In What Great Principals Do Differently, author and educational leader Todd Whitaker writes, “Great principals focus on students—by focusing on teachers.” While students were out for the September 18th, Teacher Admin Day, Dr. Jason Eaton did just that by modeling a math lesson for Poplar Hill Elementary teachers.
The content of the lesson focused on a third-grade standard for area and perimeter. However, with walkthroughs and observations beginning, administrators and instructional coaches wanted to provide teachers with a clear picture of the instructional practices they would be looking for in classrooms. The modeled lesson gave teachers an opportunity to see those expectations in action and to reflect on how lesson structure, questioning, student thinking, and engagement come together during effective instruction.
Dr. Eaton led teachers through a lesson that gradually released responsibility from the teacher to the learners. Teachers watched the learning process modeled, then worked through the thinking together before collaborating with partners and finally applying their understanding independently.
As teachers reflected on the lesson, they shared several important takeaways. They discussed the clarity and confidence students gain when a consistent instructional framework is used and how that consistency helps build stamina and independence over time. The conversation also highlighted the importance of wait time and purposeful questioning—especially as responsibility for the learning begins to shift to students. Teachers have to resist the urge to step in too quickly when students are doing the thinking.
Teachers also reflected on intentional modeling where the teacher demonstrates using the manipulatives, working through a process, or thinking aloud so students can hear the reasoning behind steps being taken to solve the task.
Our mission statement at PHE is Every Student. Every Day. Growing. Achieving. Thriving. When educators make time to learn together, reflect together, and sharpen their practice together, the impact reaches EVERY STUDENT. Our focus this year is adding on to the great things we did in year one at Poplar Hill Elementary. Chapter 2 of our story is going to be even better. Let's go, Coyotes!
Chapter2: Growing Deeper. Reaching Higher.
#StrongerTogether #FamilyForever
