers and coaches) 19 Slide 4: Current observation protocols Objective: To discuss existing classroom observation protocols for the context. Time: 30 minutes Description: This is an opportunity for coaches to share current protocols around observing teachers and giving feedback. 1. Ask participants for the current protocols around observing teachers and giving feedback. Probe for details on how the observation is arranged and the format and process of giving feedback. Organize contributions on three flipchart sheets: “before observation”, “during observation”, and “post-observation” 2. If a standard observation tool is used, probe for all the details on the tool [try to obtain a copy of this in advance, if possible]. Ask whether the teachers have access to this tool in advance of the observation so that the expectations and rating process are not mysterious. This would help to establish trust between the teacher and instructional supervisor. 3. Remind participants that coaching is non-evaluative and works best when there is a relationship of trust between the teacher and head teacher. The protocol that one chooses to follow around observing teachers and giving feedback can help to establish this trust. Slides 5-7: Current protocols (continued) Objective: To share and discuss considerations for before, during, and after observation and feedback protocols Time: 20 minutes Materials: ‘Lesson observation’ handout [one copy per participant] Lesson observation.pdf Description: 1. Offer suggestions for participants to keep in mind at each stage, if they did not already bring them up in their discussion on current protocols. Solicit participants’ thoughts/questions on the suggestions after each slide. 2. After reviewing the suggestions on each slide, discuss whether they are feasible and appropriate for the local context. Spend the most time on the “After an observation” slide. 3. After each slide, refer to the relevant Flipchart of current protocols (from slide 3 activity), and ask participants to identify changes to current protocols to promote a relationship of trust and collaboration between teacher and observer 4. Distribute the handout with a summary of suggestions: 20 Slide 8: Coaching skills to be practiced—observation, note-taking, listening, promoting reflection Slide 9 & 10: Observation and note-taking Slides 11 & 12: Question Tracking Objective: To discuss a classroom map as a method of tracking questions during an observation Time: 10 minutes Description: 1. Show the sample on slide 11, and tell participants that it is a classroom map for question tracking (O=open, C=closed, G=girl, B=boy). Observers should also try to record questions verbatim. 2. Ask participants to review this classroom map for question tracking and share what they observe about questions tracked in this lesson [more closed questions were asked than open questions, more boys were called on, more children were called on at the back of the class compared to the front.] These would be helpful trends to bring to a teacher’s notice. In addition, by recording the questions verbatim, the coach can help the teacher rephrase the questions to improve them. Slide 13: Global scan Slide 14: Observation and Note-taking--Practice with videos Objective: To practice observing a lesson and taking notes using videos of classroom teaching. If participants are required to give ratings, to practice giving ratings grounded in observation data. Time: 120 minutes Materials: Videos of early grades literacy teaching from the local context--at least one short one (10-15 minutes) and one longer one (a full lesson); Classroom observation instrument from the local context Description: Part 1: Practice Question-Tracking and Global Scans (35 minutes) 1. Ask participants to choose between question-tracking or global scans. Ensure that there are some participants for each. 2. Play the short video for participants to observe and take notes 3. Invite sharing, comparisons, and reflection Part 2: Practice Global scan on full lesson (50 minutes) 21 1. Ask participants to set up their notebook page for a global scan. Clarify that it is not possible to notice and write down everything, so participants should just do their best to observe and note down as much as they can. 2. Play the long video for participants to observe and take notes 3. Invite sharing, comparisons, and reflection. It is likely that different people noticed different things, and there could be disagreements. Part 3: Rating teacher using observation data (35 minutes) 1. Ask participants to work individually to rate the teacher they observed by comparing the data they gathered to the items on the observation instrument. Emphasize that they will need to justify their ratings with observation data. 2. Invite sharing of ratings/justifications, comparisons, and reflection. There will be disagreements about ratings; use these disagreements to point out that different people can observe the same events and come up with different conclusions. Emphasize the importance of justifying ratings with evidence from data. Slide 15: Effective Listening-- Role plays and discussion Objective: To generate a checklist for effective listening. Time: 30 minutes Materials: ‘Effective Listening’ handout (one copy per participant) Effective Listening.pdf Description: 1. Place two chairs at the front of the room, and ask for as volunteer to take one of the chairs and talk for 5 minutes on any topic. 2. In role play one, take the second chair and model poor listening (fidgeting, interrupting, being distracted, answering the phone etc) 3. Then do a second role play and model active, effective listening (see checklist below) 4. After both role plays, ask participants to suggest elements of effective listening and list them on chart paper. 5. Distribute the ‘Effective Listening’ handout, encouraging participants to add in anything that was discussed but is missing from the handout Slide 18: Promoting Reflection Objective: To generate prompts to promote reflection based on a fictitious scenario. Time: 20 minutes Materials: ‘Promoting Reflection’ handout (one copy per participant) 22 Promoting Reflection.pdf Description 1. Ask a volunteer to read the scenario. [1 minute] 2. Group participants in pairs to generate prompts and ideas to promote reflection on the part of the teacher in the scenario. Distribute handouts (Participants can refer to the handout on tips to promote reflection) [10 minutes] 3. Invite participants to share and discuss ideas. [9 minutes] Slide 19-20: What is feedback? Slide 21: Examples of Feedback Slide 22: Practice giving Feedback Objective: To learn and practice effective ways of giving feedback Time: 30 minutes Materials: ‘Feedback’ handout (one copy per participant) Feedback.pdf Description: 1. After discussing what feedback is (slides 18-20), distribute the handout 2. In groups of 3, give participants 10 minutes to answer the following two questions on each of the listed comments: What information would a teacher have to grow professionally from each of these comments? How might you turn these comments into effective feedback to support teacher reflection & development? (specific, actionable, user-friendly) 3. Go through the first comment, “Good lesson!” as a full group, soliciting suggestions from participants, to ensure that the task is understood. Example: Comment: “Good lesson!” Question 1: While the teacher would know that the observer is pleased by the lesson, the teacher would not know what, specifically, was good about the lesson, so the comment does little to further the teacher’s professional growth. The comment is not really feedback; it is a value judgement/evaluation of the observer. Question 2: To promote reflection, the observer might want to ask the teacher questions like: 23 “What do you think went well in the lesson?” [Why? How do you know?] “I noticed [specific example of good practice]. Did you realize that you were doing this? Why did you choose to do this? What do you think might have been the effect of [good practice] on learning or the classroom environment? To share specific things that the observer valued, the observer can say things like: “Children appeared very engaged during the entire lesson, and they were all eager to participate, raising their hands to speak or volunteer. You called equally on students in the front of the classroom and students in the back of the classroom, boys and girls”. A question to promote reflection after this could be: “What do you think are some of the key factors that promoted student engagement in this lesson?” 4. After 10 minutes of working in groups, debrief as a full group by have participants share responses in a way that avoids repetition. There are multiple ways of turning the comments into effective feedback, so allow for multiple suggestions. Notes to support the debrief of other comments: • “The students were bored.” [This is a value judgement of the observer, and it could make the teacher feel criticized and get defensive. It also does little to promote the teacher’s professional growth. It would be better to share observations of the students (which made the observer think the students were bored), and then ask the teacher if he/she noticed the same things. This could be followed by questions that ask the teacher for reflections on the observations and suggestions for a different approach. The observer could also suggest different approaches and ask the teacher what he/she thinks of them] • “Use more active teaching methods” [“Active teaching methods” is jargon. There is an assumption that the teacher understands what “active teaching methods” are and how to use them, and it is not an assumption that the observer can make. It would be more helpful for the observer to share specific observations that suggest a different, “active” approach is necessary, followed by a specific suggestion for how something could have been done in an “active” way in the particular lesson that was observed. To support a teacher’s understanding, the observer could then give the teacher an opportunity to make his/her own suggestions for “active teaching methods” for the observed lesson] • “You need to write the objectives on the board” [This is a command. It does not foster reflection on the part of the teacher and would not help to establish a climate of mutual trust between the teacher and observer. In addition, a teacher is more likely to change practice if he/she understands why it is desirable to do something differently.] Slide 23: Addressing Common Classroom Issues through feedback Objective: To practice effective ways of giving feedback Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 24 Materials: Different teaching scenarios on strips of paper (sufficient scenarios to have 1 per pair of participants). The following scenarios can be used, or participants/facilitator can generate local scenarios of common issues in classrooms based on their experiences. Teaching scenarios.pdf Description: This activity can be adapted to be about giving feedback in response to the teaching practice in the videos that were viewed earlier. 1. Put all scenarios in a bag for each pair of participants to pick one randomly 2. Give participants 20 minutes to answer the following questions and then prepare a 3minute role play of the debriefing session: 1. Identify practices that you would want to encourage 2. Identify areas for improvement. 3. How would you encourage teachers to reflect on their practice? What questions would you ask to promote reflective practice? For the role play, the participants are free to make up additional details for the scenario. 3. Have each participant read their scenario and perform their role play for the group allowing for a few comments from the audience after each role play as time permits. Session 2: Organizing for coaching [1 hour] Objective for participants: To develop a plan to apply learning from this workshop to coach teachers. Materials: ‘Teacher Professional Development plan’ handout, ‘Questions for Observation’ handout, ‘Observation Schedule’ handout [one copy of each per participant] Description: 1. Tell participants that they will now have some time to think about how they will apply what they have learned in this workshop to their contexts. Overarching questions for participants to consider are: a) What areas do you think teachers need the most support in? b) What are you going to do to coach teachers you support (your commitment!)? 2. Assign participants with the following homework to be completed before the next workshop, and invite feedback on feasibility (list homework on chart paper or a PowerPoint slide): a) Meet with teachers to explain the coaching process, establish professional goals, and to fill out work with teachers to fill out a Teacher Professional Development Plan. Guide teachers in creating action plans around specific, observable, achievable goals they would like to achieve with the steps, resources and timeline required to achieve them. : 25 Teacher PD plan.docx Allow teachers to have some time to think of their goals, and ensure that the goals will support improved literacy teaching. Teachers may struggle to identify objectives to improve their own practice if they have not yet had any experience of reflecting on their experience and being observed for the purpose of receiving supportive feedback. The supervisor/coach may decide to introduce goal-setting after the first lesson observation. Note to facilitator: If using an adaptation of this template, take about 5-10 minutes to go over the template, talking through how you might fill it out together as a group with a sample objective. b) Observe and give feedback to xx teachers (number to be suggested by participants depending on what they anticipate will be possible) keeping in mind questions considered during this workshop as well as any that participants think should be added to the list: Questions for observation.pdf c) Identify one particular common need that teachers have and provide targeted support for this area 3. Invite participants to plan when and how they will be completing the tasks listed above. Encourage them to include as many details as possible in their plans as well as to consider including coach learning meetings during which coaches can meet to reflect and learn together (If possible, participants can type their plans and then send a copy to the facilitator) 4. Organization tip for participants: Suggest that participants keep a file/folder for each of the teachers they will be supporting. This folder can contain all of the observations and notes on the teacher so that the teacher and instructional supervisor can follow the progress of the teacher’s professional growth. The file can also contain an observation record like this: Observation Schedule.docx 5. At the end of the session, thank participants for their attendance and hard work at the workshop, and wish them well with putting their learning into practice. Request that they keep notes of things they tried, successes, and challenges to share at the beginning of the next workshop. In addition, request that participants bring their folders with handouts that were distributed during this workshop to the next workshop. Note to facilitator: After the workshop, 26 consolidate all materials developed during the workshop and share a compilation of these materials with all workshop participants program staff should check in with coaches in between workshops to support coaches, to learn more about gaps that coaches notice, and to identify the most relevant content to address in the next workshop 27 WORKSHOP 2 DAY 1: Expectations & Overview of the day’s agenda Session 1: Reflection and Sharing (1 hour) Objective for participants: To share and reflect on their experiences with coaching activities since the previous workshop and to use these reflections to consider implications for future coaching activities. Description: There are a variety of ways to facilitate a reflection. One way would be to organize participants into groups of 3 or 4 so that every participant has a chance to share in small groups [40 minutes] before bringing the small groups together to discuss highlights with the large group [20 minutes]. Participants can organize their reflection and sharing around the suggested assignment after the last workshop (assignment should be posted on Flipchart or projected so that participants can refer to it): a) Meet with teachers to explain the coaching process, establish professional goals, and to fill out work with teachers to fill out a Teacher Professional Development Plan b) Observe and give feedback to xx teachers c) Identify one particular common need that teachers have, and provide targeted support for this area Small group reflections can generally follow 3 steps and should touch on all parts of the homework assignment: 1. What? This involves reviewing details of the experience. Participants can describe what they tried to do and how they tried to do it. 2. So what? This step is more interpretive. How was the experience for each participant? What were the successes, challenges, and lessons learned? What evidence do you see of teachers’ learning and development? 3. Now what? Future goals and action plan. What are the implications of the lessons learned? What should future coaching activities with teachers focus on? What do coaches need further support in? For full group sharing, focus on the “So what?” to talk through challenges as a group, and the “Now what?” to use the feedback of participants to shape the content of the next steps for coaches. 28 Session 2: Developing inclusive classroom practices (3.5 hours) Objectives for participants: To understand that diverse learners in the classroom present a range of needs, and that there are different modalities of learning and teaching To recognize that inclusive practices benefit all students, not just those who are struggling, and the teacher is responsible for meeting these needs To know general strategies and adjustments that can be made to address the range of needs that can exist amongst learners To identify locally existing resources, professional services, and support systems that support inclusion. Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint Developing Inclusive Classroom Practices.pptx Slide 3: Who is not learning? Objective: To recognize that a large proportion of children in the class are not learning, and to understand that inclusive classroom practices are necessary to meet the learning needs of these children. Time: 10 minutes Description: Lead participants in a reflection on the graph by asking: a) What do you notice? [Scores are not normally distributed. Large proportion of children are struggling] b) What do you think are some of the reasons why some children are not learning? [Record the suggestions on Flipchart] c) Explain that in this session, the group will further discuss why children struggle to learn and what we can do about it 29 Slide 4: Whose responsibility is it to meet the needs of all children? Slide 5: What is an inclusive classroom? Slide 6: Inclusive teaching benefits all children Objective: To understand that inclusive teaching benefits all children and not just children with special needs. Time: 5 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to examine the cartoon and explain how the cartoon reflects the key message being conveyed by it. 2. Ask for implications for teaching. Solicit examples of adjustments teachers can make “for struggling learners” that benefit all learners Slide 7: Different ways of Learning Objective: To understand that diverse learners in the classroom present a range of needs, and that there are different modalities of learning and teaching. Time: 5 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants to brainstorm responses to the following questions to introduce the idea of diverse ways of learning: How do you like to learn a new skill? By someone explaining it to you? By reading about it in a book? By trying it yourself? 2. Highlight the fact that learning is complex and each person has different preferred ways of learning, depending on his/her strengths and weaknesses, as a transition to an activity on multiple intelligences Slides 8 & 9: Theory of Multiple Intelligences Activity Objective: To understand that diverse learners in the classroom present a range of needs and that there are different modalities of learning and teaching. Time: 45 minutes Materials needed: Copies of each activity document (one per participant), coloured pencils Description: Note to facilitator: Briefly mention Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences in case participants have not heard about the theory before. Gardner proposed that people learn in different ways and have different strengths/weaknesses. Instead of thinking about intelligence as a single, general ability, he proposed 8 different intelligences which will be explored through the next activity. a) Have participants individually fill out the following checklist: 30 MI activity_checklist.docx b) Then give participants time to tally their responses and colour in the visual chart: MI activity_tallysheet.docx MI activity_visual chart.docx c) Have each participant briefly present their chart before pinning it up for all participants to see. Sample display: Note: The activity checklist was aimed at an 8th grade level, western audience, so the resulting multiple intelligences visual chart may not match participants’ perceptions of their learning strengths and weaknesses. However, the main point to be made is that learning is complex. How we learn can change depending on what/when we are learning and each of us uses multiple ways to learn. People have different strengths, weaknesses and preferences, even within a group of seemingly similar participants. d) Discuss the implications for teaching. o Ask: What might be the benefit of providing diverse types of learning experiences in the classroom? o Clarify that learning is complex and cannot be neatly categorized. The point is