So sorry about my glitch last week in terms of publishing the blog. I'll not forget this week. Thanks for your patience.
A key to being an effective literacy leader and coach is being a
effective communicator. We are all teachers that communicate daily with
the students that we teach. What do you do well when you communicate
with your students? I like to think that I actively listen to what my
students are telling me in class. You all would know how effective I am
as you are the students (no, you don't have to tell me :) ). Before you
begin to read, think about these phrases: ethical communication,
delivering hard messages, proactive communication, critical
communication, collaborative communication. How do you think they are
connected and what do they have to do with coaching and with being a
literacy leader in general?
I am suggesting that you read the
readings in the following order: L&T Chapter 5 is explicitly about
communication skills and strategies. When you are done reading, you
might jot down your responses to questions 1 and 2 on page 102. Then I"d
read EP&L Strategy 1 and complete the form about your own readiness
for coaching before completing the one about your school's readiness
for coaching. Filling out the form in that chapter might help you as you
think about the professional development plan you will soon be
planning. Finally, think about how communication skills are important as
you read about working to create a shared knowledge base.
Have a good week. Remember, survey results are due this week.
What do you do well when you communicate with your students?
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I like to do is have the class communicate to me by repeating maybe a phrase that I said. This just helps me see if the students are listening to the lesson. Then I also do a thing called turn and talk. After I talk about something I need the students to know, I have the students turn and talk to their neighbors. They have to communicate to their partner what was said. It helps me know who was listening and allows some social creation of learning to occur.
How do you think they are connected and what do they have to do with coaching and with being a literacy leader in general?
I think that each of these terms, ethical communication, delivering hard messages, proactive communication, critical communication, collaborative communication, are all part of effective communication with a coaching goal in mind. Without reading the text, my working definition of ethical communication would be truthful communication and communication in an appropriate manner. People need to be treated with respect. In a coaching setting this communication also lends itself to truthful communication of what was observed. I think ethical communication is overarching above all of the other forms mentioned. Proactive communication seems to be a stance of communicating something before a possible problem might arise. This requires a bit of foresight on the part of the communicator. (As teachers we do this daily with the students in our classroom. We try to think about what might be a challenge and clarify before a problem arises.) Critical communication is attempting to communicate what was observed in a critical manner, and the actual communication process itself is pondered in order to ensure that it is critical communication. Also, critical communication denotes communication that results in change in both parties, leading us to collaborative communication. Coaching needs to be made up of collaborative communication between the coached and the coach. The power needs to rest with both parties. They collaborate on the goal of the coaching and the steps that need to be taken to achieve the goal. If either party is removed from the equation it would be very difficult to achieve the goal. Collaboration is a key to successful coaching.
What do you do well when you communicate with your students?
ReplyDeleteWhen communicating with students I first listen to what they have to say or share. After listening, I think the best thing I do well is give positive feedback to what they have to say. Notably, I do this both in the oral or written form. I think providing students with positive feedback is essential to their overall growth and success in and outside of the classroom. Students should know how they are progressing, or whether or not they said the right or wrong thing. They should also know that their teacher or coach is listening to them and feedback can be a great way to show this.
Before you begin to read, think about these phrases: ethical communication, delivering hard messages, proactive communication, critical communication, collaborative communication.
How do you think they are connected and what do they have to do with coaching and with being a literacy leader in general?
Looking at the phrases you provided I would say that all of them are connected in that as a literacy coach or literacy leader it important to communicate in a manner that is respectful, clear, and appropriate. As a literacy coach there are many characteristics that we must possess and I think being well spoken and articulate is at the top of the list because evidently, talking is a huge part of the job. Being able to coach in a way that is engaging, enlightening, yet serious and meaningful can be difficult but I think when these dynamics are considered and used each session can be more successful than other. As adult learner’s coaches may think they may comprehend easily and faster than our students, but we must remember that no matter the age a learner is a learner and we must take our time to teach them what they need to know. Consequently, this starts with a good line of communication and also ends with it. When a coach communicates in a positive suitable tone or manner, and are activity listening and engaging they are able to make their sessions more interesting and worthwhile. Communicating doesn’t just mean talking back and forth with someone, it also means being cognizant of what is being said, and providing positive and appropriate feedback.
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ReplyDeleteWhat do you do well when you communicate with your students?
ReplyDeleteListening to my students is a big factor in my teaching. Listening gives me the opportunity to correct any of their misconceptions about what is being taught/learned and to praise them for participating/answering correctly. Listening to them also gives me the opportunity to gauge the conversation/questioning process, which in turn we let me know what I need to say next, either to repeat myself or move on. Also when I communicate with my students, I make up stories or songs about what we are talking about to make real world connections. Making them the characters in the stories/songs draws them in more and keeps them interested and allows them to understand better.
Ethical communication, delivering hard messages, proactive communication, critical communication, collaborative communication. How do you think they are connected and what do they have to do with coaching and with being a literacy leader in general?
First off, that's a LOT of communication! :) As a human being and a literacy coach, communicating with others can take different forms, especially taking into consideration the environment/situation you are in. The types of communication listed above are connected because depending on the situation you are in you have to “deliver” the right one in order that you get your point across effectively without being rude or misleading (Of course, one of them has to be used). As a literacy coach you are given endless tasks, not only co-planning and co-teaching, observing or giving feedback but also organizing and facilitate professional developments among other things. So, when it is time to put in the work in areas of most importance, it is always key to express your thoughts in the right way in order that others may know who and what you are about at any given time.