ISF Classroom Visiting…Training Feb 13/14, 2008

Jim Hogan

Advisor Mathematics

School Support Services

University of Waikato

This session aims to:- Confirm an essential part of your role as

ISF working with teachers in your school.

Outline some ideas to do effective visiting to enhance learning.

Move you from being a teacher to being a facilitator.

References…Much of this material comes from - www.nzmaths.co.nz, Learning to be

a Facilitator- Math Volume 1 and 2, Reflection- - BES series, eg Teacher Profession

Learning and Development- - Coaching Leadership, Jan

Robertson UOW- various readings… L&M UOW- and my own experiences.

Step One…

Visiting in the Classroom

What do you think is the first foundation stone you should lay?

Discuss…record ideas.

Step One…

My guess is the relationship between you and each teacher with whom you are working.

What do you need to establish?

How long will this take?

When is best to start?

Step Two

Communication

Dialogue or discussion?

What is dialogue? What is discussion?

Discuss.

Step Two

Dialogue

Conversation to promote understanding and learning.

All ideas considered…

Creating shared meaning…

Deep listening…no judgement

Trying to understand different perspectives…

Step TwoDiscussion

Conversation which aims to make a decision or take action.

Dialogue preceeds discussion…

Includes evaluative comments…

eg “that will not work!”

Talking over one another…

Justifying, persuading and telling…

Step Two Reading

Dialogue -v- Discussion

A Guide to Practicing Dialogue

This involves “ACTIVE LISTENING”

Listen for 1min while your buddy tells you something. You can nod and smile…

Step Three

Assuming we have a robust professional relationship and we know about listening and dialogue…

Step Three…AYou can now negotiate on what will

happen when you enter the classroom.

When does this visit happen?What sort of things will be seen?How long for?

Step Three…BYou can now observe or be observed.

How is this recorded?What do you record?

Step Three…CFeedback…Non-judgemental…observations…

I noticed Freddy …You then …You said…Sam replied…

When does this reflective feedback happen?

Step Three…DGoal Setting…

Discussion time.

Agree on actionSet a time for the next visit

Reading…Reflection

Summary- Robust relationships…

- Dialogue, discussion and questions…

- Before, during and after…

Reading and ResourceLearning to be a facilitator…nzmaths website

Last Slide…Please think of this presentation as a

starting place for promoting learning in the mathematics classroom.

Your regional facilitator will give similar guidance when you are ready for this step.

The SNP is all about “what happens in the classroom”.