In the meantime, I know that practice time for TLAC tends to get squeezed out with targeted tutorial time. How can we make time for practice? Here are just a few suggestions to get you started on thinking of creative practice options for your cohort of teachers, when there is no "time" to practice together. For all of these options, it will be important for you to run these by your administration and documentation that your teachers participated in this type of practice. We want to make sure you get credit for your work!
How to Practice When There is No Time to Practice!
TLAC Book Study Clubs: Assign specific chapter(s), then have teachers respond to some reflection questions in an interactive notebook. You can find some great reflection questions in the TLAC field guide. Have them turn it in, then respond to what they wrote (that's interactive part).
Observation Rounds: Invite teachers to come see you trying out a new technique. Ask them to provide you in writing with one thing you did well, and one thing to try using the language of the technique.
Practice in the Classroom (with coach): The best practice is done before teachers "go live" in front of students, but then we have to jump in and try it with the kids. Take a technique that you have practiced during previous TLAC sessions and let teachers know that we are going to take the practice to the next level...practice in the classroom. Go visit teachers for 5-7 minutes and look for use of the technique or opportunities they could have used the technique. Leave them with written feedback- one thing they did well and one thing they could try, being sure to use the language of the technique.
Practice in the Classroom (video coaching): Some teachers would rather submit a video of their teaching. Have a student tape their class for 5-7 minutes and submit the video to you. Provide written feedback-one thing they did well and one thing they could try, being sure to use the language of the technique.
TLAC scavenger hunt: Provide teachers with a few TLAC things to hunt for in others teachers' rooms. Be sure to include a form for teachers to record their responses. For example:
- Look for a Check for Understanding, then describe what the teacher did with that data or as Doug calls it the "do something about it right away" part.
- Observe an "everybody writes" moment. This can be a moment that a teacher used "everybody writes" or an opportunity that a teacher could have used "everybody writes". Describe the moment or opportunity.
- Observe a "threshold" moment as a student. Stand at the end of another teacher's line. What does it feel like to stand there? Describe how the teacher greets the other students ahead of you. How does that compare to how he/she greets you? What elements of "threshold" does the teacher include? What elements of "threshold" might the teacher try?
In the comment section below, please write 3-5 sentences explaining how your cohort has (or is planning) to continue practicing 30 minutes per week through the end of the school year.
Take a look at one of our program teachers from Edison Middle School describe his "breakthrough" moment using Teach Like a Champion. Read about it here in the HISD enews.
Nominate Your Campuses' Champions!
Do you have a teacher at your campus that is Champion? Please nominate them for an opportunity to be spotlighted in the "Breakthroughs" section of the HISD enews. This is a great way to celebrate the success of you, your teachers, and your campus! Please fill out this quick survey to nominate your teachers! PS- you can even nominate yourself :)
If You TLAC...They Will Come!
So excited to announce that Doug and his team are confirmed to visit HISD Monday, May 19th and Tuesday, May 20th. Final site visit schedules, including which schools to be visited, are being finalized with campus principals. In the meantime, we want you reflecting on what Doug might see if he came into your room? What techniques are your trying out? What techniques would you want him to give you feedback on? To help you reflect on this, please complete this pre-site visit reflection survey.
I like the book study idea. The end of the year is so crazy. It is extremely hard to meet with my cohort. I have the fine arts teachers and they are preparing for variuos concerts and festivals for the end of the year. A book study might work.
ReplyDeleteNikki Arterburn
Revere Middle School
Thank you so much for the ideas Pasha. They really help. Our campus is going to discuss them and pick one or two that we will committ to implement. It is easier to get your specific cohort on board when they see the rest of the school doing the same things! I really like the book study idea. You can even make it easier for your cohort to accomplish, by scanning in specific chapters and emailing it so they have it ready on hand. I also like the observation rounds. I find so much value in observing other teachers. Some of my teachers are still too shy to volunteer to be observed, but perhaps after they come in my classroom and observe me, they will feel more comfortable!