not for teachers to teach to specific pathways but, the main takeaway from this activity is that providing diverse types of learning experiences, that are purposeful and coherent, benefits all learners. Slide 10: Beyond the complexities of learning 31 Slide 11: What can teachers do? Slide 12: Addressing Challenges in the Classroom--Practice Objective: To know general strategies and adjustments that can be made to address the range of needs that can exist amongst learners, and to recognize that inclusive practices benefit all students, not just those who are struggling Time: 45 minutes Materials needed: Strategies and Accommodation reference sheet, Flipchart, markers Description: 1. Organize participants into groups of 3 2. Assign each group 1-2 challenges from the following list (depending on how many participants there are) a) A child often behaves poorly b) A child struggles to focus on tasks and is easily distracted c) A child appears to have a hearing impairment d) A child appears to have a visual impairment e) A child has difficulty understanding directions f) A child has difficulty with physical movement g) A child takes more time than peer group to process information, complete assignments and respond to questions h) A child struggles with spelling (compared to peer group) 3. For each challenge that they are assigned, groups need to generate a list of strategies/accommodations that a teacher can make to address the challenge within a classroom of diverse learners, keeping in mind that teachers can change: o the way they present information o the learning environment o time and scheduling o expectations for how assignments are done Each challenge with its list of strategies/accommodations should be on a separate sheet of Flipchart paper. Groups should post their completed lists on the wall [15 minutes] 4. Gallery walk: invite participants to walk around the room to read the different lists of strategies and accommodations [10 minutes] 5. Invite participants to reflect on and discuss the strategies/accommodations that they generated as a group, reiterating that most of the accommodations are good for all children. [10 minutes] 6. Hand out strategies and accommodations reference sheet for participants to adapt, add to, and use with teachers Strategies and Accommodations Reference Sheet.pdf 32 Slide 13: The Teacher is not Alone—what other resources are available? Objective: To identify locally existing resources, professional services, and support systems that support inclusion Time: 15 minutes Description: 1. Remind participants that while teachers can recognize and accommodate challenges in the classroom, they are not trained to diagnose learning disabilities in children, and they are not experts on learning disabilities. Teachers should be encouraged to access external resources to support their endeavour to have an inclusive classroom. 2. Ask participants to brainstorm locally existing resources, professional services, and support systems that can support the inclusion of all children in the classroom. Record suggestions on Flipchart paper like the sample list below: 3. Ask coaches to brainstorm a list of things that they can do to help teachers teach all children including the struggling learners (remind them of the bi-modal graph showing a large proportion of struggling learners), and record these suggestions on another Flipchart sheet. 4. Refer participants to external resources for more information, such as: UNESCO ILFE Toolkit, booklet on teaching children with disabilities: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001829/182975e.pdf Slide 14: Supporting Differences in the Classroom 33 Objective: To integrate general strategies and adjustments that can be made to address the range of needs that can exist amongst learners into planning for lessons Materials needed: Index cards with one learning challenge written on each (from the strategies and accommodations reference sheet) so that there are 3 for each group Extra index cards A plastic bag Local curriculum/textbook *Index cards can be replaced by paper Time: 80 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants if there are specific learning challenges that they have observed in children in the early grades that have not yet been discussed by the group. If so, give them an index card to write one challenge on. 2. Collect the index cards (if any) in the plastic bag and mix them with the pre-prepared index cards. 3. Organize participants into groups of 3 4. Have each group select 3 index cards. Each card should be different, so if a group selects a card it already has, it should return the card to the bag and pick another. 5. Assign each group with an early grades lesson from the curriculum/textbook 6. Each group has 50 minutes to create an inclusion plan for their assigned lesson for the 3 learning challenges in their classroom represented by the index cards they picked (Pointing out that real classes will have many more learning differences). Remind groups that presenting things in different ways (orally and visually, for example) and providing different learning experiences (e.g., small group work, large group presentations, projects, practice and repetition) is beneficial for all children. The plan should include: Learning objective(s) for the lesson An outline of the lesson’s activities A clear explanation of how each learning need/challenge (on index card) will be addressed in the classroom for the particular lesson The role of the coach and external resources that will be used (if applicable) 7. Give groups 2 minutes each to share the highlights of their plan with the full group Note to facilitator: Collect inclusion plans in writing from each group. These can be typed up later to create a resource of lesson-specific suggestions for coaches Session 3: Planning demonstration lessons (2.5 hours) Objectives for participants: To develop demonstration lessons using local textbooks/curriculum that include integrated reading and writing activities, appropriate teaching/learning aids, and materials to enrich the print environment. 34 [Note that participants should be integrating their learning on effective literacy instructional practices and inclusive classroom practices when developing their demonstration lessons] Description: 1. Explain to participants that one way of supporting the development of teachers is to model lesson planning and teaching, so in this workshop, participants will be practicing lesson planning and modeling lessons with an emphasis on literacy instruction. 2. Organize participants into 6 groups (hopefully, this will mean there will be about 3 people in each group) 3. Each group needs to plan a demonstration lesson from the early grades curriculum that they will do the next day. The lesson should be the same length of time as lessons for children in the local context. 4. The lesson plan should use the local lesson-planning format and should include: A learning objective for children Integrated reading/writing activities Relevant teaching/learning aids (and when appropriate, related print material for the classroom wall) Consideration of inclusive classroom practices Assessment: How will the teacher know if the learning objective has been met by children in the class? 5. Each group should be prepared to do their model lesson on the next day, so all materials to support the lesson should be created. 