Sharon Collins

Executive Director at Westgate Community School, Leading Forward for Educational Innovation @WestgateWild #wholechildeducation Opinions are my own.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@SustainTeaching @ASCD Congratulations!

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Teachers, want to take something off your plate? Put HW in the trash, especially for elementary grades. Let students go home to run, play, and enjoy being a child. And read a little after playing. Then they come to school recharged instead of stressed out and you will too!

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

Do you know what executive functioning ACTUALLY is? Hint: it’s not just keeping organized and being on time.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

Trust teachers. If we trust teachers, and if we give them autonomy, they will be able to make choices that meet the unanticipated needs of learners in the classroom. If we mandate curriculum and demand teachers operate in lock step, we miss opportunities to reach all kids.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

#SustainableTeaching promotes what's best for kids AND what's best for teachers.

Because what's best for teachers IS what's best for kids.

#MakeTeachingSustainable

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@SustainTeaching Have positive, professional relationships with students and families.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

#concurrentenrollment offers more equitable access to college credit while in high school.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@autiemichelle Same. Love it.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

Teaching kids about executive functioning is empowering for them. It not only teaches them about their bodies; it teaches them that they have control over their bodies.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

When we focus on SEL and executive functioning, we #MakeTeachingSustainable because we give kids the emotional and cognitive resources to self-regulate and contribute to the learning community with independence. As a result, they share in the energy demands of learning.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@SustainTeaching And pay. And respect.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

It stands to reason that the teacher martyr/savior complex is grounded in the fact that teaching has historically been a female dominated profession. Our society generally expects women to be superheroes without the proper support and resources.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@westgatewild - K-12 Gifted Ed for the Whole Child

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

What is 2E?

“There must be a mistake. How can Bryan be in the gifted program if he can’t read, can’t write, and can’t sit still?” -Mrs. Edwards (4th grade teacher)

As a student, I overheard Mrs.Edwards saying this to the teacher next door. For a long time, there was a belief that someone couldn’t be gifted and have a learning disability/mental health concern/behavior challenge at the same time.

There was a major focus on the disability and less or no focus on the abilities/opportunities/gifts.

I did not like school when I was a K-12 student. School was either way too easy (math) or way too hard (reading, writing, focus).

As I travel the country leading professional development on behaviors, trauma, problem solving, and mental health - I still encounter those who haven’t heard about twice-exceptional (2E) or are skeptical about whether or not this is actually a thing.

If we want students to succeed to their highest abilities, we need to focus on the whole child. We can both help with challenges and also gifts at the same time.

Thank you for everything you do for our kids!

Join the “Maslow Before Bloom” Facebook group at: https://t.co/i2rhBgHO8G

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@mremrich1 @westgatewild hs students can earn their Associates while they earn their hs diploma.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@mremrich1 Yes! #concurrentenrollment is so much better for students than AP. They earn college credit for the work they do all semester.

[Paul Emerich France, #MakeTeachingSustainable @SustainTeaching]

A kind reminder: voice and choice does not mean letting kids do whatever they want in our classrooms. Instead, voice and choice must be scaffolded, just like anything else in our classrooms.

How do you scaffold voice and choice in your classroom?

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@randysquier @SustainTeaching Yes. But are you allowed to meet with a client before your boss approves a script or make changes to plans during a meeting depending on your client? At many schools, teachers are held to a script & are not allowed to change it, even if their students need it. It’s very demeaning

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@Twisted3100 @SustainTeaching Agreed. Coaching, mentoring, ongoing/actionable feedback, professional development & evaluation - all yes! This is support for growth. Micromanagement & monitoring before trust- no.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@JonathanBurdick This is why #concurrentenrollment is a better choice for high schools. Students learn all semester at a college level and earn credit if they pass the course. Not dependent on one assessment.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@SustainTeaching Then, holding them to that plan as if there’s no room to adjust based upon how that meeting goes with a client. Professionals need coaching and mentorship not micromanagement. We need to trust teachers! Then, we need to support and build them up.

[Sharon Collins @EdSharonCollins]

@SustainTeaching By teachers having an education, a career which they show up to day after day, year after year, they are accountable! In what other career do we make professionals prove what they are doing BEFORE they do it? Can’t imagine consultants turning in plans/script a week before mtings.