Collaboration Coaching Chronicles

Today is our last Collaboration Coach Meeting of the school year, and we're celebrating all they've accomplished at their sites.

Collaboration Coaching is modeled after the research-based Microsoft Peer Coaching Program, developed by the Peer-Ed Team. The training focuses on coaching and collaboration skills; best practices in lesson design and instruction; and, technology integration and engaging practices.

Collaboration Coaching fosters an environment where it is safe to take risks to try innovative practices, to engage students in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. This shift is occurring more rapidly because teachers have ongoing professional development by having someone they trust, a Collaboration Coach, who is just down the hall or right next door.

Coaching Chronicles

There are six fantastic "Coaching Chronicles" inside this Prezi created by the coaches at each of the schools sharing their "story" of 21st century learning and collaboration at their campuses.




If your site blocks YouTube, you can view the FPES Coaching Chronicles via Vimeo:

What is Collaboration? from S Hamman on Vimeo.

You can also view the DVES Coaching Chronicles via Vimeo:


Coaching 2012-2013 from Tracy Watanabe on Vimeo.


Classroom experiences and student learning

I've had the distinguished honor of visiting each of the Collaboration Coaches in their classrooms and am inspired by the learning taking place. Some of those highlights are:
  • Listening to students share what made their site a valid and reliable source as they created annotated bibliographies of evidence to defend their claims on Diigo in Meaghan Davis' 7th-8th grade Language Arts class at AJUSD's Alternative Community.
  • Listening to Sandy Rollefstad's Chemistry students share the mathematical equations behind their chemical reactions, then demonstrate those chemical reactions.
  • Watching Bethany Avery's 3rd grade students use 21st century and ELA standards through collaborating with an expert about hummingbirds.
Jamie DelRosa's 1st grade students researching on iPads.
  • Feeling the enthusiasm in Jamie DelRosa's 1st grade class as students collaboratively research about dwarf planets.
  • Watching Denise Cook's students engage in a PBL about heros, with the focus on Harriett Tubman.
  • Watching the students in Colleen Tucker's and Megan Rivera's classes consistently explain their reasoning and thinking behind their learning, and learn through the engagement of technology integration.
  • Viewing dynamic flipped learning for student choice and differentiation in Sheryl Anderson's Social Studies classes via Moodle.
  • Honestly, the list can go on and on.

Final comments

It is such a joy to work with so many passionate educators who make a difference in so many lives. Thank you AJUSD Collaboration Coaches for building a 21st century learning community!
  • What stands out to you about the learning taking place in these classrooms based on their Coaching Chronicles or the highlights listed above?
  • How do you celebrate the accomplishments of your classrooms and schools?
  • What would you like to share or ask about Collaboration Coaching or building 21st century, student-centered classrooms?

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