Learning from our Strengths

I love it when I get to talk to you about the strengths I see in your instruction and encourage you to reflect on those.  It's awesome not just because it's fun to help people feel good about themselves, but also because you can LEARN SO much by reflecting with them! 

First, teachers reflecting on their own strengths can learn about strategies or techniques that they may take for granted.  This is so important because when you are reminded about how powerful a particular strategy is, you can replicate it and be more intentional about it in the future.  If you don't think about it, you may forget about it and not think it is that important.  For example, when I had Mrs. Kathy's post-observation conference this week, she talked about how much content she taught during circle time. She said as she reflected on her learning targets, she was amazed by how much learning there was to that short time!

Mrs. Kathy also brought up some great insights about the power of words.  She mentioned how she realized that her students didn't understand what she meant when she asked them about which number comes AFTER another number.  They had gotten used to her asking about what number would come tomorrow, but were thrown off by the word "after."  If you want to see a true master in action, check out Mrs. Kathy.  I tried my best to pick up all the subtle wonders of what she teaches like how she teaches her students concepts of print by playing "The Detective Game," and how she teaches students to count on by others number than 1, but to truly appreciate her magic you need to see her.  I learned so much by watching her, but listening to her reflection afterward was even more enlightening. 

Mrs. Combs and I also had a powerful discussion about reflecting on personal strengths.  Sometimes when you are an overachiever (as many of us are) you can easily recite a list of everything you would do differently in a lesson, but sometimes it's harder to pick out what you do well.  As someone who doesn't just serve as a teacher of children, but as a literacy coach for her colleagues, it's important for Lisa to know what she does well so she can help others.  In that conversation, I learned one of her secrets for how her reading recovery lessons are paced so well.  She times each PORTION of the lesson.  I never thought about that as a classroom teacher!  I would time the entire guided reading lesson to make sure that I would leave enough time for each group, but hadn't thought about timing within the lesson.  That's such a simple, yet powerful idea!!

I appreciate the gifts you bring so much!  I hope you learn to appreciate your own gifts, as well.  It doesn't just feel good, but benefits your instruction and that of others!