High School Reform - Small Learning Communities (SLCs)

Differentiated Coaching by David Holden

David presented the many roles and responsibilities of the instructional coach in school reform. Among the many roles and responsibilities that were discussed in being an instructional coach David time and time again emphasized the need to first make strong trusting / nonjudgmental connections with the teacher (client). David provided several resources including his presentation slides for the instructional coach in his PowerPoint that can be found at the link above. He also mentioned several books, web sites and research studies which include:

• Anything by Michael Fullan


• The "Knowing-Doing Gap" by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton


• Jim Knights research from the University of Kansas http://www.instructionalcoach.org/


• UC Santa Cruz "The New Teacher Center" http://newteachercenter.org/article7.php and web site on Reflective Conversations protocol (http://newteachercenter.org/article7.php)
  
• and Carol Ann Tomlinson's "Equalizer" http://pdonline.ascd.org/pd_demo/lesson.cfm?SID=39

Back in the Saddle

It has been a long time since I have posted anything at Napkin Communications, but it is time to get back in the saddle and start communicating and collaborating with my fellow colleagues. I, along with 8 others will be traveling to San Diego to attend a 2 1/2 day conference on Small Learning Communities. I am very excited about the opportunity for change and the possibilities this conference will bring to light.

So stay tuned for more on Small Learning Communities.

If you have time check out the following web site: http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sslc/

by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory on Small Learning Communities - there is some real good stuff!