PD Top 3: December

December 1, 2024

My new favorite podcast is Assess That With Tom and Nat. In a recent episode, Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso discuss the simple and complex nature of feedback. At around the ten minute mark, they talk about the only two effective ways that students can respond to feedback (they either set the next goal if they mastered something or they continue to learn and revise) which is what makes feedback very complex and not always successful if it isn't done with a great deal of finesse and consistency. At around thirteen minutes, they discuss what they call the "truth trigger" when giving feedback. If we believe the person giving the feedback does not understand the truth of our situation, we will struggle to accept the feedback. To combat this, Natalie recommends starting any feedback session with "What are you most proud of in this work, situation, etc.?" That way, you can provide feedback that affirms what they believe about the scenario while offering constructive support to move them forward. In the session notes, Tom and Natalie share a presentation that you can use to discuss feedback including examples and nonexamples that are fun and will resonate with students and adults, as well as a presentation with feedback questions (check slide 11 for a great feedback chart). Ultimately, the podcast asserts that instruction without assessment and feedback is simply information delivery or content coverage, which is what makes it one of my favorite things this month!

I am a fan of Priya Parker and her book The Art of Gathering, as well as Chip and Dan Heath and their book The Power of Moments. Neither one is an educational book, but both feel relevant right now. Parker talks about the concept of "healthy heat" and how fake peace is actually worse than good conflict. The Heath brothers discuss how elevated moments have the element of surprise and intrigue as well as some sensory appeal. Both those texts point me toward adding more healthy debate in class to encourage critical thinking and create memorable moments. A top resource for equitable debates and discussions is the Facing History and Ourselves Resource Library. If you are looking for some tried and true strategies for civil discourse and inviting everyone to gather and participate in healthy conflict, take a look at the Straight As Protocol, Town Hall Circles, or simply conduct a SPAR debate in class. No matter what you do, as long as everyone's voice belongs in the moment you create, it will be a success!

If you walk into Crystal Chodes-Squibb's third grade Hogwarts paradise, you will be greeted by a student ambassador. The ambassador's job is to describe what they are doing in class as well as what they did previously and why it matters. When I asked the ambassador questions about other things going on in class, they could clearly answer and articulate their learning (while also being absolutely delightful). Having student ambassadors is a strategy utilized by highly successful PBL schools and backed by research as an effective practice for promoting student agency and leadership. In the Kid Zone program, Kim Albrecht and Tyler Kearns are also working hard to promote student leadership. As a vital part of their programming, fourth and fifth grade students act as leaders and teachers by facilitating clubs. Recently, a fifth grader ran an activity where younger children made slime. She gave the directions, asked the questions, and coached other students along the way. How do you promote student leadership in your classroom? Talk to Crystal, Kim, or Tyler about ambassadors or leadership ideas!