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| Text for this word cloud came from The Coach and the Evaluator by Bob and Megan Tschannen-Moran, an article in the October 2011 issue of Education Leadership. |
The Temperature is Starting to Drop
For the last several weeks, my SOL’s have been about literacy coaching. Partly, because I felt I needed to stretch my comfort with informational writing. I figured I should be able to do what I ask kids to do. And I do believe that my thinking about the range of informational writing has broadened. My other purpose for writing about coaching is to document who I am and what I do as a professional. As I’ve said before, you can’t be a wimp and be a literacy coach and a particularly brutal winter is being predicted for Michigan this year. New visions of who I should be and how I will spend my time are coming down the road like a snow plow. A path is being cleared. Nothing I can do. I’m not even sure who is really driving the truck. It will be interesting to see if my thinking ends up crushed like an unfortunate mailbox positioned too close to the road. Will my ongoing work or the insight of my fellow cliff divers count for anything? The weatherman is predicting snowflakes as early as the end of the week.
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That was a surprise Diane. I didn't see the snow coming at us as you began your post. Snow, now that would keep me from a session of PD this year.
ReplyDeleteI have some very cool projects coming in those same months but the schools will close I hope if need be.
Lets hope for an easy winter.
Bonnie
I can't imagine being a literacy coach...the analogy to a snow plow driver is a good one. You don't know where you're going for sure, but you know you have to get there!
ReplyDeleteYour snow plow is a great analogy for mandates that are pushed upon already overwhelmed teachers. We can only hope that those in charge will lead with common sense. Brrrr . . . flurries? already?
ReplyDeleteRather overwhelming to deal with that outer world when you're working so hard, and well, with the inner one. I'll hope for the best for you. Love the wordle-the article was very interesting. Lots of good talk about coaches lately-you should send them to your principal!
ReplyDeleteTeachers do live in a confusing weather system! Your writing really had me sensing the changes.
ReplyDeleteI love how you blend the literacy coach writing and the forecast!
ReplyDeleteLoved the image of the knocked over mailbox because of close placement.....beautiful! Good luck with your upcoming literacy adventures and the weather!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your use of the weather to compare your tasks. I can't fathom the idea of snow just yet.
ReplyDeleteOh, the snow cometh and so do the challenges. I think you're in the right mind set to come out on top! Keep plowing!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the snow plow analogy --- it's doubly good to describe the work we do as coaches and also for the current state of education. I'm not sure what Michigan has going on, but I'm in a neighboring state and we've got plenty of irons in the fire. It's getting hot!
ReplyDeleteI just heard musings about our upcoming hard winter...hopefully, like weather forecasts go, it's highly overstated.
For us, too.
I appreciate this insight into your self-challenge. I always enjoy your writing, whether it be professional or personal!
ReplyDeleteYour comparison is dead-on in getting your feeling across. Wow. That's about all I can say. Hang in there, friend. We need your thinking. :)
ReplyDeleteRuth
I hope that you have plenty of positive experiences to keep your inner fire burning and you can surround yourself with like-minded people to provide you warmth.
ReplyDeleteTerje
I love the word art (hand). Your writing is very descriptive. I can feel the tension and the feeling of not being in control. I hope you prevail. It is through voices like yours that people will change their mind sets. Good luck.
ReplyDelete