Hands On Heads Literacy Coaching 

Dear Principals, 

There’s something incredibly powerful about walking into a classroom and taking out a blank piece of poster paper, ready for creation.

Last week, I led a modelled writing session focused on brainstorming ideas in  dot point form. Their Year 5 teacher, Lyn, noticed that they were finding it difficult to brainstorm ideas and write in dot point form during the planning phase of the writing process. Students began brainstorming using a Rocket Writing strategy (also called a Quick Write) to let ideas flow freely before making decisions as authors about their first few sentences.

I was extremely impressed with their variety of sentence beginnings- that wasn't even the focus of the lesson! 

When we prioritise real-life modelling over prepared slides and scripts, students SEE and HEAR the process- not just the finished product. How are your teachers making learning visible in their classrooms? Explicit and modelled?

This is what’s possible when leaders like Mary, Lyn’s principal, are committed to empowering their teachers.