Teacher Credibility - Competence

Teacher Credibility - Competence

This month, we have been focusing on Teacher Credibility.  One of the four areas parts of being a credible teacher is being competent.  Below is an exert from an ASCD article that defines competence:  

Competence

In addition to knowing teachers care, students want to know their teachers know their "stuff"—and how to teach that stuff. They expect an appropriate level of expertise in terms of delivery and accuracy of information. Competent teachers clearly have a lesson plan in mind as they engage their students. Their delivery is well-paced, and the information is accurate, both of which contribute to her credibility.

Ways to signal competence:

▪ Make sure you know the content well. Be honest when a question arises that you're not sure about.     

▪ Deliver lessons cohesively and coherently. Using an instructional framework like the gradual release of responsibility can help with this.

▪ Consider whether your nonverbal behaviors communicate competence. Keeping your arms crossed and hands hidden communicates defensiveness, boredom, or that you're holding something in. Kids notice defensive body language and any posture or gesture that indicates you don't value what they are saying.

To help us continue to grow in our competency, this summer, everyone chose two elements from Marzano's Art and Science Teacher Framework.  We know that Marzano speaks about the importance of deliberate practice when working improve our craft.  Tuesday, September 7th is our first Professional Development Day.  We will provide a 30 minute workshops to help you dig deeper into your element so you can start to work towards your goals.   

To get us started, we are going to start on three primary elements that many of you had in common.  Below you can find the schedule for the workshops, along with a link to the list of elements chosen by each teacher.  More information will follow later this week!   We look forward to learning with you!    TEACHER ELEMENT LINK

Deliberate Practice Sessions  (Personal Goals): 

• 10:00 - 10:30  - Chunking Content Element  

• 10:30 - 11:00 - Using Structured Practice

• 1:15 - 1:45 - Examining Errors/ Examining Similarities & Differences/ etc.  

Important Information: 

* Junior High House Meeting - Tuesday, August 31st  7:30 a.m. High School Library for all teachers who are helping lead a house!

* PLC Rolling Agendas - I have added some items on the Rolling Agenda in the PLC folder.  I may not have every core (math, science, social studies, English) subject area  done by tonight, but will before you meet.  Please take a look at the agenda.  I will try to stop by during your meeting time this week.  

* Professional Development - Attached is a rough agenda for Tuesday, September 7th (HERE).  There will be some changes as we move forward.  Remember, we are very fortunate to have days for PD.  It is important to be present so we can continue to have them.  Students will have the day off - they will not have e-learning.  More details will come soon!    

* Testing Information:  As you are aware, testing for high school students has changed over the past year.  This year, juniors will be taking the SAT as their state exam in early March.  Below is a chart that shows us all tests and what grade level students will take the tests.  Hope this visual helps!  

* Congratulations to Girls Varsity and JV Volleyball for winning the Tip-Off Tourney this week.  Also to the Varsity Football team for a big win against Forest Park!    Go Commodores!

* THREE day weekend coming up!!!  Happy Labor Day!

Credibility

 Teacher Credibility

Two weeks ago, my mom woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me she needed to go to the ER due to extreme pain in her knee.  While at the ER, they needed to give her an IV, but they couldn't get one to stay in.  She had chemo several years ago and her veins were shot.  After three nurses, a doctor (who thought he was better than everyone), they called in their backup who was on the EMS team to help her.  In walked a guy with long hair, tattoos, a beard and a swagger of confidence.  He walked in with purpose, had great bedside manner and got the IV the very first time!  I knew when he walked in he was going to be able to do it!  He mentioned he was on the medic team in the military and he wasn't afraid to tell the rest of the nurses/doctors they were not as good as he was.  He was credible.  

When school started, we learned that the relational element of "Teacher Credibility" can have one of the largest impacts on learning.    

Teacher Credibility has four parts:  

* Competence (This teacher knows their stuff)

*Dynamism (They are passionate about what they teach) 

* Trustworthy (I know they will do what they say)         

* Immediacy (Accessibility)

It is not a surprise that Teacher Credibility has such a strong effect size on student learning.  After that nurse proved his credibility to me, it was easy for me to feel a level of safety when he was in the room and I was very in tune to what he said about the situation and how he reacted.  I knew that he was the guy that could help me - just like the students know that a credible teacher is a person that can teach them.

How credible do you think you are to your students?  What are your strengths and weaknesses in this very important relational element?  

