This week when I first started reading everything that would be expected of this course I really felt pretty overwhelmed. My first thoughts were how am I going to get everything done. I then started worrying about what if I am not able to get the projects done or the coaching done, or who would be my coaching partner, and how are going to be graded, etc, etc, etc. I really set myself up for a lot of worrying that I am sure was not needed. So once I realized that I was able to step back and take another look and be a little more relaxed about the whole thing. I have enjoyed reading other people's responses to each of the reading and their ideas. It seems I am not the only one who has been a little anxious. I am hoping to learn a lot more about cognitive coaching. I think from everything that I have read that it will be a real growth activity for me as well as the teachers that I work with. I think there is always more that I can learn to help me become better at what I do.

This has been a week of confusion for me. I had a hard time on some of the assignments, but thanks to the help of my fellow MTTC participants I was able to get them done. I did enjoy getting to learn about Assisi Technology and the different tools for using with the students. I have a greater appreciation for all special ed teachers. It is amazing what is available for students with special needs. There are so many new and exciting technologies out there for this population of students. I can remember when I was in the classroom and didn't have any of this. Some of the new technologies would of been great to use with my students that had special needs. This is really helping the kids and that is a positive thing. We just need to find ways to include the teachers that are in the classrooms with the information they need so that they can use it. One of things I think we could improve on is more teacher training. On another positive note I think I am understanding the cognitive coaching better. I am becoming more reflective on my questioning and answering. I have always known that I need to slow down and this is making me do just that. I can see where this can help me in my everyday life to stop and think things through and reflect on my thinking.

The first thing that I think is important is having a genuine interest in the teacher and her goals and objectives. I have to be more willing to listen and not judge or correct the teachers thinking. I should not be jumping out there trying to get the teacher to do it my way. I will try to use cognitive coaching questions to help guide the teacher and to better understand what it is they are trying to accomplish. If a teacher feels that you really care they are more apt to try new things in the classroom. They are more willing to listen to suggestions and feel confident that they can come to you for help and will not be judged.

 

I know that one of my faults is not being a good listener. I always think ahead to what it is the other person is asking . I don't stop and truly listen to what they are saying. There are different ways of listening and one of those is listening for understanding. Am I really hearing what it is that the teacher needs from me? . Listening for understanding is one of the areas I need to work on. I am always trying to fix things instead of helping someone figure out the answers for themselves.

I think that I am an effective communicator. Sometimes I may have to re-phrase things for a teacher to understand the technical terms in order to understand a process or progression of steps in accomplishing a task. Other that that I think I communicate well to express my thoughts and feelings.

I am realizing that I have to work to maintain the trusting relationships that I have built. They are just like a checking account. You have to make occasional deposits to keep your account open. You can't just make withdrawals. Each time I make a deposit in a relationship my relationship with that person grows just like a banking account grows with each deposit.

I think I am getting better at the process of thinking through things a little bit better. I know that my goals have become a little bit clearer to me. I know what it is that I want to accomplish. I also think that I am more sure of where I want to take this with my teachers. I know I want to help increase the amount of technology integration within our district and on each of the campuses that I work with. We will see how much I can accomplish in this area throughout the year.

I think I can enhance my sense of precision and craftsmanship by working in this area more. It takes practice, practice, and more practice. I will need to practice all of the new skills that I have learned so far.

This week I really enjoyed doing the practice questions. It helped me to read others responses to the questions too.

I hope that I am getting better at my cognitive coaching skills. . I know that I take a little more time in asking questions and trying to be there more for the teachers. I know what it is that I want to accomplish on the campuses that I am responsible for this year. I know I want to help increase the amount of technology integration within our district and on each of the campuses that I work with.

I think I can enhance my sense of precision and craftsmanship by working in this area more. It takes practice, practice, and more practice. I will need to practice all of the new skills that I have learned so far. This is the same as last week. It has not changed.............I will continue to use what I am learning.

I wish I would of had more time to make my video. We all had to share the camera so it was a kind of hurry up thing for me. I enjoyed doing it and would like to work with it a little bit more. .

Wow, what a week this has been. There were really too many assignments for one week. The lesson plan was very time consuming then to make matters worse the network access was up and down all week. It tool hours to get something done that should of taken minutes. When opening the rtx files from the service center it would lock up my pc. I bet I had to re-boot a dozen times. That is very frustrating.

I can see where everything is falling together and it makes a lot more sense to me now then it did at the start of the course. I am hoping this will help the second half of the course go a little easier. Of course it is easier once you have done it and know what is expected. Relief:>))

I have a few new goals that I have set for myself. The first is becoming a better listener. I know I listen to people but not sure if I listen for understanding and the two are really different. Also, I need to work on my cognitive coaching. I have been pleasantly surprised at the interaction between me and others when I use it. I seem to get more understanding and input from other when I do.

I have enjoyed working with the other ITS and having their help. It made the course a lot easier when we could trouble shoot and help each other out. I may of dropped out of the course if it had not been for them. It has been a life saver for all of us.