ReplyDeleteErin Krafft
Revere Middle School
You are absolutely correct! Teachers often feel like they are being evaluated when observers come into their classroom. By modeling yourself first...you are leading by example. Proving to teachers that you are not asking them to do something you are not willing to do yourself. It is a great way to build a culture of error and trust! It would be so great if we could get that type of modeling on camera (hint, hint!!)
DeleteI love the Book club idea simply because we all have different opinions and views on several topics and that would help us all get a different perspective on what may or may not work. I truly believe the Observations rounds and Practice with Coach are great ideas that I would like for our campus to try now and into the following year. I always say practive makes perfect and receiving constant feedback will help us all grow and become even more effective teachers. :)
ReplyDeleteMs. Zuniga - Elmore Elementary
As an English teacher, I love the Book Club idea and since my cohort has a lot of English teacher I plan to utilize this as the year comes to a close. I enjoy hearing the opinions of my colleagues and think we have learned a lot through our round robin discussions.
DeleteOdera Agbim
Deady Middle
Honestly, the whole TLAC experience, and what it brings to the classroom reminds me of the teachers that taught me; the teachers who were my favorite. It was the systems they had in place, which let me know they cared for me, for each of us in that class. Threshold is more than a formaility, it is a means to an end; a way of building a rapport and teaching scholars not only what good manners are but modeling them, so that they can know what it feels like to be cared about. My scholars appreciate these little things, and teachers who utilize these strategies consistently, are setting themselves apart in the most notable way, and estabilishing memories for their scholars within the confines of the classroom. When we debrief in these informal meetings, it feels good to see the other teachers being inspired by using some of the lesser known strategies. I LIKE the book club idea alot. I hope that soon, all districts will see the beauty in this program. It truly does put a sparkle back in the classroom. It's a quirky and inventive way to establish rigorous structure. I LOVE IT! EDISON MIDDLE SCHOOL- MICAL ROY
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteThe article puts forth some great suggestions to deal with the time constraints we are experiencing. As you mentioned TLAC practice time is harder and harder to come by during testing season. Between tutorials, all-day blitzes, testing days and make-up days practice time becomes a rare commodity.
ReplyDeleteJ.Tahiri
That said, we will continue to plan our weekly cohort sessions during those weeks that are not affected by the schedule changes. We will also, encourage peer observations during those weeks when it is impossible to schedule a practice session.
We have really used observations of other teachers in the last few weeks. this has worked well for us. After the observations, we debrief the good and the not so good that we saw and we always make sure we J-Factor ( in some way) the teacher we observed.
DeleteMaissa Lebbie
Deady Middle
The article definitely shares some excellent ideas as to how we can continue to practice our TLAC strategies. At Thomas, our meetings have certainly declined this month as we prepared for testing. However, I think offering teachers the opportunity to observe a TLAC lead teacher is a great idea. Because all grade level teachers are off at the same time, teachers would observe other grade levels. This not only would allow them to see TLAC strategies at work, but also experience a new grade level and group of students.
ReplyDeleteZachary Huie
Thomas MS
Book club idea is a great idea! I can't believe we didn't think of it before. Like the blog post mentioned, it has definitely been difficult to meet with cohorts during this time. Everyone has the big test on their mind and have room for nothing else. I think as the year is winding down, especially now that STAAR has past, we can now focus our cohort meetings on reflections and/or "keeping control" in May.
ReplyDeleteKarina Lopez
Revere Middle School
I think anytime you share with others there are benefits. There are some great suggestion for keeping teachers engaged in TLAC in the articles. For the fine arts department we are into contest mode most of March and April and don't have the opportunity to do much observing. I am going to encourage all to take the time in May to observe another teacher and give positive feedback. Many times we only hear what we are doing wrong and I think it is important for our colleagues to give encouragement to each other, because there are a lot of good teachers who never get to hear from someone that they are doing a great job. I will also encourage them to find something new that they have observed that they can use in in their classrooms.