6. Lesson plans should be written (preferably typed if laptops are available) to be submitted to the facilitator for consolidating and sharing. DAY 2 Overview of the day’s agenda Session 1: Lesson Demonstration and feedback (6 hours) Objectives for participants: To practice modeling early grade literacy lessons To practice observing lessons and providing feedback, applying lessons learned in this area from workshop 1 and from post-workshop application of skills Description: 1. Groups should do the lessons they prepared on the previous day in the way that they would do them with children 2. Each group will have 1 hour to: 1) do their lesson, 2) reflect on it, and then 3) hear feedback from the rest of the group. 3. When one group is modeling a lesson, 3 groups can role play students, and 2 groups can sit at the periphery and be the official observers using the local teacher observation tool (with any changes to it and considerations from workshop 1) 35 4. The group roles should rotate 5. During the debrief of each lesson, both “students” and observers can share their feedback. 6. Observers should be looking for the following: a. A learning objective for children b. Integrated reading/writing activities c. Relevant teaching/learning aids (and when appropriate, related print material for the classroom wall) d. Consideration of inclusive classroom practices e. Assessment: How will the teacher know if the learning objective has been met by children in the class? Challenges should be discussed with the group. 7. If participants found the exercise of modeling and receiving feedback useful, they can reflect on the possibility of fostering peer-to-peer observations at their schools [to be discussed further during workshop 3] Session 2: Organizing for coaching [1 hour] Objective for participants: To develop a plan for supporting teachers with inclusive lesson planning and modeling instruction strategies. Description: 1. Share the following assignment to be completed before the next workshop, and invite feedback on feasibility (list homework on chart paper or a PowerPoint slide): a) Observe and give feedback to xx teachers (number to be suggested by participants depending on what they anticipate will be possible) b) Review Teacher Professional Development plans and update as necessary c) Based on classroom observations, support teachers during lesson planning to ensure effective instructional practices and meet the needs of diverse learners. Model and/or co-teach when possible and appropriate 2. Invite participants to plan when and how they will be completing the tasks listed above. Encourage them to include as many details as possible in their plans as well as to consider including coach learning meetings during which coaches can meet to reflect and learn together (If possible, participants can type their plans and then send a copy to the facilitator) 3. At the end of the session, thank participants for their attendance and hard work at the workshop, and wish them well with putting their learning into practice. Request that they keep notes of things they tried, successes, and challenges to share at the beginning of the next workshop. In addition, request that participants bring their folders with handouts that were distributed during workshop one and two to the next workshop. Note to facilitator: After the workshop, consolidate all materials developed during the workshop and share a compilation of these materials with all workshop participants program staff should check in with coaches in between workshops to support them, to learn more about gaps that coaches notice, and to identify the most 36 relevant content to address in the next workshop WORKSHOP 3 DAY 1: Expectations & Overview of the day’s agenda 37 Session 1: Reflection and Sharing (1 hour) Objectives for participants: To share and reflect on their experiences with coaching activities since the previous workshop. To use these reflections to consider implications for future coaching activities Description: There are a variety of ways to facilitate a reflection. Similar to workshop 2, organize participants into groups of 3 or 4 so that every participant has a chance to share in small groups before bringing the small groups together to discuss highlights with the large group. Participants can organize their reflection and sharing around the suggested assignment after the last workshop. The assignment should be posted on Flipchart paper or projected on a Powerpoint slide so that participants can refer to it: 1. Observe and give feedback to xx teachers (number suggested by participants) 2. Review Teacher Professional Development plans and update as necessary 3. Based on classroom observations, support teachers during lesson planning to ensure effective instructional practices and meet the needs of diverse learners. Model and/or co-teach when possible and appropriate 7. In small groups, have participants reflect on their experiences with the assignment after workshop 2, noting key points for the “Now what?” portion of the reflection on Flipchart paper. [30 minutes] What? This involves reviewing details of the experience. Participants can describe what they tried to do and how they tried to do it. So what? This step is more interpretive. How was the experience for each participant? What were the successes, challenges, and lessons learned? How is teachers’ learning and development being impacted? Now what? Future goals and action plan. What are the implications of the lessons learned? What should future coaching activities with teachers focus on? What do coaches need further support in? 8. “Gallery Walk”: Have groups tape their chart papers around the room. Give participants time to silently walk around the room to look at the posters of other groups. [10 minutes] 9. For full group sharing, invite reflections on the following questions, encouraging participation from all small groups: [20 minutes] Reflection Questions How are you incorporating what you have learned in workshops 1 and 2 into your daily work with coaching and supporting teacher development? How has your newly acquired coaching and observation skills impacted teachers’ learning and development? Are there any challenges or assumptions you would like to discuss regarding any of the prior sessions or your coaching experiences so far? 38 Going forward, are there things that you need to do differently to support teacher professional growth? Session 2: Classroom Visits: Preparation and Field Visit (4 hours 10 minutes) Objectives for participants: To practice classroom observations and feedback in early grades classrooms. Note to facilitator: The logistics for the field visit need to be organized in advance. The Coach Training should be located as close to schools as possible to minimize travel time to and from schools There need to be sufficient early grades classrooms for a maximum of 2 coaches to visit each classroom (more than two visitors at a time will be too disruptive), so the number of schools will be determined based on the number classrooms required and the number available at each school. Schools need to be informed of the purpose, day, and time of the visit in advance as well as the format of the visit. Remind head teachers to explain the purpose of the visit to the teachers who will be observed and obtain their