Administrative Planning for Effective Conferencing
Brenda Hill
Feb 06, 2009
Conferencing is designed to provide additional support to teachers and administrators in meeting the implementation goals/needs of districts, schools, and teachers. Implementation goals can be accomplished more rapidly when instructional specialists and building administrators work closely together to form an efficient, effective plan. Several questions to consider when planning for effective conferencing days are:
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What are the district goals for implementation?
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Where is the school in the implementation process based upon district expectations?
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Where are teachers in the implementation process, and where is extra help/support needed?
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Are teacher reflection meetings occurring on a regular basis to determine individual and grade level needs?
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Has a focus or need been determined at the school level for implementation to be fully achieved?
Once administrators have answered these questions, it becomes much easier to plan the schedule and focus for conferencing. The district goals for implementation should be clearly communicated to administrators and teachers. If the goal or implementation expectations are unclear, it helps all involved to clarify those before the conferencing begins.
Effective conferencing should also take into consideration where the teachers are in the implementation process and where extra help/support is needed. Teacher reflection meetings are important tools for administrators as they plan for conferencing. Many times comments, concerns, or questions that arise during these reflection meetings will determine the conference focus and schedule.
In addition, schools often have a focus based upon walkthrough observations. These areas of focus may be determined by the administrator(s), school leadership team, or teachers themselves. There is often (and should be) a direct correlation between the school focus strategy/strategies and the conferencing focus.
These questions are just some things for administrators to consider when planning how to make the best use of conferencing days. It also helps eliminate teacher confusion about where we are and where we are going in the Learning-Focused implementation process. By communicating clearly the district expectations and school focus, time can be used for teachers to collaboratively plan and improve instructional practices that directly impact students. Thoughtful reflection and planning for conferencing allows all to work together to accomplish the goal of increased student performance and achievement.
