Script the Critical Moves

"Ambiguity is the enemy. Any successful change requires a translation of ambiguous goals into concrete behaviors. In short, to make a switch, you need to script the critical moves." (p. 53)

I just finished Chapter 3 of the book "Switch," and I've been thinking a lot about how I can do a better job at "scripting the moves" to better support our teachers as they try new strategies and tools in their classroom. In particular, I have been reflecting on how I can use the steps in the 5-Step Coaching Model to help with this.

Here are some ideas:

Identify a specific challenge

During the first step of the coaching cycle, coaches work collaboratively with teachers to identify a specific challenge. This is an essential step if we want to help script the moves teachers will need to make in order to change and improve their practice.

Sometimes teachers are so overwhelmed with challenges that it's difficult to get them to focus on just one. They keep jumping from issue to issue or (especially during the past year) from tool to tool. One strategy from the Google Certified Coach Curriculum is the Gripe Jam. I've used this strategy several times and it has really helped teachers who aren't quite sure where they want to start.

Build SMART goals to address the challenge

During Steps 2 & 3, coaches work with teachers to identify and select a strategy. One way to make sure this goal is specific is to set SMART goals. This will make it clear to both you and the teacher how you will both know that a goal has been met. That will help to avoid the "ambiguity" that can often derail efforts to change practice.

Identify sub-goals to support strategy implementation

During Step 4, coaches work with teachers to implement the strategy the teacher has chosen. A really important part of this step is the "Goal Setting Meeting." During this meeting, coaches help teachers identify sub-goals to support teachers as they try to implement new strategies in their classrooms. As the authors point out in the book, the hardest part of change is in the details. Therefore, this step is where coaches can really provide teachers the support they need by identifying the concrete steps they need to take during their lessons in order to reach the identified goals.

How do you "script the moves" in order to drive change?

Comments

Create an Instagram Story!

One day on Twitter, I came across a tweet from Ryan O'Donnell ( @creativeedtech ) in which he shared a Facebook template that could be used for students to demonstrate their learning. I clicked on the link to his website , and I was AMAZED at all the cool templates he had created for teachers to use for free! I decided to try using an Instagram template during a unit on the planets in our solar system. I wanted students to demonstrate what they learned about the different planets, but I wanted them to do it in a creative way. Here are the directions I gave to my students: Here are some student examples: Student Example #1 Student Example #2 Student Example #3 Student Example #4 I really enjoyed this activity, and I love how students familiar with hashtags were able to create and use them in clever ways! If I was to go back and do this again, I would spend some time working with students less familiar with social media and hashtags and give them some...

First Week of School

We just wrapped up our first week of school! I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know our new 5th grade students! Here are some of the activities we did to start building our classroom culture and learn more about each other: "All About Me" Google Drawing Students learned how to use some of the basic features of Google Drawings by creating a Drawing about themselves. The basic requirements were that they include their name, a picture of themselves, and text/images that describe their personalities or interests. I created an example to give them an idea of what it could look like. I used this activity last year, and I really enjoyed what my students created. However, I decided this year to give them more time to just play with and explore the tools in Google Drawing. I feel like this really paid off because students were able to discover how to use some of the tools and share with each other instead of just relying on me to show them how to use it. ...

Virtual EdTech Coaching Sessions

I'm really enjoying these virtual tech coaching sessions with teachers across our district! Here are some takeaways about coaching virtually: 🤝 Building relationships is still key to effective coaching. I try to look for things a teacher has on their desk or wall that I can see in the camera. This helps start a conversation about something meaningful to the teacher and starts our session on a positive note. ❓ Ask lots of questions rather than jumping in with a solution. I like to ask, "Can you please share your screen and show me how you would typically do/get to ____?" rather than telling them where to click right away. It helps me learn about how they navigate digital tools. 📧 Follow up the conversation with an email. I like to include a short video with a quick tutorial about something specific they talked about during the session. It helps demonstrate that I was actively listening and that I'd love to keep the conversation going and keep working together. What...

Roxi Thompson

Search This Blog