informed consent: 1. Meet with the head teacher (15 minutes) 2. Meet with the teacher briefly (5 minutes) 3. Observe the lesson (40 minutes) 4. Reflection and Feedback with the teacher (30-45 minutes) 5. Debrief the head teacher (15 minutes) Request the school’s support to arrange for classes that will be observed to be taken care of during the Reflection & Feedback sessions with the teachers so that children do not lose class time. If the classroom observation is scheduled at the end of the school day and the teacher was available and willing, the Reflection & Feedback session could be scheduled after children have left for the day. When possible, a small camera on a tripod can capture the lesson on video with the teacher’s prior permission. The teacher needs to be informed about how the videos will be used so that he/she can give informed consent. This needs to be cleared with the school and teacher in advance. Cameras/tripods should be obtained where permission has been granted. These videos can be used in future Coach Trainings. Vehicles to transport participants to and from schools to the Coach Training site need to be arranged 39 The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint Observation and Feedback_Field Visit.pptx Slide 3: What are the Goals of Classroom Observations? Objective: To review the goals of classroom observations for the coach and the teachers prior to the field visit Time: 5 minutes Description: 3. Ask participants what the goals of classroom observations are. Specifically, what are the goals of classroom observations for coaches, and what are the goals of classroom observations for teachers? 4. Think-Pair-Share Think: Participants think about the questions and note down responses individually (1 minutes) Pair: Participants discuss their thoughts with a partner (2 minutes) Share: The pairs share their ideas with the rest of the group (2 minutes) Slide 4: Review of “Questions to Consider When Observing an Early Grade Classroom” Objective: To review the “Questions to Consider” Handout prior to classroom visits to frame coaches thinking about the visit. Materials: ‘Questions for observation’ handout (one copy per participant). *Note: These worksheets were passed out during Workshop 1 and participants should have them in their folders, but make a few extra copies just in case Questions for observation.pdf 40 Time: 5 minutes Description: 1. Give participants a few minutes to review the questions on the worksheet. At the bottom of the worksheet, have participants review the additional questions they suggested during Workshop 1 and add any that may be missing. 2. Invite participants to share any additional questions with the group and discuss. Slide 5: Review of “Observation Protocols” Time: 20 minutes Objective: To review the observation protocols for before, during, and after a classroom observation in preparation for the field visit. Materials: Flipchart Paper (3), each with a different heading: 1) Before an Observation, 2) During an Observation, 3) After an Observation; Markers Description: 1. Remind participants that following established protocols for before, during and after classroom observations helps to build trust between teachers and coaches, so these protocols will be reviewed prior to the field visit. 2. Divide participants into three groups and give each group one of the three pre-prepared flipchart papers and a marker 3. Have each group brainstorm and list the important elements to remember during the stage of the observation process assigned to the group. [10 minutes] 4. Invite each group to choose one or two people to present. After each presentation, give the other participants time to respond with any additional key points that were not raised. [10 minutes] Slide 6: Review in Pairs--Effective Feedback to Teachers Time: 15 minutes Objective: To review elements of effective feedback for post-classroom observation meetings with teachers. Description: Participants will review what effective coaching feedback is prior to their scheduled classroom observation. 1. Have participants work with a partner to think through what effective feedback is and is not. [10 minutes] 2. Invite participants to share with the full group. Record key ideas on Flipchart paper before sharing the contents of the slide [5 minutes]. 41 Slide 7: Classroom visits Objective: To practice classroom observations and feedback in early grades classrooms. Time: 3.5 hours Materials: Classroom observations tools (one per participant), Flipchart with school assignments for participants, vehicles to transport coaches to and from schools, cameras & tripods where approval to use them has been obtained in advance Description: 1. Participants will travel to nearby school sites to observe a classroom lesson in pairs and practice their coaching skills. Go through the plan for the school visit: a. Travel to schools (30-40 minutes) b. Meet with the head teacher (15 minutes): Head teachers will be expecting the coaches and will already be prepared for the visit, but a brief preliminary meeting is an appropriate formality. c. Meet with the teacher briefly (5 minutes): Teachers should know in advance about the visit and its purpose. During this brief meeting, coaches can ask teachers for the learning objectives of their lessons and if there is anything in particular the teachers would like the coaches to observe. Five minutes is not sufficient time to conduct a proper pre-observation meeting with the teacher. Teachers will already be missing class time with their students by participating in the reflection and feedback session, so the pre-observation meeting has been kept minimal. d. Observe the lesson (40 minutes) e. Reflection and Feedback with the teacher (30-45 minutes): Since two coaches observed each class, coaches should decide ahead of time how they will cofacilitate the reflection & feedback session with the teacher f. Debrief the head teacher (15 minutes) g. Travel back from schools (30-40 minutes) Session 3: Classroom Visit Debrief (1 hour 50 minutes) Objectives for participants: To debrief classroom visits by sharing observations and feedback To identify trends in teachers needs and collectively develop specific strategies to support these needs To identify their strengths as coaches as well as their areas for growth Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities during the presentation allow participants to reflect, practice strategies, and/or to discuss how the content would be applied to their context. These 42 activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. Sample PowerPoint Debrief classroom visits.pptx Slide 3: Pair comparisons Objective: For participants who observed the same classroom to have the opportunity to compare and contrast their observations and impressions. Time: 35 minutes Description: 1. Participants should sit with the partner who observed the same lesson 2. Each participant should individually complete their Observation Tool using their notes (and rate the teacher if this is part of the tool) [10 minutes] 3. Pairs should then compare and contrast their notes as well as how they filled out the observation tool. While they will already have a sense of similarities and differences from their Reflection and Feedback session with the teacher, they now have the opportunity to do a detailed comparison. [15 minutes] 4. Peer feedback: Participants should be encouraged to share observations they made about their partner during the Reflection & Feedback session with the teacher [10 minutes] Slide 4: Full group discussion Objectives for participants: To debrief classroom visits by sharing observations and feedback with the full group. To identify trends in teachers needs and collectively develop specific strategies to support these needs Time: 50 minutes Description: 1. Facilitate a group discussion that is guided by participants’ interests. Use the following questions to guide the discussion when appropriate: a. Report on pair comparisons b. What did the teacher do well? c. What was important to discuss after the observation? d. What suggestions did you make for the teacher? e. What are the teacher’s needs for professional development? [If time allows and participants have a compelling scenario to share and discuss for which video was collected, share video snippets.] 