This week you are only responding to my blog as we are meeting on Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15. chapters this week are related to advocacy, collaboration, and professionalism. All three are key to being a successful literacy leader. Think about your context. What opportunities are there for advocacy? As I write this on Nov. 5, I'm getting ready to be an advocate for research based reading instruction that is based on assessment of learners and is designed to meet their needs, and for teaching this in my undergraduate classes. I will spend tomorrow afternoon with other professors and other stakeholders in a meeting to discuss "scientifically based reading methods" to teach children who may have dyslexia. I am an advocate for the preservice teachers and for children to ensure we are not mandated to teach one particular curriculum to teachers that they would unthinkingly use with all primary grade children. Next, think about collaboration. Why is it important? What does it mean to you? Finally, how do you define professionalism? I am going to have to try hard to remain professional tomorrow afternoon as I know we will be bombarded with messages about what others think should be taught in teacher education classes as well as the idea that if a curriculum package is good for some children with special needs, it is good for ALL children, and that it isn't really necessary to assess children to meet their particular needs. Before reading, think about why advocacy, collaboration, and professionalism are important to a literacy leader. Write about what you think, and how you are defining each of those terms. Then, when you read, compare what you said with what you think the authors are saying, and think about how what you read for the coming week is related to those concepts.
There are a number of chapters to read this week. In the L&T book, everyone should read all of the chapters. In the WSQ book, half of you should read chapter 15 and half chapter 16. Finally, the EP&L part 5 has 6 sections, each of which has a reading specialist/literacy coach addressing challenges that a literacy leader or literacy coach might encounter as they are doing their job. I'll list below what the challenges are. You should each choose a different one to read. Be prepared to work with the other 2 people who read your WSQ chapter to share key ideas from your chapter and tie them to the concepts of advocacy, collaboration, and professionalism. Be prepared to describe the EP&L challenge you read about and answer questions about it.
Previews to help you choose:
WSQ 15: What are new literacies/New Literacies? This chapter defines both of these concepts and provides principles for helping others integrate them into classrooms.
WSQ 16: This chapter discusses the role of parents in a literacy program, how to keep them involved adn how to connect to the community.
EP&L profiles: working with administrators (1), building credibility and relationships (2), working with resistant teachers (3), staying positive and involved (4), embedding literacy coaching in all of your other duties (5), becoming/staying organized (6)
Finally, bring a draft of Task 3 of the PD program development for peer review. Bring a few ideas about possible grants as well, but remember, we will draft those in class. I would suggest that if you are in a school district that you look up your school foundation for grant requirements, and we will look for other sources as well. You won't be writing a blog this week as we will be together in class. Be sure to bring questions, ideas, etc. I have chocolate for you.
See you all soon!
The topics of advocacy, collaboration, and professionalism are fresh on my mind this weekend. I attended the NAEYC conference in Dallas and the majority of sessions I chose were on professional development or leadership. It was wonderful to learn more about being a leader while having my current knowledge reinforced. I would define advocacy as seeing a need and doing what I know is best for children involved. In my center I can be an advocate for early literacy, developmentally appropriate practice, child safety, increased teacher pay in child care settings, and strong family units.
ReplyDeleteCollaboration in my field, as in every other, is critical because no one can accomplish everything by themselves. I cannot be everywhere or do everything, and my teachers have thoughts and ideas that are unique and should be expressed. Collaboration means my staff and my managers are working together as a team, as a unit. No one is less important, all sides have the freedom to offer input in a trusting setting. The team is working towards a common goal.
Professionalism is how I present myself, how I treat others, and how I offer feedback. To me, I must be professional before I can expect my staff to collaborate with me. I feel that professionalism is also keeping my word, being honest, and trustworthy.
For literacy leaders, these 3 qualities must be present. As my group has discussed before, teachers must know that their leader or specialist is honest and invested. Literacy leaders are in the position to potentially relate difficult feedback. That can't be done without strong relationships in place.
WSQ: I'll read 16.
EP&L: I'll read profile 3 - working with resistant teachers
"Think about your context. What opportunities are there for advocacy?" We have a lot of collaborative meetings, such as faculty meetings, department meetings, grade-level team meetings, and data meetings. In our team meetings, I can advocate for students whose teachers are not providing them appropriate support or students whose situations may need to be explored further. In our data meetings, I could advocate for strategies that we can use to support students who are struggling, strategies that I've learned in this program and through reading research.
