Chapter 6

the farmer metaphor

Survey the field

• Shade from the forest
• Encroaching Plants
• Gopher Evidence
• Rocky Soil
• Earthworms- a good sign

The Seeds

Exploration STage: data

10 steps

gather relevant documents

• Make a Binder
• Calendars, Schedules, Organizational Maps
• Mission Statements
• Report Card data
• AimsWeb
• SAGE
• CSIP Goals

Gather and Analyze Formal Data

• What needs help?
• What are the beliefs about Data?
• How is data used currently?

Initiate informal conversations

• How are things going for you this year?
• How is "xyz" working for your students?
• Other getting to know questions?

Uncover knowledge, skills, & passions

• What do teachers/admins do outside of school?
• "See the parallels between what they know how to do and what they are trying to do better."

explore Beliefs about change

• "Tell me about a positive change you've made as an adult."
• "Tell me about a new skill you learned as an adult."

Explore Beliefs about change

• What are your thoughts about how social change happens?
• How do you think transformation happens?
• Name a historical leader whom you admire and would follow.
• Can you share an example of a historical social change that you find inspiring?

offer personality & psychological

observe

• Make appointments & be conscious of the perceptions of a pop-in (have permission)
• Observe during faculty meetings.
• Look for alignment in what they say and what they want to be.

conduct formal interviews & surveys

• Honor their reality and reflect upon why they see their world in this way.
• Surveys- have a baseline and then repeat to see if progress has been made.
• Purpose- Coach gets the data about the school and relationships with the schools deepen.

Look for the fires

• "Fires are clues about systems that are breaking down."
• "The coach's job is to help the client get out of the habit of putting out fires and instead to invest time & energy into installing automatic sprinkler systems and removing fuel and sources of ignition."

engage in self-awareness

• Keep a reflective journal
• See page 117 for reflection questions.