ReplyDeletePeggy Moritz
Pin Oak Middle School
Allowing teachers the opportunity to dive into the readings in the TLAC book is a great way to continue to practice and keep instruction on the forefront of our minds. The analysis of the book would allow for teachers to complete TLAC when is most convenient for them. Furthermore, I think this flexibility will allow for more thought and reflection.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, observation rounds are another, real-time option to practice. This also enables flexibility with timing.
Ariana Sherman
Patrick Henry Middle School
Thanks for the encouraging words Pasha. I can already smell the flowers!
ReplyDeleteRecently I held two and a half week “Social Studies STAAR Camp.” There were sixty five to seventy students per class period. Many teachers came to observe me. They complemented me on my TLAC skills and overall classroom management. I was impressed that they were using TLAC language. Some of the responses included check for understanding, stretch it and no opt out. I think modeling and the use of observation rounds are very effective. When teachers see other teachers do what they don’t feel comfortable doing it inspires them to take the challenge. I will continue using the observation rounds to inspire more teachers to feel comfortable with using more TLAC strategies. I will also be observing other teachers.
I like the TLAC book study idea. This is the most practical approach for continuing the practice of TLAC skills during this extremely challenging time of the year with all of the mandated test and the amount of stress it has on the teachers and students.
Brenda Byrd
Revere Middle School
As a Kindergarten team we are not under the time crunch that the teams who test are. My team is still meeting and reviewing different TLAC strategies each week. I love the idea of taping our teaching and watching them, even by ourselves, to help direct our meeting. I think that having a specific area in mind that we know needs improvement would help our meetings be more meaningful and productive. I think I may suggest this to the team.
ReplyDeleteMegan Kelly
Elmore Elementary
Finding time to meet and practice at the end of the year with testing, field trips, and other end of the year activities is challenging, so I really like the book club idea. This way teachers are still reading about strategies and having interactive feedback from other teachers. The scavenger hunt is also a fun idea. I plan to incorporate both of these activities into the final weekly practice sessions.
ReplyDeleteSharon Crumbling
Pin Oak Middle School
Book Club and English teachers, a match made in heaven! Sounds like the plan we will go with to escape the craziness of the last few weeks of school. Or maybe I can just ESP the information to my cohort members:)
DeleteDulcie David
Deady
When we meet at out school, we discuss bright spots and dark spots. Since time is an issue, I give my teachers a list of techniques to try before coming to the meeting. On the day of the meeting, each teacher brings in one bright spot and one dark spot. I have the different techniques on the board. The teachers place their dark and light spot on the different techniques. Once each teacher has posted, we will do a gallery walk. I pick a few bright spots to discussas well as a few dark spots. Each time they come, I tell the teachers to try a different technique. Teachers are able to help other and get help at the same time!
ReplyDeleteMs. Florinda Lee
Revere MS
I love the idea of a TLAC scavenger hunt especially at the end of the school year when everyone tends to be mroe relaxed than unusual. We all have to come together to maintain high behavioral and academic expectations until the last day of school. Currently our campus has responded by providing students with encouraging affirmation along with strategic hallway guidlines that seek to encourage safety, consideration and careful attention to behavioral expectaions until the last day of school. We all know this is the crazy time of the year but it is important that classrooms use regular expectations and consistency.
ReplyDeleteAdela Jalomo, Key Midedle School
Tiffani Slaughter - Marshall
ReplyDeleteThe Book study would be great in fact on my campus I am doing a technique study. We select a technique the teachers read it on their own. As we interact during lunch, dismissal etc. we will have informal conversation on how to use the technique, pro's or con's and the issues that it may be able to solve.
