Got PD360?!

PD360...sounds like that crazy new work out regimen, right?  Well, not quite but close!  PD360 is a work out for your mind and it's a great resource for all of us provided by the Department of Education.  It's a website that "provides professional development on demand" and is located here:

http://www.pd360.com/

Once you are at the website you will need to follow the directions to register.  Once you are logged in the home page will take you to a learning community created especially for you.  For example, mine is customized according to my profile description:  Hawaii, and Central District.  My profile provides for specific content to be made available to me based on initiatives that we are working on at our District and specific to my job title.  For teachers based at schools, content can be specific to school initiatives, grade level, content area, etc.

You click on the Search Tab to search through the content for topics that pertain to your needs and interests.  For example, I typed in the words, "Classroom Management" and hit "Search Content."  My search fielded the following hits:

I can then click on any one of the links and it takes me to a Professional Development video on the topic.

Aside from the Professional Development Training videos there is also a Learning Community with links to other articles and sites that may be of interest to educators.

Admittedly, we have not spent much time on the site.  However, we have begun to research and look for videos that we feel would be beneficial for our new teachers to watch.  What we have been able to see so far has been promising.  In the coming weeks we hope to learn more about the site and we hope you will to.  If you are interested in the site and would like some help navigating through it send us and email, give us a call or post here!  Happy learning!!!

Day 4 of Cognitive Coaching

Today we were supposed to present about our Program at the Principal's Meeting but we were scheduled for a Cognitive Coaching Training so out fearless leader "BD" went in our place.  We are positive that he did a great job!

Our team had another great day learning together.  We learned about the 5 different types of Feedback:  Judgmental, Personal Observations, Inferences, Data, and Mediative Questions.  Of which the last two, Data and Mediative Questions are the most important when in "Coaching Default."  We learned how to present data to coachees to maximize self-directed learning and practiced the process.  In addition, we learned about meta-coaching which is the coaching of coaches to help coaches bump up their coaching.

We can't wait to practice everything we learned today!!!

Life Long Learners!

Kahikukala in effect!  We spent our day today learning from the marvelous Sue Presler who is our Cognitive Coach trainer.  Today we learned about coaching in Reflective Conversations to help our mentees think deeper through questions that help them analyze and reflect on activities.  We enjoyed practicing coaching with our peers and can't wait to try the new strategies on our mentees and to share them with our school level Mentors.  Day four of our training is tomorrow.  

No Fear Leadership!

Two years ago I attended the Model School's Conference in Honolulu.  I came away with many great ideas about Educational Reform and one quote stayed with me, "Leadership is not about position, it's about action, lead from any chair."  This quotation came to mind as I watched video and read about the amazing Chilean rescue.  I found this article especially inspiring!

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/last-miner-out-is-groups-captain/

The Chilean Shift Captain had a no-fear attitude  and served as a role model for his men.  He was already in a leadership position and in the face of huge diversity he stepped up to the plate and lead his men to a life and freedom that few thought possible.  I can't imagine the strength it took for him to decide to go this route  under such adversity and would love to meet him in person.  His charisma must be amazing!!!

Today I congratulate Chile and from this heroic story take so many lessons I hope to apply in life and in my career as an educator and mentor.

Mentors: Putting some drops in your bucket, pass it on!

Mentors, keep an eye out because a package should be delivered to your school in the next couple of weeks.  Thanks to our generous CAS's you will be receiving the Bucket Books for use with your students and New Teachers.  Please use this opportunity to fill others' buckets.

Nothing to do with teaching, but a story of hope.

I've been glued to cnn.com watching the Chilean miners being rescued.  The fourth miner has just been brought to the surface--about a 15 minute ride twisting and turning as he is pulled up to the surface after being trapped underground since August 5th for 69 days!!!  I used this real life lesson to teach my 3 and 4 year old some important words--hero, miracle, never give up.  My three year old was especially happy when the first miner was pulled up and the little boy began crying tears of happiness to see his daddy.

