The Coaches Corner
IMESD & OTREN Regional Coaches Huddle - 4/10/23
School Resource: ORSN
The Oregon Research Schools Network (ORSN) delivers evidence-based professional development to schools and staff; including training for paraprofessionals and substitutes. You can access the presentation about their programs here; and contact McKennon McDonald for access to the training materials.
Teacher Resource: Podcast
Jennifer Gonzalez from Cult of Pedagogy interview Connie Hamilton, teacher and author of of Hacking Group Work. You can listen or read the transcript here.
Excerpt: It’s pretty well known in educational circles that cooperative learning is supported by research, but so many teachers still struggle with it, so when things don’t work well, they give it up. In my observations of thousands of teachers, I’ve noticed that sometimes the smallest tweak in instructional approaches reaps the biggest impact, and group work is no exception.
Coaching Resource: Article
Excerpt: Traditional professional learning typically accounts for three to five percent of districts’ annual budgets. However, America’s investment in furthering teacher pedagogy through traditional professional learning does not seem to have translated into better outcomes for students... America’s investment in traditional professional learning has also had no discernable impact on teacher retention. Over 40 percent of new teachers quit the profession within five years.
Book Study: January-April
Who is Michelle Harris?
Michelle Harris is a Senior Consultant with the Instructional Coaching Group. She has worked with IMESD for several years and presents all over the world. Michelle has co-authored Evaluating Instructional Coaching and The Instructional Playbook. We are excited that she is leading a book study for the IMED/OTREN Regional Coaches Huddle.
What book will we read?
The Advice Trap is about getting to grips with how to actually change your behavior so you stay curious a little bit longer. You have to tame your Advice Monster, that part of you that jumps in to offer up ideas, opinions, suggestions and advice.
When will we meet to discuss the book?
Michelle will lead three discussions: January 17, March 20, and April 17. (see upcoming huddles for details).
Please RSVP for the book study HERE. The Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network (OTREN) will be purchasing books for those participating and who have RSVP'd by October 30.
The instructional coaches (Jennifer, Ayla, and Beth) are part of the Instructional Services Department at the InterMountain Education Service District. Our three focus areas this year are:
- School-level Impact Teams
- Educator Huddles (Content-Specific, GROW- Beginning Teachers, EdTech, Regional Coaches)
- One-on-one or small group coaching cycles
Please contact us for more information about the Coaching Huddle or how we can support you and your school.
Email: instructionalcoaches@imesd.k12.or.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/imesdapps.org/instructional-coaching/home