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MTTC Fall 06 - Second Session

 

Week of 11.06.06

I am hoping that this part of the course goes a lot easier than the first. I think with what I learned before that I can be a little more confident in setting my professional development goals . Hopefully this will lead to a better understanding and creation of all of the other products that are required for assessment.

I am starting to see a real correlation between what I am learning and how the objectives will positively affect student learning. I sat in on a principal meeting today and thought of how a lot of what she was telling her staff applied to what I had learned in MTTC , or may be it is the other way around. Anyway, I am starting to use the information that I have learned and feel that it is valuable.

 

Week of 11.13.06

The assignments this week have given me more information that I need for working with adults. I am enjoying finding new ways to work with adults and strategies that I can use in staff development. I have many new ideas that I want to incorporate next time I have a training.

I am glad that this time we get to use adult learners in our professional development goals. It is geared more towards what I want to work on. Now how's that for a typical adult learner. .....being all about me and what I need. Seriously though that is an area that I wish we had gotten more training on, working with adult learners, by our district. I know we have the same time constraints as everyone else but it seems like we put the buggy before the horse a lot of times. Most of what I have learned is going to help me do a better job (I hope) and in turn help the teachers and impact student learning in a positive manner.

 

Week of 11.20.06

Due to a family emergency I was late in completing this weeks assignments. I appreciate all of the help and understanding from my teacher and fellow MTTCers' on getting caught up and completing everything. This is a great learning community that I am working with. Without all of the help and support I would not be doing as well as I feel that I am. None of my fellow MTTCer's seem to mind all of my questions and asking for clarification on a constant basis. I know that I am learning all of the time about how I can improve in helping teachers with implementing technology. I enjoy my job and hope to be able to improve on it and in a small way help the teachers impact student learning. In this process I hope to improve in my coaching skills and increase and implement what I have learned about adult learning theory.

Week of 11.27.06

How am I dev eloping in my ability to clearly express my values, personal goals, goals for others and for my school?

I feel like I am getting better at articulating what my goals are for both myself and the teachers that I would with. I think with the knowledge that I am gaining from this course it will help me to improve and hopefully achieve those goals. I know that everything is becoming clearer for me and each week I seem to have one of those "Aha" moments. I hope that after the holidays that I will have more time to practice what I am learning. I know that I still have a long way to go with lots of time dedicated to practice and implementation of new skills.

How can I further enhance my sense of precision and craftsmanship?

I think that the best way for me to enhance my sense of precision and craftsmanship is through reading, researching, and practicing all of the new skills that I have learned. I know that it will take time and I won't get it right every time. It is going to be something that I constantly have to work on. I can work on it with my other technologist but I still need to practice with the teachers whom I will be working with.

Week of 12.04.06

This has not changed very much since last week. I am still learning and trying to improve in my coaching and mentoring strategies. I still have to do lots of more practice to be totally at ease in using the cognitive coaching techniques. I still have to stop and think about what I want to say and how to phrase it. It will be a while before it becomes second nature to me but it may also be something that I am never 100% and expert. I think it will always be dependent on the situation as to how I use those skills. I hope to better at it because I really think it is a worth while skill to learn and I can see how it will help me in my job.

 

Week of 12.11.06

This is the last week of MTTC. I hope that I can retain all that I have learned until I take the test in January or February. I appreciate all of the help that I have received from all of the other students in this class and the great learning experience this has been. I have learned so much from my peers in coaching, collaborating, and sharing of feelings. My hope is that I can take what I have learned and apply it in my teaching and coaching responsibilities.

States Of Mind Reflection

Degree Demonstrated In My Teaching Or Administrating (Circle 1)

State Of Mind
Consciousness
Not Yet Consistently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Specific Evidence (Things I Have Seen Or Heard Myself Do)

I take my time now to phrase questions. When working with my teacher I asked her "Reflecting on the lesson what do you think went really well". I hope to spend more time monitoring my own thinking before speaking and asking questions.

Precision
Not Yet Consistently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Specific Evidence (Things I Have Seen Or Heard Myself Do)

I am more specific when questioning for the teachers to give me information on what it is they want to accomplish with a lesson.

Flexibility
Not Yet Consistently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Specific Evidence (Things I Have Seen Or Heard Myself Do)

I am much more willing to consider and acknowledge different ideas and perspectives. I ask myself more "what is she/he feeling?:

Efficacy
Not Yet Consistently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Specific Evidence (Things I Have Seen Or Heard Myself Do)

I am much more aware of my ability and the capacity to make a difference and know that I am willing to do so. I am more willing to do what is necessary to make things happen. I can take the initiative to work with teachers and get them interested in working with me.

Interdependence
Not Yet Consistently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Specific Evidence (Things I Have Seen Or Heard Myself Do)

I am much more open to working with my peers than I was before. It used to be that I would solve any problems on my own by my own means. Now I will ask for help first and see if anyone has experience the same problem before and has already worked out an answer. I also am will to ask for ideas or input on projects that I am working on. In addition, I try to make myself more available to others when they need help.