ReplyDelete"Next, think about collaboration. Why is it important? What does it mean to you? Finally, how do you define professionalism?" Collaboration is important because we don't all know everything. I think it's important to note that collaboration is not just about sharing ideas, though; it's about using each of our strengths and coming up with ideas together. That's a challenge for most people, I think. As for professionalism, I think that professionalism has several facets. Professionalism means holding yourself accountable for coming to meetings, completing lesson plans, communicating with colleagues, etc. Professionalism is also about doing those things civilly. Critique and feedback should be handled maturely and sensitively, both when giving and receiving it. Finally, I think professionalism is also about taking work-related tasks seriously. For example, if teachers are expected to analyze their own assessment data before coming to a data meeting, they should genuinely look for areas of strength and need and engage in self-critique.
I would like to read WSQ 15 and EP&L 3 (working with resistant teachers).
What opportunities are there for advocacy? I advocate for my students who might need extra support within and outside the main classroom. When we have intervention meetings, I am advocating for my students to help them be successful in the classroom. We also advocate in a way to get curriculum that we find relevant and beneficial to help our students be highly critical thinkers.
ReplyDeleteI think collaboration is extremely important. As Angela mentioned in her post, as individuals we do not know everything, but working together as a team we can be more successful. It is critical to bounce ideas of one another because it helps us to be constant learners and become better teachers. For me, I love learning from my peers. We go in and observe other teachers in their classroom, and I learn so much just in a short amount of time. Collaboration means that we are all working toward the same common goal...helping our students.
Professionalism to me means conducting yourself in a way that is meaningful and respectful manner. I think being professional means working with other people at your site, respecting others ideas. I also think being professional means that each individual needs to look at their own work and determine if they are conducting themselves in the manner that demands respect from others.
I will read chapter 16 and EP &L profile 1 (building credibility and relationships)
I think advocacy is knowing what is best for your students and taking an action to help get your students that help. Advocacy is supplying the support your students need. Teachers can also advocate for their colleagues too. Teachers can voice their concerns and fight the needs of teachers. Whether it is resources for their students or more money for education.
ReplyDeleteCollaboration is important for LC to display because it allows for teachers to plan and review data to better service the students of the school. Teachers can learn from each other and supply support and ideas.
Professionalism is a way that people present themselves. I think in order to be professional you must be able to respect the ideas and concerns that others may have. You must show that you take your job responsibly. You are able to take constructive criticism that peers may give you.
I will read WSQ 15 and profile 1: building credibility and relationships
Advocacy is standing up or supporting students and their learning. As an advocate you standing up for what is the best practice for students. At times, as a teacher, you have to teach in ways that might not be easy for you but is best for student learning. There are plenty of opportunities in a school year to be an advocate. I think in some ways we are constantly an advocate. I can remember have several conversations with other teachers about supporting students. At times certain teachers would do what was easier for them, I would ask, "is this what's best for students?"
ReplyDeleteCollaboration is crucial. I had a principal that always said, "work smarter, not harder." I applies to collaboration. Our time is precious as teachers. We can't come up with all the answers on our own. Why not use the help of others to enhance our teaching . Some of our best ideas can be formed when talking to other professionals. We are challenged and think at higher levels. Just as students can benefit from peer collaboration, so can teachers. Literacy coaches help foster and "advocate" for collaboration. As an LC, they set the tone for how important collaboration is. They need to push teachers to meet with one another and model what an effective meeting looks like.
Professionalism is important to remember when teaching, advocating, and collaborating. As LC and teachers we should keep this in the back of our minds. It should be something we strive to adhere too. Professionalism allows us to be able to effectively talk to everyone. There are times as LC and teachers you have to deliver news that might offend people. When you are professional others will listen more attentively. Also when you remain professional you are taking peoples beliefs, feelings, and actions into consideration.
I commenting on EPL profile- 2,4,5,and 6 (hope that right) I'm confused. Should I also be commenting on a WSQ chapter? Dr. Beach you said half read 15 and other half read 16. Since Erin and Julie already claimed each of those chapters is that considered half?
Advocacy: I have multiple opportunities for advocation. As a teacher, I can advocate for my students by differentiating lessons and providing remediation and extension opportunities. As an internal coach, I can advocate for students and teachers by ensuring students and teachers have what they need to create a safe, positive environment for everyone. As a team leader, I can advocate for my colleagues by voicing concerns, celebrating success, and creating interventions to help our students succeed.
ReplyDeleteCollaboration: Collaboration is key to the success of a program, a team, a school. Without collaboration, teachers and administration are working against each other. Collaboration provides the opportunity for everyone to be on the same page by establishing common goals and a common language. Collaboration also allows responsibilities to be shared and divided so that the work load is more manageable and ideas are shared more easily. To me, collaboration allows me to gain new ideas, tweak ones I already have in place, and confirm that my practices are sound.
Professionalism: Professionalism is the ability to work with all types of people in a positive, supportive manner. It means putting differences aside to work toward a common goal in tandem with each other rather than working against each other. It means treating others and their ideas with respect while keeping an open mind to ways that you may need to change to be more successful in your role.
I am working on WSQ 16 and profile 4.