Don't Fall Victim to the Other Vortex

Today's post is brought to you by Andrea Reichenberger.

We’ve been dealing with more than one Polar Vortex, an Alberta Clipper, and just that normal time of year when we start to feel that teacher slump.  It’s a vortex all of it’s own and it happens in November and it happens again in February.  (This year’s Wisconsin weather isn’t helping.) As a coach, I have made it a priority to find solace and strength in my network of fellow coaches in order to help the teacher’s through this phase.  

When you add the element of change (whether it is evolving curriculums, increased accountability, or changing instructional practices), every new task presented seems overwhelming to them.  We need to be careful, frustration is contagious and negativity spreads faster and wider than any other virus.  

So, what are the positives? Teachers in my school are beginning to visit the coaching suite more often than they have in the past.  Word is out that the coaches are here to help.  Not to mention that we always have Starburst (only the Fave Reds or the Very Berry) and Dove chocolates on hand as well as a really nice couch! Lately, teachers just want to talk through an idea they have in their head, ask questions or for a resource, and sometimes they need a safe place to vent their frustrations. That is okay.  We, as coaches, just need to keep ourselves from falling victim to that vortex. (As we don’t have a choice about the other!)  We try our best to stay positive and focus on the progress that we are making. A list is always a nice visual to help remind us!

• We have our first high school lab classroom set up with a visiting teacher already scheduled.
• Seventeen teachers are signed up for an early morning PD session we are offering entitled: Getting Started With Close Reading.
• Several teachers have chosen to focus on creating more student-centered classrooms and are working to incorporate the gradual release model into their instruction (AND they are excited about it!)