In this #coachbetter episode, we’re chatting with Jocelyn Sutherland, Grade 1 classroom teacher at UWC Singapore. Jocelyn has taught almost every grade level and she’s been a digital literacy coach, so she is able to see both the teacher and the coaches point of view as we discuss innovative ideas in teaching and learning. Our conversation got pretty deep as we explored the impact of stereotypes on younger learners, the importance of bringing diversity into the classroom, and the importance of coaches “just being there” in the classroom. We’re super excited about our new questions and conversation format for the #coachbetter podcast, and we hope you love it too!

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Show Notes

Something you’re excited about in terms of learning / learning innovation

Play-based learning in early years / infant at UWC (grade 1, play-based, regio-inspired approach to learning).  Balance of making sure that we’re achieving curricular outcomes and giving children a voice and the autonomy to take an idea they’re interested in through the inquiry process. Trying to pull literacy and math concepts into the units of study.

Documentation meetings weekly. Everyone takes notes in different ways (from SeeSaw to handwritten notes), this is how we can pull out feedback from their play.

(10 mins in) SeeSaw is used as way to share with parents – not an assessment tool. Agreements are that we document several times a week for each child, so there’s some evidence for how they’re learning and growing. Students are using it to talk about PSHE development. Using it for conflict resolution with the Thomas Killman Conflict Mode Instrument. Read the story King of the Playground to identify which animal type the characters were displaying. Revisited this concept later in the year when there were other relationship issues, discussed and created anchor charts, “what does the fox say?” Perfect prompt for parent teacher conferences. Spread them out, so they’re not all the time on Seesaw so parents will take the time to watch. Repeating the same type of activites shows growth.

What are you doing that is challenging / exciting / interesting your school? 

Building a more harmonious and inclusive learning environment. Bringing in more diverse literature into the school. 

Broad language about diversity: language, gender, culture, beliefs, families, abilities.

What are your (or your school’s) current goals? How is coaching going to help you get there?

Finding ways to make the learning more transdisciplinary for the children. Building provocations for the children to learning on their own, but also need to meet curricular needs. Lucky to have 3 coaches: math, literacy & digital literacy. Super helpful to bring an idea to the classroom to use with the children that’s ready made. When the DLC comes and works with a group of students, running a station, that teachers can follow up with afterward. When we’re doing collaborative planning, coaches come and introduce an idea that we may not have thought about before. Spotlight for coaches.

After being a coach, and now being back in the classroom, when you’re meeting with a coach, you have so many things you’re thinking about. Don’t have the same headspace that I had when I was a coach. Coaches need to be a part of the meeting (with an invitation from the team), deciding on one area of the learning that can be the focus for that coach.

If she was going back into a coaching role: take more risks, bring an idea the teacher your most comfortable with to try it out, start a google doc to start planning it. Take that seed and let it grow into something else. It ends up being on the coach to take the first step, but it’s important to remember that teachers look to coaches as the creative genius that we can’t manage because we’re so busy with other things.

Coaches may be getting a different message about how they should be coaching, and teachers might have a different perception.

Please share a reading / resource you have explored recently that you think would be valuable to other teachers or coaches

All Families Are Special by Norma Simon, illustrated by Teresa Flavin

Let’s Learn about Families by Mathew Ingham – big book features photos of families

How Full is Your Bucket for kids by Tom Rath and Mary Ruckmeyer – every time you say something nice to somebody you’re filling your bucket and their bucket

Fantastic Elastic Brain by Joan Deek, illustrated by Ackerly – illustrated book that focuses on growth mindset and shows how your brain works

List of diverse books organized by different types of families: Welcoming Schools.org

Joceyln’s blog > Innovative Learning in the PYP jocelynsutherland.com

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Coaches of all levels are welcome: you’ll start the program with a self-assessment to determine exactly what the next steps are for you!

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