In recent blogs, we’ve been diving deep into exemplary math instruction, breaking down what research reveals about how to develop math problem solvers. This is a topic we’re deeply interested in and will return to in the fall. This month, though, we want to shift our attention to the beautiful moment that is the close of the school year and the start of summer: a time of celebration and recognition, rest and recharge, and planning and envisioning the blank canvas that is the year ahead.
Here at FCI, this moment marks the launch of a new season of professional learning, and to us, there’s nothing more exciting than preparing teachers and leaders to launch a new school year even more successfully than in the past. As you read this, we’re closing out our third annual instructional leadership workshop, with a newly revamped framework called Monitor the Learning. (If you weren’t able to join us this year, we hope to see you next – early June in both Orlando and Miami!) And looking ahead, we’re gearing up to welcome Teach Like a Champion (TLAC), the world-renowned codifiers of instructional practice based in research and clinical observation, on July 29-31 in both Miami and Orlando.
TLAC’s mission is to dramatically improve teaching by studying and codifying the practices of exceptional teachers and then coaching others in those practices. Their belief in the power of using “game footage” (live classroom instruction) as a basis for research and study was the first of its kind, resulting in the publication of Teach Like a Champion, a book of teaching taxonomies now in its third edition, which has sold over 1.3 million copies. For many in the world of education, this book is something of a bible. (I, for one, count myself as part of this group. My copy of the original edition has deep creases down the spine, notes in the margins, earmarked pages, and that slight discoloration of pages that comes only from years of regular use.)
This summer, TLAC will offer three days of workshops with FCI that span two key areas: establishing foundations for effective management and engagement, and ensuring instructional practices put the cognitive load on students. We consider “Foundations of Management and Engagement” a must for the newest teachers in the field, though we genuinely believe teachers of all experience levels benefit from both. We also highly recommend sending one or multiple members of your leadership team so they can support future implementation back at your campus.
Research indicates that the difference between development that enhances our teachers’ abilities and development that falls flat is ensuring opportunities for authentic practice and feedback (Cleaver, Dietrich, and Keyworth, 2020) – and no one does this better than the TLAC team. In the words of one past workshop participant, “Many teachers would like to improve their students’ experiences but don’t know how to start. This workshop built my confidence with best practices because we actually practiced the strategies.”
So, go ahead and sign up your teams – then slam your laptop shut for at least a few days, and we hope a few weeks! No one deserves it more. Congratulations on another successful year in the books. We can’t wait to welcome you and the TLAC team later this summer.