Jenni Keith

Cognitive Coaching Sessions for Jenni Keith & Sherry Brott
Friday July 9, 2004

Session 1 – Jenni Keith, Coach and Sherry Brott, Mentor

Post conference session 9/1/04 beginning at 5:48P. Sherry Brott, Coach and Jenni Keith, Mentor

Sherry Brott: Jenni, how do you feel your mentoring session with Donna went?

Jenni Keith: We had two official sessions and several short ones and I think we did a fine job! It is great to have actually seen it happen.

Sherry Brott: Tell me about the lesson.  Did it go as you expected.

Jenni Keith: She taught it six times and overall it went very well. As we suspected we ran short on time and students had to finish the report for homework. She did the lesson as planned for her AP classes, but modified it for the on-level

Jenni Keith: classes. They just weren't ready for that level of thinking this early in the year. It really required some very critical and creative thinking to complete the entire project.

Jenni Keith: The technology all went off without a hitch and Donna even added an extra element. I was so proud of her.

Sherry Brott: What did she add?

Jenni Keith: She had the statement worksheet typed up in word with the websites linked there and she put it in her class folder on the network so the students accessed it there and linked to the sites. Also they typed the info in and printed them to turn them in. Pretty cool huh!

Jenni Keith: By the 5th time she taught it, she was totally on her own, but messed up with the projector until I rescued her. The sixth time, with RW watching, she did everything perfectly. I was a proud parent.

Sherry Brott: That is really good.  It sounds like ya'll really covered all the bases in the planning sessions.  Is there anything that you might have done differently, now that you've seen the lesson?

Jenni Keith: The AP classes really appreciated what she had done and enjoyed the movie clip and the archaeologists’ audio & video clips, but the on level classes acted like it was just another assignment which was quite disappointing for Donna - she worked so hard.

Jenni Keith: She did say, when we reflected, that she would definitely do the lesson again next year - that says a lot in my book.

Sherry Brott: SUCCESS!!!

Jenni Keith: She is giving me some student samples tomorrow and I can't wait to see them

Sherry Brott: I can't wait to see them either.  I wish at least one of the classes had been video taped.

Sherry Brott: Have ya'll had a chance to talk about what she might do differently?

Jenni Keith: I think we could have modified the on-level assignment better had we planned it from the beginning rather than on the spot, but other than that I think the entire lesson was wonderful. Of course, she taught it so much better after the first two tries, but that is normal.

Sherry Brott: I remember in the planning session I observed that she was pretty adamant about not giving the lesson more than 90 minutes. Do you think the success will encourage her to make more time next year?

Jenni Keith: We didn't have a formal session after completion, just chatted. We did talk about modifying the on-level lesson so the report isn't left totally out, but just simplified for them a bit.

Sherry Brott: Well, that IS differentiation.

Jenni Keith: I'm not sure. It might, but it is important not to drag things out too much. There's so much to cover. I think it is perfectly fine that the students finish up for homework.

Sherry Brott: I agree. Do you think Donna values the time ya'll spent in all the planning sessions?

Jenni Keith: I do. She really appreciates all I do for her and has "let me in" several times now. This definitely worked the best out of all the things we've done together and I think the proof is in the planning so to speak. She'll be back.

Sherry Brott: I suspect that you are going to be a very appreciated commodity, even more so than you already are.  Have you thought about a plan for mentoring all the additional teachers that will want your services?

Jenni Keith: It is hard for me to do short projects because I love project based stuff, but the more I do it at the hs level the more I see that it works really well at this level. I've learned a lot these past two years about hs students

Sherry Brott: It's evident you are very capable of relating to the needs of the high school students.

Jenni Keith: I have been so swamped since we went back to work. I don't know if I can put in one more thing. Since this is the 3rd year we've really pushed instructional technology, most of the teachers who have been there are really using me.

Jenni Keith: I might be in trouble when the new ones start coming after me too. Tee hee.

Sherry Brott: That's what I mean...you are really going to be popular.

Sherry Brott: Well, it sounds like you and Donna had a very successful mentoring experience that resulted in a truly engaging lesson for the students.  If there was just one thing you would want to highlight, what would it be?

Jenni Keith: Oh gee, there's so much, but I guess it would be how Donna really progressed and did feel proud and confident in her abilities to handle all the technology components in the lesson. And that the lesson was focused on content and tech really enhanced it.

Sherry Brott: I know you want to give Donna much of the credit for the success of the lesson, but what part can you take credit for yourself?

Jenni Keith: That I was able to support her and team teach with her, but give up all that I did as she became more confident to do it herself. That was my main goal for her and I will continue to remind her how well she did, so she can

Jenni Keith: transfer some of that confidence to other integration projects in the future. If I can help her become more independent with the technology, I've really done my job.

Sherry Brott: That's what I was looking for.  I see you as a great cheerleader and encourager.

Sherry Brott: Maybe this is a mute point, but is there anything you would do differently?

Jenni Keith: It helps when you start with a teacher who already is a believer in student-centered, higher-level thinking strategies!

