Learning Something New

Learning something new can be uncomfortable, exhilarating, or both. When I wanted to learn to make truffles, I read books, watched videos, learned all about tempering chocolate, and practiced forming bite-sized treats. It took several attempts to end up with a silky-smooth, satisfying morsel.

Everywhere I go, I meet teachers who have set a goal to become experts at one-on-one conferring. It is a worthy endeavor, for both teacher and student, and it can be hard to give ourselves grace while we learn. But there is a process to becoming proficient. We read about the best practices, talk to our colleagues, and watch videos of teachers in action. Then, armed with new knowledge, we begin to try it out in our classrooms. While learning, we carry supports such as books, notes, and visual cues. We scaffold our learning to achieve the best outcomes. And with practice, one day we will be able to confer without the scaffolds in place.

If you are working to refine your conferring skills, we have a tool to help. This instructional protocol will lead you step-by-step through the elements that help us keep our conferences intentional, focused, and brief.

As we embark on a new school year, working to refine our practice, let’s keep in mind that growth is a process. If we are kind to ourselves, honest with our students, and present in each moment of a one-on-one with them, we will quickly move from uncomfortable to exhilaration.