Written by Julie Wright & Barry Hoonan

HOW WE GOT INTO PROFESSIONAL CAHOOTS WITH ONE ANOTHER

We’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with one another for the past seven years. We met at a school in Harlem, Julie as an Instructional Coach and Barry as a Model Classroom Teacher and Instructional Coach. Our work continued well past that experience. With Barry out west and Julie on the east coast, we’ve spent the majority of our years working across 3000 miles. Highlights include Sunday morning co-planning sessions and co-authoring What Are You Grouping For?, Grades 3-8: How to Guide Small Groups Based on Readers -- Not the Book. We’ve always enjoyed being THINKING PARTNERS and we believe educators need someone to think beside now, more than ever.

A DISCLAIMER OF SORTS

As we navigate and co-plan learning during the weeks ahead, here are a few shared agreements:

We are not going to edit these videos which means it might be clunky at times. You might get a barking dog, tech glitches, or family interruptions. We know you’ll be able to relate and hope you’ll be understanding.
The ideas we share are NOT “the way” or “the right way” -- they are just one way to approach things. And, we are figuring it out as we go along too. We hope you’ll take the big ideas we are discussing and — adopt, adapt or improve upon them — making them fit your settings, interests and needs.
We suggest focusing on process -- our work will continue to unfold between video segments. That’s why if you pop back into our shared document links, you’ll notice changes because we’ll be adding ideas. That’s because responsive plans evolve across the days and weeks.

HERE’S WHAT WE ARE UP TO

Kids have been learning from home for several weeks now. Barry and Julie have a co-planning routine and they “meet” about 2 times each week.
Barry’s students have settled into a learning from home routine, sort of. Each week brings about new celebrations and new challenges.
We are co-planning a mini-writing unit focused on Greek mythology. Kiddos spent the last 2 weeks reading Greek myths. This writing mini-unit isn’t about research, it’s about narrative writing with a twist of Greek mythology.

VIDEO

If you are interested in watching a coach and teacher co-plan — working as THINKING PARTNERS in response to the unique times we are currently experiencing — check out this video.

BARRY’S REFLECTIONS

I’m thinking about what’s going to be on the Menu of Options for kids [end products].
What am I going to model? Do I screencast or video?

JULIE’S REFLECTIONS

How will Barry create small, flexible writing groups in this distance learning mini-unit? How will it be similar and different to the ways we create groups when face-to-face?
Should I look for a few models to send to him in case he needs them or is that just more noise for him to sift and sort through? Ask him what he thinks/needs.
We had trouble sticking to the time we said we’d use to co-plan. So that we prioritize self-care, I’m continuing to think about this for next time.

WANT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION or CONNECT WITH US?

If something we’ve shared inspires new ideas or ignites some questions, reach out to us using THIS FORM and we’ll do our best to get back to you!

Reading & Writing Lesson Links [Updated]

Connect with me through this CONTACT LINK for more information on these lessons!

I am currently co-planning with some teachers across grades 2-8.

Some of our plans have worked really well. Others have been a flop.

We are, like you, working really hard to figure all of this out. Steps forward often means steps back. Reflecting along the way helps us push forward again. It isn’t even close to perfect. It’s messy. But, we are living in the messy together.

USING MENTOR LESSONS TO JUMPSTART PLANNING

There isn’t one right way to plan. Some teachers use scripted lessons. Some teachers use scripted lessons with flexibility — adjusting them to meet the needs, interests and wants of the learning community they serve. Some teachers create authentic lessons from the ground up. While the latter is my preference, there are times where mentor lessons or units help jumpstart ideas for planning. Mentor lessons can help teachers get a running start. It’s a safe and trustworthy way to plan because teachers know they are still in the driver’s seat — adjusting lessons to meet the individual and unique needs of the learning community they serve.

PLANNING FOR REMOTE/DIGITAL LEARNING

Most schools are working to support students from a distance. Learning opportunities are being offered by teachers through digital and print materials — and some are using both. Schools are working hard to navigate these times using the tools and resources available to them, coupled with individual and collective know-how to best meet:

curricular demands
intervention and support demands
students’ social, emotional, academic and physical needs

ADOPT, ADAPT & IMPROVE

Included in the links below are resources to use if you are interested in launching and sustaining SMALL GROUP READING and WRITING learning opportunities through remote or distance learning. You can:

ADOPT — Use these materials as they are written.

ADAPT — Make adjustments to these lessons in order to meet your students’ needs, interests, and wants.

IMPROVE — Try some of the ideas out, change them and make them better.

That said, as you make decisions about how you will use these ideas, first consider some of these questions:

Are students learning via soft copy or hard copy? Is our district going paper/pencil or digital during these times? Or, a combination of both? How do these modes of learning impact these plans?
What technology systems and structures are available to teachers and students? Does the learning community know how to access and use them? If not, can we learn them in efficient and effective ways?
Do teachers have the ability to connect with students — via video, phone or shared folders/documents?
Do students have the ability to connect with teachers — via video, phone or shared folders/documents?
Do students have the ability to connect with one another — via video, phone or shared folders/documents?

LINKS TO READING & WRITING LESSONS [UPDATED TO INCLUDE 15 LESSONS]

If you are looking for READING LESSONS, connect with me through this CONTACT LINK for more information!

If you are looking for WRITING LESSONS, connect with me through this CONTACT LINK for more information!

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

If you ADOPT, ADAPT or IMPROVE any of these plans, please consider reaching out and sharing your perspectives so that we can learn with and from one another. Email me at julietwright4444@gmail.com or reach out via my CONTACT PAGE and share ideas!

Co-Planning: Mini-Writing Unit [PART 1]