Jenni Keith: Only the things we've already talked about. I was amazed at how well things went. Oh maybe a different movie clip because it was such a dark scene, we had trouble darkening the room enough so students could see the tools and hieroglyphics.

Sherry Brott: That's a good point about the dark scenes and probably something you couldn't have know about until experiencing it.

Jenni Keith: Right. It looked great on the TV:)

Jenni Keith: Her room has windows on two sides and the blinds don't block the blinding sun too well

Jenni Keith: We covered two with black butcher paper after the first class, but it still wasn't the best. Good enough though.

Sherry Brott: Hmmm, maybe that's why Connie had us thinking about lighting and such in the factors assignment?

Jenni Keith: Thank goodness for those 12 min passing periods:)

Jenni Keith: Didn't even cross my mind at the time, but it was a factor for sure.

Sherry Brott: I really wish I could have seen that lesson.

Jenni Keith: She's lucky to have a projector in her class all the time because she also has a document camera she received with a grant, but it is only 900 lumens so...

Jenni Keith: We'll invite you over next year if you can tear yourself away. By then you'll be so popular your teachers won't have it:)

Session ended 6:30P.

Session 2 – Sherry Brott, Coach and Jenni Keith, Mentor

Post conference session 9/1/2004 beginning at 6:40P with Coach Jenni Keith and Mentor Sherry Brott.

Jenni Keith: Can you fill me in on the latest progress with Melody and her lesson?

Sherry Brott: Well, as you know she doesn’t even want to attempt it until I can be there physically to assist if necessary.   She is in the process of rewriting the step-by-step instructions so that her students can understand them.

Sherry Brott: I will be there in about 2 weeks, so she's scheduling the lab then.  We are still working together, refining the lesson.

Sherry Brott: As you could probably tell, Melody is a bit ADD.  I really have to work to get her to focus on one thing at a time.

Sherry Brott: ADHD

Jenni Keith: How are you feeling about the progress and the way the lesson will be taught?

Sherry Brott: Providing she teaches the necessary skills before having the students attempt the tessellations, I think it will work out. I do feel like we will need to "rehearse" the technology part before she actually teaches it.

Jenni Keith: It appears that she is willing to put in whatever time is necessary for preparation. That is definitely a plus.

Sherry Brott: She's still very excited and she really isn't intimidated by doing something new.  

Jenni Keith: You do a wonderful job of helping her stay focused on the task and bringing her back to the topic at hand. I saw that several times during the session I observed.

Sherry Brott: Yes, she does prepare well.  Right now she is teaching the first lesson we worked on which was actually a part of her Intel unit plan.

Sherry Brott: When she decides she wants to do something, she'll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Jenni Keith: Have you been able to guide her to making the small steps necessary with her students to be successful?

Sherry Brott: Our main concern will be the availability of the lab since it is only open 45 minutes a day.

Sherry Brott: For the most part, I have been.  We haven't had much time together in the last couple of weeks.  We plan on another Saturday session before she actually teaches it.  By then, she'll know her students better.  Actually, most of

Sherry Brott: what she does is small steps.  I just don't want her to short the amount of non-technology teaching time that her students will need for this lesson to be successful.

Jenni Keith: That is important! How can you ensure that she is successful in this area?

Sherry Brott: I have to encourage her to not forego the opportunities for higher-level thinking skills - like comparing and contrasting the two different types of tessellations.

Sherry Brott: I don't want her to overlook those opportunities.

Sherry Brott: I also have to encourage her to practice the activity as if she was a student so she will be aware of all the pitfalls that could occur.

Jenni Keith: Will you do anything differently the next time you have a session with her?

Sherry Brott: Our next sessions will concentrate on the actual technical skills.  This is where I will have to remember to keep my hands off the mouse!  But, by their nature, they will be different.  I will probably make a few more suggestions

Sherry Brott: since I know the types of things the students will encounter.

Jenni Keith: There is a time and a place for all strategies, right?!!

Sherry Brott: Since she is so new to integrating technology and she's never had to teach a technology lesson before, we will need to discuss classroom management pretty thoroughly.

Jenni Keith: How do you feel about the progress Melody has made so far on the goals that you have set for her?

Sherry Brott: The more she learns about the different programs that are available to her and the students, the more she'll be able to make good choices.  She just hasn't had much time to do the investigation and exploring yet.  Right now if she

Sherry Brott: sees something that she likes, she immediately wants to do it.

Sherry Brott: Once we start finalizing all the details of the lesson, I'll have a clearer picture of where she's at.

Jenni Keith: Yes it is hard to have a post conference when the lesson hasn't been implemented.

Sherry Brott: I'll let you know in a couple of weeks, when she teaches it.

Jenni Keith: Is there anything more I can do to help you with your mentoring sessions?>

Sherry Brott: No, not really with this one.  I'm sure I'll be calling on you again though for ideas and such.

Jenni Keith: I'm sure with a little experience under her belt and your guidance she will make just enough of the right mistakes to learn quickly without getting discouraged.

Jenni Keith: Ok, go have a good dinner and we'll talk soon.

Sherry Brott: okey dokey...you get to be early tonight okay?  Give Cam a hug.

Jenni Keith: Session ended 7:13P.