Important Information: 

COVID Coverage:  Coverage continues to be a little bit of an issue, but thanks to all of you we are making it!  It really does take a village.  This week, my ultimate goal is to allow for core content PLC teams to meet during lunch/WIN.  If you have a coverage on your meeting day and need help finding someone to help you on your coverage day, please let us know.  I think it is important to have time to work with your team.  If I am not needed for coverage, I will be stopping in to meet with you as well.  If someone from your team could possibly let me know where you meet, that would be helpful!!

Unite and Connect Idea for the Week:  Ask Students: What is the worst think you have ever eaten?  (Share with a partner)/  Lazy 8s - make 8s in the air with your finger, breathing in and out at every turn.)  

Faculty Meeting:  We will have a short faculty meeting Tuesday, September 24th at 7:25 a.m.  Please bring your computers as we will be going through the seclusion and restraint training together.  A light breakfast will be served.  

School Pictures:  Danny Bolin will be here this week for pictures.  Students will be taking pictures on Thursday and Friday and we are asking that faculty and staff find time to see Danny.  He is here early in the morning before school, so you can catch him then, or if you have a morning prep.  He typically leaves school by 10:30 a.m.    Students in grades 7-12 will be called out by alphabet and grade level starting Thursday morning.  We apologize for the interruption but hope to make it minimal.  Thank you to Mary Jo Hagedorn for coordinating the event.

State Earn and Learn:  Jason Graves from the DWD visited PC on Friday to celebrate with our 5 State Earn and Learn Programs (CNA, Diesel, Construction, Adv. Manufacturing, Education).  Perry Central continues to be a leader in the state with our vocational programs.  Congratulations to our teachers. 

Have a great week!  Stay healthy - mentally and physically!  Self-Care is important!

Noise

 The NOISE of school.

If you remember, Trevor Muir presented to us on the first day of school and reminded us that our "influence as teachers is never temporary" and the importance of telling our story.   Trevor also created this short video about the Noise of School. His video is so engaging and powerful as we realize the noises that we missed during the pandemic.  This week, I did enjoy seeing so many students, their smiling faces, and excitement about being back to school.  Thanks for making PC a place students want to be!

Many of us were told that a quiet classroom is a good classroom.

Then we had a pandemic, and now so many of us miss the noise.

Important Information:

Great Start: Thank you for a great first few days of school! It had to come with a little bit of a surprise with our masks and the county being in the red, but with your help, the students handled it wonderfully. Thanks for all of your hard work. I am looking forward to getting into classrooms this week and watching our students learn!

Faculty Meeting Change: We are going to move our faculty meeting back to the 24th of this month, since we just started school. We will have more to share a little later in the school year!

COVID Update: We will continue with our mask mandate and lunch protocols until Perry County is out of the "red". Please remember we have cleaning supplies in the office. If you are out of cleaning solution, you can come to the office and exchange your bottle for a full one. Seating charts are necessary and spreading students out in the classroom is best. Thanks for keeping our students safe!

PLC Meetings: Core content PLC meetings will start this week. I know we have several coverages while we are in the red. If you have a concern about that, please let me know and I will try to get some help. Next week, I will stop in and visit and we will look at the playbook for each group and set some goals. We are really focusing on getting our scope and sequence in the right place and revisiting scales and common formative assessments for power standards!

Weight Room During WIN: Abe plans to start allowing students who are on his list to lift weights during WIN. He will share a list with you soon. Our plan is to code these students daily, but we will wait until 4th period to do so, so you have the the to grab students if you need them for academic purposes. After Abe communicates with you, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Technology: Gloria Olberding lost her mom last week, so she will not be at school this week. We have been able to ask a few students to help us in the tech room to take care of minor issues throughout most of the day. If you have a student that has an issues or need something yourself, please continue to use the tech support ticket system. We will do our best to take care of your request.

State Earn and Learn Presentation:  On Friday of this week, Jason Graves from the DWD will be at Perry Central to recognize our 5 Earn and Learn programs:  Construction Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Education, Diesel Technology and Health Sciences (CNA).  This is not an easy task.  Thanks to Josh Craney, Tim Ball, Tara Bishop, Lauren Blake, Jill Little for all of their hard work - providing our students great opportunities.  

Evaluations: Last week, we placed your evaluation in your mailbox. If you haven't already, please sign and return them to your evaluator. The Standard for Success document has been rolled over so you can enter in your goals at anytime. Personal Goals around your teacher framework are due September 6th.

Pictures from our fun on Friday.  It was hot, but the kids had a great time.  Thanks!!