I can totally relate to Tiffani from Marshall. We have had to revamp the way we handle cohorts recently - trying to dodge the blitzes, tutorials and interventions - and we have started sending out the techique we will discuss for the next week the Friday before. We then use time before school for several cohorts and planning time for some to go over and practice the technique. The teachers know that the more time they put it before studying the technique the smoother ( and quicker) our discussions go.
ReplyDeleteDr. Tracy L. Duck
Deady Middle
Meaghan Mengler
ReplyDeleteMarshall Elementary
I think the best way to continue on with practices through the end of the year is to do the book study. That way teachers can find their own time to read about a technique, and then when we meet we can informally discuss what they have discovered. Then we can also practice that technique for a little before they "go live" in the classroom.
I like the idea of having the cohorts learn a technique and teach it to the rest of us. The book club is an awesome idea to tie into them learning as well. I have asked them to revamp a technique in their class and bring it to the next meeting. This again puts the "teaching" into their hands. Then as a group we can discuss how to incorporate in to our classes.
ReplyDeleteTara Webb
Edison
As another successful school year comes to an end, we will use the book club for the remainder of the school year. For example, we will use pages from the field guide TLAC book as a resource for these assignments with our cohorts.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Anjanette Abbs
Hartman Middle School
I'm finding that the book study idea is a trending favorite and I have to agree. The end of the year is filled with testing, field trips, and performances/assemblies which means we are all pressed for time!
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of a scavenger hunt within the entire school across curriculums to make it fun! I also like the scavenger hunt because it allow model teachers to be recognized for successfully implementing TLAC strategies.
Katarina Saldivar
Pin Oak Middle School
I feel the TLAC scavenger hunt is a great idea for the end of the school yearbecause everyone seems to feel stressed and this will allow everyone to loosen up and have fun as we learn. As a team we have to continue to set high expectations until the end of the year. Currently our campus has has implemented the "Quiet Zone" hallway rule and we have seen improvement with our students. TLAC has been a positive influence on many of our teachers! Thanks
ReplyDeleteElmore ES
As our schedule gets filled with tests after tests, we do need an alternative way to meet. We will be using Book Club for the remaining weeks of school. I will be using pages from the TLAC teaching Guide as my resource.
ReplyDeleteSharlene Miller
Hartman Middle School
After the first of the year, my school goes into test mode which includes pull-outs during the day and all core areas interventions. However, my team members and I have been using virtual meetings and other face-to-face mediumss to communicate. We also practice with our nearest (door- partner) since I am the coach for the entire 7th grade teachers. Our team do lots of practice and reviewing our practices through sharing outcomes at various times of the year.
ReplyDeleteHARTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Nedra Williams-Quary
The plan until the end of the year will be to contiue working strengths and weaknsses dealing with the teaching strategies from TLAC. Also on a weekly basis during regular meetings we open with what has worked in areas for other teachers and if time was permitted visited other teachers to watch their practices. Realize though that most of us are elective teachers and we have had to modify the strataegies to fit the class setting.
ReplyDeleteHartman Middle School
Yonsuetta Johnson
As we move towards the end of the school year, my group will focus on reviewing the techniques that were most helpful throughout the school year and which techniques teachers have not been as successful as they would have liked. As a group, we will take the techniques that we would like more help on and share items within the group on how to improve. There might have been a teacher who has had a hard time with 100% and another teacher within our cohort that has mastered 100%. I will match the teachers up to share ideas to each other and to the group.
ReplyDeleteAshley Glenn
McReynolds Middle School
With time being very limited we are going to implement the TLAC book study and observation rounds for the remainder of the year. The book study is a great way to keep the techniques fresh I our minds without having to have meeting every week. I believe with teacher’s curiosity they will enjoy the observation rounds, once they have observed my classroom they will be able to provide feedback. This allows us to, in a way, switch roles.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Saldaña
McReynolds Middle School
I definitely agree with the comments above. This time of year is truly BUSY for us teachers and a little stressful, however my TEAM and I do check in's! When we have our weekly TEAM meetings we usually take the last few minutes to discuss TLAC and how it being utilized in their classrooms. What techinques are working and what techniques are not working. I send out friendly reminders of what technique we will discuss, so that my TEAM has read the technique and we spend a sometime discussing the technique at our weekly TEAM meetings.
