BONUS: The RIGHT TOOLS for Effective Teacher Teams | A Collaboration Masterclass
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
02/28/25
•14m
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In this bonus episode, I highlight Chapter 5 of Dr. Towanda Harris's book, The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices. Building on my previous conversation with Dr. Harris about nurturing teacher candidates, I explore the essential elements of effective collaboration among education professionals.
Learn why:
- 💡purposeful collaboration requires clear focus and structure,
- 💡how bringing diverse educational perspectives to the planning table strengthens instructional approaches,
- 💡and why individual reflection is a necessary complement to collaborative work.
Discover practical strategies for:
- ✨ identifying the right collaborators,
- ✨ establishing meaningful focus areas for teamwork,
- ✨ and implementing conversation starters that drive productive professional discussions.
Whether you're a classroom teacher navigating boxed curricula, an instructional coach supporting teacher teams, or an administrator building collaborative school culture, this episode offers valuable insights on harnessing the power of intentional collaboration to better serve all students.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Overview of The Right Tools
02:00 Dr. Harris's journey to valuing collaboration
04:00 Who to invite to the collaborative planning table
06:00 Serving diverse student populations through collaboration
08:00 Focus areas for effective collaboration
10:00 Different planning structures
11:00 Powerful conversation starters
12:00 Putting collaborative practices into action
#DrTowandaHarris #TheRightTools #TeacherCollaboration #EducationalLeadership #ProfessionalLearning #SchoolPlanning #TeacherTeams #EffectiveCollaboration #TeacherReflection #InstructionalCoaching #EducationResources #TeamPlanning #TeacherCandidates #SchoolImprovement #StudentSuccess #CollaborativePlanning #GradeLevelTeams #VerticalPlanning #ProfessionalLearning #ClassroomStrategies #EducatorResources #TeachingStrategies #SchoolSolutions #EducationPodcast #SchoolImprovement #TeacherSupport #InstructionalStrategies #SchoolLeadership #EducationalTeams
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
What New Teachers Need to Succeed with Dr. Towanda Harris
February 24, 2025
•38m
In this powerful episode of Schoolutions, I sit down with Dr. Towanda Harris of the Harris Innovation Consulting Group, an influential educator with over 20 years of experience who's impacted more than 10,000 educators nationwide. Dr. Harris shares her journey from third-grade teacher to university professor, offering invaluable insights about preparing the next generation of teachers. Learn why questioning the status quo should be celebrated, how to redefine success in education beyond traditional metrics, and why developing a teaching philosophy must start with personal reflection. Whether you're a new teacher, veteran educator, or educational leader, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on creating more responsive, student-centered classrooms.
Key Topics Discussed:
➡️Dr. Harris's journey from classroom teacher to university professor
➡️The importance of questioning and unlearning in education
➡️Redefining success beyond traditional metrics
➡️Developing meaningful teaching philosophies
➡️Creating inclusive classroom environments
Research & Resources Mentioned:
💫Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's work on mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors
💫Dr. Gholnescsar (Gholdy) Muhammad's work on transactional learning
💫Zaretta Hammond's Ready 4 Rigor Framework
💫Dr. Carla España and Dr. Luz Yadira Herrera's work on translanguaging
💫Arlène Elizabeth Casimir's Holding Space Protocol
Dr. Harris’s Recommended Resources:
📚A Love Letter to Teachers by Patrick Harris II
📚3 Ways to Take Charge of Your Personal Growth As an Educator by Dr. Towanda Harris
📚Meaningful Learning Experiences: Teaching the Student and not the Content CCRIA blog by Dr. Towanda Harris
📚Student Agency: Strategies to Build a Strengths-Based Classroom by Dr. Towanda Harris
📚The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices by Dr. Towanda Harris
Timestamps:
- [00:00:00] Episode Introduction
- [00:02:00] Dr. Harris's Educational Journey
- [00:09:00] Changes in Teacher Candidates
- [00:15:00] Redefining Success in Education
- [00:24:00] Developing Teaching Philosophies
- [00:34:00] Inclusive Teaching Practices
- [00:37:00] Closing Thoughts
#DrTowandaHarris #TheRightTools #EdChat #TeacherEducation
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with renowned author and educator Ralph Fletcher to discuss his book, Joy Write: Cultivating High-Impact, Low-Stakes Writing and why the concept of greenbelt writing is crucial for developing authentic student voices.
Greenbelt writing serves as a designated creative space where students can write freely without constraints, similar to how greenbelts in nature create essential passages for wildlife to thrive.
Ralph, who has also written numerous books for young readers and teachers, shares his perspective on how scripted curricula and commercial writing programs have squeezed choice and joy out of classroom writing experiences.
The conversation explores:
- Why choice is fundamental to developing strong writers
- How academic writing has overshadowed expressive writing in classrooms
- The importance of pleasure and joy in the writing process
- Practical ways teachers can incorporate greenbelt writing alongside required curriculum
- How student-initiated writing reveals skills, humor, and collaboration that often remain hidden
Episode Mentions:
- What is Greenbelt Writing? by Ralph Fletcher
- The World's Loneliest Elephant by Ralph Fletcher (illustrated by Naoko Stoop)
- Craft and Process Studies by Matt Glover
- Misreading Masculinity by Thomas Newkirk
- Boy Writers by Ralph Fletcher
- Barry Lane (educator)
- Katie Wood Ray (educator who discusses writing stamina)
- Malcolm Gladwell (reference to his 10,000 hours concept)
- John Carroll (professor at University of New Hampshire)
Ralph offers examples of how teachers can validate and affirm student writing without feeling pressured to grade or critique it heavily, suggesting that sometimes benign neglect allows creativity to flourish.
The episode concludes with a discussion about writing identity and how teachers can help all students see themselves as writers by providing opportunities for authentic expression.
Perfect for teachers, coaches, and caregivers looking to restore creativity and joy to writing instruction while balancing curricular demands.
#GreenbeltWriting #JoyWrite #RalphFletcher #WritersCraft #WritersNotebook #WritingMentor #LowStakesWriting #WritingWorkshop #StudentChoice #AuthenticWriting #TeachersOfTwitter #TeachWriting #WritingTeacher #LiteracyMatters #WritingInstruction #ELA #ElementaryELA #StudentVoice #WritingJoy #CreativeWriting #WriteFromTheHeart #WritersIdentity #WritingCommunity #ReclaimWriting #TeacherLife #EdChat #LiteracyEducation #ChoiceMatters #StudentEngagement #WritingFreedom
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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