43 2. Record trends that emerge in teachers’ professional development needs on Flipchart paper and solicit suggestions for how coaches can help to meet these needs. Slide 5: Journaling--Self-reflection Objective: Participants will identify their strengths as coaches as well as their areas for growth Time: 15 minutes Description: 1. Invite participants to independently journal about their experiences in the field in their notebooks using these questions as writing prompts: [10 minutes] a. Did you take notes with concrete examples of classroom instruction and children participation? b. Did you focus on student learning and how this was happening? Give examples c. Were you able to promote reflection on the part of the teacher? Give examples d. What did you do well as a coach? e. What did you learn as a coach from this experience? f. What are your areas of challenge as a coach? 2. Allow participants to share any of their reflections with the full group if they would like to [5 minutes] DAY 2 Overview of the day’s agenda Session 1: Professional development within schools (5 hours) Objectives for participants: To discuss contextually appropriate opportunities for professional development within schools (for example, the formation of Teacher Learning Circles or peer observations). To understand the role of instructional leaders in creating these opportunities for teachers. Note to facilitator: The sample PowerPoint presentation can be used as a guide for the session, but it needs to be adapted so that the examples and general content are contextually relevant. Activities, Discussions and group planning during the presentation allow trainers to practice strategies and/or to discuss how they would be applied to their context. These activities and other parts where participants are engaged during the presentation are explained below in the order in which they appear in the PowerPoint presentation. 44 Sample PowerPoint for Professional Development Within Schools: Professional Development Within Schools.pptx Slide 3: What is Professional Development (PD)? Objective: To activate participants’ prior knowledge on what professional development is Time: 5 minutes Description: 1. Invite participants to share words/phrases that they think of when they hear “professional development” and generate a list of these on flipchart paper 2. Use participants’ thoughts to discuss what professional development is. 3. Invite participants to share some examples of PD. If not done so already by participants, share some examples from the list below (in particular, share examples (a) to (e) which are likely to be more realistic for the context than (f) to (h): a. trainings/workshops b. engaging in informal dialogue with peers on how to improve teaching c. observation visits to other schools d. mentoring and/or peer observation and coaching e. participation in a Teacher Learning Circle f. education conferences g. qualification programme (e.g. a degree programme or courses) h. research, or reading professional literature Slide 4: Professional Development Review Objective: To identify existing opportunities for professional development that are available to teachers as well as barriers for teacher involvement Time: 1 hour Advance preparation: Prepare “bus stop” signs Description: 4. Arrange 4 bus stops around the room with the prompts written on different sheets of flipchart paper. 5. Divide participants into four groups, ensuring that each group has representatives from schools and the ministry of education, and assign each group to one bus stop. Give each group 5-7 minutes at their bus stop to answer the question/prompt and record their thoughts. Then have groups rotate until each group has visited and added input to all four bus stops. 6. Review and summarize each bus stop with the full group. 45 Bus stop 1: Policy: What is the system or policy established by the MOE or school to support PD? Is it implemented? How much of Professional Development is led and managed within schools? Bus stop 2: Opportunities: What kinds of professional development opportunities are available for teachers? It may not be called “professional development”, so think of any opportunities teachers have to develop their skills and knowledge Bus stop 3: Topics: What are the topics that Professional Development activities focus on? Bus stop 4: Barriers/Challenges: What are the barriers or challenges to teacher participation? (Suggest solutions to each barrier) 7. With guidance from participants, put a star by the items on the Bus stop 2 list that are PD opportunities within schools (organized by schools and available to teachers at schools) 8. Invite ideas from the group on the advantages of having school-based opportunities for professional development [increased accessibility for teachers, more sustainable, empowering—teachers are sources of expertise for each other]. Slide 5: Reasons to invest in school-based PD Slide 6: Brainstorm--Investing in School-based PD Objective: To reflect on the 70-20-10 framework (slide 5) and think about why only 10% of learning happens through formal training Time: 5 minutes Description: Ask participants to generate possible reasons to explain why only about 10% of learning (in this case, learning of teachers) happens through formal training. Then discuss the contents of the slide (if not already discussed by participants). Slide 7: Two school-based PD activities will be discussed in detail--Peer Observation and Teacher Learning Circles Slides 8 & 9: What is peer observation and how is it done? Slide 10: Benefits of Peer Observations--Reflection Objective: To reflect on the benefits of organizing peer observations in schools 46 Time: 20 minutes Description: 1. Organize participants into pairs and have them reflect on the benefits of organizing peer observations in their contexts. [10 minutes] 2. Discuss pair reflections and generate a group list of benefits on flipchart paper by calling on a different person in each group to share one until there are no more different contributions. [10 minutes] Slide 11: Challenges of Peer Observations--Reflection Objectives: To reflect on the challenges of organizing peer observations in schools and to identify requirements for successful implementation. To practice proposing the idea of peer observations in a way that would convince teachers to want to participate. Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Description: 1. In pairs, have participants reflect on the challenges of organizing peer observations in their contexts. For every challenge that is listed, participants need to suggest possible solutions [10 minutes] 2. Discuss pair reflections and generate group list of challenges (with suggestions) on flipchart paper by calling on a different person in each group to share one until there are no more different contributions. [10 minutes] 3. Keeping in mind the list of challenges, ask participants to think of all the requirements for the successful implementation of peer observations. [15 minutes] For example: Teachers need to understand what peer observation is (and is not) and how it will work—the coach plays a role in explaining and promoting the activity Teachers who are observing another lesson will need someone to cover their lesson (perhaps the head teacher could do this?) Teachers will need to be trained on how to give effective feedback As with the coach-teacher relationship, trust is foundational to an effective teacherteacher peer relationship (brainstorm effective ways to establish this climate of trust) 4. Individual task: If you had to propose the idea of “peer observations” to the teachers at your school, how would you do so to convince teachers to be willing to try them? Prepare what you would say to the teachers you would work with [15 minutes] 5. Role play: Ask for one or two volunteers to role play their prepared proposals with the group in the same way they would do so with teachers. The group can ask questions and offer feedback. [15 minutes]. 47 Slide 12: What is a TLC? Objective: To activate prior knowledge about TLCs Time: 10 minutes Description: 1. Ask participants: What is a TLC? Have you ever been a part of one? Do they exist at the schools you support (even if they are called something different)? 2. Review the description and characteristics of TLCs as participants share. Slide 13: Characteristics of a TLC Slide 14: Overview of a suggested TLC structure Slide 15: Suggested TLC structure—Activities 1, 2, and 3 Slide 16-18: Suggested TLC structure—Activity 4 Slide 19: Suggested TLC structure—Activities 5 & 6 After going through all suggested activities for a TLC, distribute the following handout that summarizes the suggested TLC structure: TLC Meeting Structure.pdf Slide 20: Pair work--Plan TLC topics Objective: To plan sample TLCs based on teachers’ needs Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Description: TLCs should be led by teachers, but it would be helpful to have some suggestions or samples to model the process for teachers. The one stage of the suggested TLC sequence that changes is stage 4, “New Learning about a chosen topic”, so participants will focus on generating samples for this step. 1. In pairs, participants should: [30 minutes] 48 a. Reflect on the needs of teachers in your schools b. Select two different topics for TLCs based on these needs c. Plan the content and format for these two TLC topics If there is access to laptops, participants can type up their assignments and then share them with the facilitator to collate and share with the group later. 2. Invite participants to present. Each pair will only have 5 minutes to share, so they can choose to share key ideas for both topics or share more detail about a single topic. [40 minutes] Slide 21: Steps to implement TLCs Slide 22: Role play--Explaining TLCs Objective: To practice proposing the idea of TLCs in a way that would convince teachers to want to participate. Time: 30 minutes Description: 1. Individual task: If you had to propose the idea of “TLCs” to the teachers at your school, how would you do so to convince teachers to be willing to try them? Prepare what you would say to the teachers you would work with [15 minutes] 2. Role play: Ask for one or two volunteers to role play their prepared proposals with the group in the same way they would do so with teachers. The group can ask questions and offer feedback to strengthen the explanation/proposal. [15 minutes] Slide 23: Other school-based PD opportunities Objective: To consider other school-based PD opportunities that are feasible in the context beyond Peer Observations and TLCs Time: 15 minutes Description: Invite participants to think about and discuss other school-based PD opportunities that can be available in this context. Slide 24: Role of the coach/leader in establishing and supporting school-based PD Session 2: Organizing for Coaching (1 hour) Objective: To develop a plan for classroom visits and the creation of at least one opportunity for teacher-to-teacher professional development within schools 49 Time: 1 hour Materials: Copies of the tracker tools (1 per participant) Description: 4. Share the following assignment, and invite feedback on feasibility (list homework on flipchart paper or a PowerPoint slide): d) Observe and give feedback to xx teachers (number to be suggested by participants depending on what they anticipate will be possible) e) Review Teacher Professional Development plans and update as necessary f) Establish and support at least one school-based PD opportunity for teachers 5. Invite participants to plan when and how they will be completing the tasks listed above. Encourage them to include as many details as possible in their plans as well as to consider including coach learning meetings during which coaches can meet to reflect and learn together (If possible, participants can type their plans and then send a copy to the facilitator). 6. Distribute the following tools to track Peer Observations and TLCs: Peer observation tracker.docx TLC tracker.docx 7. At the end of the session, thank participants for their attendance and hard work at this workshop and over the course of the 3-workshop coaching training, and wish them well with putting their learning into practice. Note to facilitator: After the workshop, consolidate all materials developed during the workshop and share a compilation of these materials with all workshop participants program staff should check in with coaches in between workshops to support their efforts. Evaluation and Closing Appendix: Video Resources Workshop 2 1) Video (English): Differentiated Instruction, Ghana Teacher Training, Sesame Street Production https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjqA_LKT0GA This video illustrates how students learn differently, and the teacher’s role in helping to differentiate instruction to accommodate different learning styles and needs including: a. Get to know each pupil, including interests and strengths b. Vary teaching approaches/strategies 50 c. Group children by ability d. Group children by interests Workshop 3 Professional Development: 2) Video (English): Re-Thinking Learning, The 70:20:10 Framework https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6WX11iqmg0&feature=youtu.be This video illustrates the 70/20/10 principle and emphasizes the most effective learning and development happens on the job: 70% during on the job, 20% during coaching and mentoring, and 10% from formal training. 3) Video (English): Classroom Observation Strategies, Peer Observations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_W6tb35r3M This video demonstrates teachers observing each other’s practice and learning from one another, including offering constructive feedback to peers. 51