ReplyDeleteBathsheba Nash
Shadydale Elementary
Perfect! You and your team have found a way to build in TLAC into existing structures on your campus. This helps TLAC feel less like "one more thing" and more like a tool to support what you are already doing!
DeleteThe end of the school year brings lots of time constraints. Due to the fact that state testing is still in progress, time is limited to meet and discuss our TLAC strategies. However, I plan to keep my team "in the loop" by assigning chapters from the textbook and discussing them with the team. Our discussions will look like a planning guide for the 2014- 2015 school year. This way we will be ready to kick-off the new school year with ideas and strategies in place.
ReplyDeleteKimberly Nesbit
Shadydale ES
I totally agree with all the comments above. Testing has had us pretty busy, however my team and I have found ways to fit into our weekly agenda TLAC techniques those that work for their class and those that do not work. Also in our weekly meeting we discuss what chapter or techniques should be read and discussed for the following meeting. This way they will be ready to start off the 2014-2015 strong and ready.
ReplyDeleteNastassya White
Shadydale ES
As we wrap up another great year, we have decided to implement the book study club! It's a fantastic idea to keep the consistency on campus. We will assign different readings from the book and reflection questions to our cohorts. Practice makes perfect!
ReplyDeleteMelanie Martinez
Hartman Middle School
This time of year is really BUSY for us teachers and a little stressful, due to the fact that state testing is still in progress, time is limited to meet and discuss our TLAC strategies. However, my team and I have found ways to fit into our weekly agenda TLAC techniques what techniques are working and what techniques are not working. Also in our weekly meeting we discuss what chapter or techniques should be read and discussed for the following meeting. This way they will be ready to start off the 2014-2015 strong and ready
ReplyDeleteThis time of year gets so crazy for admin, teachers and even students. Between STAAR and Stanford and regular assessments it seems as though there is no time for anything else. However, my cohort has met a few times to discuss techniques and keep implementing them in our classroom. We met last week and reminded each other through some practice sessions how to keep keeping on. We all feel as though the strategies and techniques of TLAC has helped our campus tremendously.
ReplyDeleteSherry Caesar
Clifton Middle School
My cohort and I have found great value in implementing the TLAC strategies in our classroom as well as our weekly sessions. Going forward, we plan to implement observing one another in the classroom so that we can get feedback in action.
ReplyDeleteChris Pratt
Clifton Middle School
My cohort and I have found great value in implementing the TLAC strategies in our classrooms as well as our weekly sessions. Going forward, we plan to begin observing one another so that we can get feedback that is immediately connected to the action.
ReplyDeleteChris Pratt
Clifton Middle School
My cohort and I have found great value in implementing the TLAC strategies in our classrooms as well as our weekly sessions. Going forward, we plan to begin observing one another so that we can get feedback that is immediately connected to the action.
ReplyDeleteChris Pratt
Clifton Middle School
My cohort and I have found it quite difficult to meet with all the test reviewing, testing and end of the year activities. It's always really busy at the end of the year. We continue to meet on weekly bases either over lunch or on our conference period. We continue to review previous TLAC strategies and explore new techniques we might like to implement in class. Our meetings are definitely refreshing and comforting. It allows support and assistances with techniques you do well or don’t do well, which is definitely needed at this time of year when students are hyper and our schedules are hectic.
ReplyDeleteLaRaunda Carter
McReynolds M.S.
My cohort and I have come to the conclusion that meetings are too difficult during this time of year and have opted to conclude the year doing observation rouns and video coaching.
ReplyDeleteAnita Samuy
Clifton Middle School "Go Cougars!"