Notes
I conducted my first coaching session with Kim Stark on Wednesday, January 28 at 3:45 PM. We are in the Verify Perspective section of the Vector model and so the primary purpose of the meeting was to build relationships and to begin thinking about a goal for this course. To build relationships we used the central focus and potential strategic questions listed on the Verify Perspective document of the Vector Model.
By visiting with Kim, I learned that she began her teaching in Title One schools and has a heart for working with students of low-socioeconomic status and worked in Title One schools for many years. However, after having children and moving to another area of Kansas City, Kim began teaching at a school in Shawnee Mission. She is currently teaching 6th graders in the content areas of literacy and social studies. She has a very positive relationship with her co-worker who teaches science and math.
When asked to compare her classroom to something–she compared it to “a well-oiled machine.” She said that she and her co-teacher have identical philosophies on classroom management and expectations and his leads to students knowing exactly what they are to do in any given circumstance. She indicated that over half of her students are on grade level when it comes to literacy and of the other half most of them are in some sort of special program or intervention to work with their particular need. However, there is one girl in her class that is stumping her. She is at grade level on fluency and comprehension, but reads very “choppy” when she reads aloud. We discussed the Quadrant model which is found in the course site and wondered about the level of language comprehension that this girl may have. Learning more about this may become the goal for the work this semester.
Personally, Kim is the mother of 2 daughters, one in 7th grade and one in 10th. She is busy attending many soccer games! Her 7th grade daughter has dyslexia and is on an IEP. After looking at the Quadrant model, Kim wonders if there might be a language comprehension issue with her daughter that has gone undiagnosed.