Week 2: How to see literacy instruction through a learning (vs. judgment) lens
Instructional Walks: The First Four Weeks
This is the second of four emails to help you get started with instructional walks, the primary practice in my new book. You can access Week 1 here. More information is available at the bottom for Thursday’s webinar on making coaching/conferring a habit, plus a virtual chat with Regie Routman on September 29. Take care, -Matt
This week, we will learn how to take a learning (vs. judgment) stance to:
reduce anxiety and expectations,
be more present, and
continue building literacy knowledge when visiting classrooms.
The larger goal is a school culture that offers an excellent learning experience for readers and writers that is sustainable over time.
Take a moment to recall a successful learning experience.
What were you feeling and doing?
What was the environment like?
Who was there to support your efforts?
It can be professional or personal learning.
Regardless of the context, my guess is you were feeling immersed in the process. Time seemed to slow down. The environment wasn’t distracting you; in fact, it probably worked in favor of maintaining your focus. Your guide was clear on the “how to” and allowed you to try and apply whatever new skill or content you were trying to learn.
I think I can also guess what wasn’t overly present: judgment.
With this in mind, how would you describe your past formal teacher observations?
The typical teacher will not rate observations as a satisfying learning experience.
This isn’t necessarily the fault of the teacher or the leader.
Formal observations expect leaders to make a judgment about performance.
Evidence collected serves to support this judgment.
This documentation and rating process guides leaders to determine the level of effectiveness of a teacher.
In fact, I am not passing judgment on the process; let’s just not refer to a once- or twice-yearly formal observation as a deep learning experience.
Thankfully, instructional walks conducted frequently and prior to a formal observation do more than support teaching and learning; they can also improve the accuracy and outcomes of our educator effectiveness systems.
Here’s how to lead first as a learner as you start building an schoolwide literacy culture.
Step 1: Leave the checklists, frameworks, and rubrics in the office.
These first couple of weeks is not the time to reference these documents.
Instead, come into each classroom from an appreciative stance. For example, what about the classroom environment inspires a sense of joy within you? In one space, a teacher has a writing center with paper, pencils, markers, and books about writing.
Step 2: Let teachers know what you appreciate.
Like anyone, teachers want to be recognized for their efforts and strengths.
You don’t have to be original in your comments. In fact, I have told this teacher multiple times over the years what I appreciate about their writing center.
One could argue that my noticing of the strengths of a classroom is also a judgment. That’s why I record these observations in my documentation form (Google, Evernote). What I notice and appreciate today can be the seed for a coaching conversation later, to learn more about the thinking and design behind this space.
Step 3: Summarize the patterns of what you observe.
As I shared in last week’s email, I responded to the four questions at the end of the documentation form.
Then I distilled this reflection down into six or so takeaways which I shared with faculty in my newsletter.
Everyone is using the new resource and reflecting on what is working so far.
Teachers are personalizing the resource to meet their students’ needs.
In general, we are trying to “go slow to go fast”: not rushing ourselves and ensuring students are staying with instruction.
Integrating routines and skills within other areas of instruction.
Classroom libraries are at different levels of student involvement right now, which is understandable with the implementation of the new resource.
When I asked one student what their “One Best Thing” was so far this school year, she said “reading”.
You may have noticed that I included one area for potential growth - classroom libraries - near the end of the takeaway list.
We can come back to this knowledge for future professional learning sessions. I can even use this information to leverage the strengths I noticed to make a connection. For example, if hypothetically the classroom with the wonderful writing center had a less-than-personalized classroom library, I might ask the teacher, “How does the writing center connect with your classroom library?” I would be building on their current strengths to help them notice a possible next step for improvement.
But now is not the time. Early in the year, I want to create lots of wins as a foundation for future learning, and that learning begins with my own.
🙌 At the end of your first round, share a win in the comments and/or a question you have going forward.
In the next session, you will learn how to create connections between schoolwide expectations and current literacy practices.
Instructional Walks Email Course Checklist
Week 1: How daily classroom visits can build trust with facultyWeek 2: How to see literacy instruction through a learning (vs. judgment) lensWeek 3: How to affirm promising literacy practices
Week 4: How to communicate feedback teachers find respectful and useful
“Attention without feeling...is only a report.”
― Mary Oliver
Free Webinar: How to Create a Coaching or Conferring Habit
On Wednesday, September 14 at 6 P.M. CST, I will demonstrate how I use the Ivy Lee Method to ensure instructional walks and coaching conversations are prioritized.
You will see both a print example (above) and a digital approach, either of which you can apply and adapt to your teacher or leadership practice.
Celebration Zoom Call with Regie Routman
Join me on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 6 P.M. CST for a live video conversation with Regie Routman, author of Read, Write, Lead: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Success and many other books.
We want to celebrate your first four weeks of instructional walks! I will also be asking Regie to share her wisdom on becoming a literacy leader.