I've been following this story since the mine collapsed. When the story first unfolded I felt sadness; expecting to read of the deaths of the workers.  After contact was finally made via a small drilled hole 17 days later we learned that they had all miraculously escaped to a safe zone and survived on a small amount of rations and air.  Incredible, unbelievable!!!  The unbelievable news was followed with the story that a rescue attempt would be made but that the Miners would  have to stay alive underground for as long as four months while a tunnel was drilled through half a mile of rock to free them..."No way!"  I thought, "Not possible, impossible, crazy!"  But here we are today, 3 courageous rescuers lowered to help the miners and so far, four men lifted to safety.

As I reflect, I think about my own last 69 days.  I got a new job, moved into a new office, began working with 3 new co-workers, learned so many new things, and at times struggled with the steep learning curve.  It's been a long and tiring quarter for me and I know that it's been tough for some of the teachers I work with as well.  But when I compare life in first quarter to life underground in Chile I know that I've had it easy.  However, more importantly I've learned that no matter what adversity you are faced with that you should never give up because sometimes in life miracles can certainly occur.

So, with that, let's take a deep breath, get ready for the second quarter, learn to adapt, be flexible, be strong, trust in our selves and coworkers, and never give up...no matter how bleak the situation, when we work together as a team anything is possible!!!!  A perfect rally cry as we mentors and new teachers work together for the best of our students!!!

Furlough Monday

No Institute Day and no Columbus Day.  We're furloughed and not getting paid--means no work for us tomorrow, so go have fun at the beach, shop, watch a movie...have some fun before 2nd quarter starts and the madness of report cards, conferences, testing, and everything else begins.

New Mentor Training #3

They're back!  After working an entire day on their vacation, our mentors came back for more!!!

Today's session covered:  Hawaii Teacher Standards, Standards Self-Assessment, Teacher Action Plan/Reflection, Classroom Observation Process, and Generational Gaps.

Here are some links of interest:

Hawaii Teacher Standards:

http://www.htsb.org/html/details/teacherstandards/standards.html

Generational Gaps:

http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/beloit-college-mindset-class-2014-11417568
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo2mBiPBLlA

http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/teacher_leadership_today/2007/11/rumors-of-a-tea.html
http://sbruzzese.org/edem628/readings/unit2d.pdf
http://www.agts.edu/faculty/faculty_publications/articles/creps_generations_chart.pdf
http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper104/ReevesITForumJan08.pdf
http://fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htm

Here's what we learned about the Traditionalists, Boomers, Xers and Nexters:

We need to be cognizant of generational differences when working with our colleagues.  Just as culture can play a role in our interactions with others, so can the generation gaps.

A huge mahalo to all who took time out of their vacations to perfect their craft!!!  We are so happy to be working with you all!!!

New Mentor Training 2

It's the first day of Spring Intersession so how were 4 District Mentors and 14 new Mentors spending their first day off?  The beach?  Ala Moana?  Disneyland?  In the classroom?  Nope!  They were learning how to perfect their mentoring craft at the New Mentor Training held at Mililani Uka Elementary.  Today's topics:  Mentor Language/Conversations (are you being consultive, collaborative, or cognitive?), Rapport, BMIRS, Positive Presuppositions and Professionalism.  Tomorrow's topics:  Professional Development Plans, Teaching Standards, Observations, and Generational Gaps.

Some links you might find interesting:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3204/01.html
(Click on the arrow on the picture and it will take you to the video on Mirror Neurons)

And some things to think about:

• How would use paraphrasing to turn this statement into a positive presupposition: "My kids just can't get the standards!  None of them are reading on grade level!"
• How can you use Cognitive, Consultive, and Collaborative Language in your next meeting with your new teacher?
• What are some ways you can get into rapport with your new teachers?
• How can you promote professionalism in our profession?

A huge mahalo to our committed Mentors who take time out of their busy schedules to become the best Mentors they can be.  Stay tuned for more information.

Here's some of the Mentors' work around Professional Norms: