A Reader Writes... (Morning Homework / Support Lab - Part 2)

In response to the posts on “Morning Homework / Support Lab,” a reader writes:

"Why couldn't this time also be utilized for administrators to work with teachers? I believe as instructional leaders we have to model what we want from our teachers and what better way than to work with them on best teaching practices. I see so many teachers who are struggling to implement some of the strategies we are asking them to utilize...who are definitely in the category of can't versus won't-I think we need to do a more effective job in assisting those teachers in the early stages, than to watch and wait while the impacts are directly felt by their students. Just a thought..."

SC Response
I can’t disagree with the idea that administrators should be involved on some level. How big of a role, of course, would vary from campus to campus. In fact, if I was a teacher who needed an internship project or an AP wanting some better experience, I would take this project and run with it. After all, how often in a career do you get the opportunity to create a solution that fixes a problem that confounds every school?

What you describe seems more like a formal class with opportunities to teach actual lessons (is that what you were thinking?). I never envisioned the morning support labs in that fashion. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, but it would ramp up the level of complexity.

But even in a more informal instructional setting, administrators would be able to view first hand what concepts students and teachers are struggling with; connect with students and teachers on a different level; and break down the "us vs. them" mentality between teachers and administration that exists on many campuses.

I also agree with your last point. As a profession, we are often guilty of waiting for disaster before we actually try to do anything meaningful. When we do a better job of addressing the little issues, the big problems never seem to occur.

My advice, now that you are aware of a deficiency and an opportunity, is come up with an interim solution, implement it, and then make as needed adjustments on the fly.

That’s just one idea, LYS readers, where are the rest of them?

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...