Professional Learning
Assessment design + practices
The best assessment is indistinguishable from learning.
Professional learning programs focused on quality assessment practices help teachers to strengthen the connections between assessment and instruction. I support teachers as they design performance tasks, develop criteria for quality , and embed formative feedback practices into their routines.
Action Research for Improving Teaching + Learning
Action research is a powerful process for supporting reflective practice.
Educators engaged in self-directed inquiry deepen understanding and learn to carefully examine classroom data about the impact of their practices. I support individuals and small teams interested in applying and studying best practices to impact student learning. My approach is practical and effectively demystifies the action research process.
Feedback for learning
Teachers and students, together, can leverage the power of quality feedback.
Embedding quality feedback can be achieved with small cycles of action and collaboration. My work with educators in this area embeds modeling, collaborative design, classroom observations or peer visitation. Teachers improve the quality and timing of their feedback and learn to effectively engage students in using self and peer feedback for learning.
Curriculum design
Curriculum should center on relevant and meaningful experiences that enable student choice and voice.
Building teacher capacity to design student-centered curriculum requires a commitment of time and support. I guide teachers through a backwards-design process that prioritizes alignment to learning outcomes, authentic projects, high thinking demand, collaboration and quality formative assessment practices. These professional learning experiences also embed a cycle of implementation and revision based on an examination of student work.
questioning and discussion to promote thinking
Classroom talk is both a powerful learning experience and an effective formative assessment strategy.
Shifting ownership for quality discussion to students requires the effective use of protocols, carefully crafted questions, clear criteria and regular, formative feedback. As I support teachers in this area, I model and observe as they embed new practices into their instruction.
ASCD Article: Three Moves to Elevate Student Discussion
DESIGNING AUTHENTIC PROJECTS
Projects provide creative opportunities for students to contribute to their communities by advocating, educating and taking action.
In these programs I support teachers as they design authentic and meaningful projects that demand critical thinking, build research skills, promote multimodal communication and build self-awareness. Through implementation, teachers enhance their abilities to manage student choice, provide descriptive feedback and support self- and peer feedback strategies.
Dissertation Writing
Dissertation writing can be rewarding.
Need help writing and revising a dissertation? I will sit with you (face-to-face or virtually) to review, discuss and revise your work so that it meets requirements and is ready for your committee to review. I help writers to reconcile and use committee feedback to confidently revise and strengthen their work. This coaching can help you to clarify your thinking, strengthen your writing and prepare for defense.