Admin Resources

Blended learning classrooms and schools are finely tuned machines with many parts. As a result, implementing a blended learning model requires attention to both the big picture systems and the intricate classroom details. The role of school leaders, from principals to instructional coaches to department chairs, in the implementation, maintenance, and growth of effective blended learning can often feel like trying to keep numerous plates spinning all at once. This section is dedicated to resources for administrators to support this balancing act of creating an environment that fosters the success of the blended learning model.

Administrator Resources

Implementing blended learning requires a great deal of planning and attention to detail. Administrators must plan how blended learning will run throughout the entire school year, consider what success looks like, and decide how to differentiate key aspects of the model for teacher needs. While each of these elements should be personalized to the school community, the resource below can serve as a guide. They include the critical considerations and will guide an administrator in planning a blended learning school year. 

Resources for Educators

Going Blended: Are You Ready?

A reflective document to evaluate and support a school’s blended learning readiness.

Tiers of Blended Learning

A progression of the four essential elements of a blended learning model.

Key Indicators of Blended Learning

A guide explaining the ideal ways the elements of blended learning can look and sound.

Blended Learning Scope and Sequence

A year-long timeline that frames key priorities and actions for blended learning success.

Coaching

Instructional coaching allows teachers to receive continuous feedback on their teaching practices and space to reflect on how to become a more effective educator in a private, non-evaluative setting. Below are four components that have been critical to successful coaching in Seton’s experience. These are not listed in order of importance but rather each is a piece to the puzzle of coaching, and one is no more important than the other.

  • Observations—Quality observations by an instructional coach allow for the coach and teacher to have a fruitful discussion about observable and measurable data. Observations should occur regularly during meaningful instruction time so the instructional coach can capture a significant understanding of the classroom, instruction, and learning. Instructional coaches should take quality observation notes that leave emotion and judgment out, focus on teacher and student actions, and include quantifiable data points. These notes will help lead the discussion during coaching meetings.
  • Meetings—Meetings should be held at a consistent “standing” time each week so that both the instructional coach and teacher can rely on this time to collaborate. Coaches should come prepared with praise, observational notes, and questions for the teachers in order to spark discussion and result in an agreed-upon action step for the teacher to focus on throughout the next week.
  • Relationship Building—Relationship building is an essential part of a coaching relationship and the value it adds can often be overlooked. A strong rapport between an instructional coach and a teacher builds trust that allows for vulnerability during a coaching meeting. An instructional coach should learn about a teacher’s journey and reason for working in education from the very first meeting. Knowing someone’s “why” gives coaches a better understanding of what shapes a person’s opinion and why they make certain decisions in their classroom. This relationship-building should continue throughout the year so trust can continue to be built between teachers and coaches. Building trust is critical so that both parties feel comfortable being honest and vulnerable in their coaching meetings and conversations.
  • Rubric/Instructional Priorities—School administrators should identify a rubric or instructional priorities (i.e. School-district, Diocesan, or school-created) to inform the focus of coaching meetings and measure success against. This allows everyone to know what successful teaching and learning looks like and support teachers to grow in their practice throughout the year.

Resources for Educators

Key Elements of an Effective Coaching System

An overview of the important components that support effective coaching.

Observation Notes: Best Practices

Key elements for effective observation notes that support instructional coaching.

Observation Tracker

A sample tool that can be used to track and organize classroom observations.

Classroom Walkthrough Tool

A template for instructional teams that supports focused classroom walkthroughs.

Six Steps for Effective Feedback

A template from Uncommon Schools to support leaders preparing for coaching meetings.

Authentic Praise Template

A tool to support the development of specific, concrete praise in coaching meetings.

Increasing Teacher Reflection

A template to plan probing questions for teacher reflection on a targeted action step.

Creating Bite-sized Action Steps

A tool to support writing strong, clear and actionable next steps for coaching meetings.

Types of Practice

Examples of different types of practice that can be used during a coaching meeting.

Meaningful Practice

A guide to support implementation of an action step during the coaching meeting.

Coaching Transcript: Six Steps in Action

A transcript of a coaching meeting with the six steps of effective feedback highlighted.

Professional Development

Professional development (PD) is an important component of continuous teacher and school development. Effective PD is not a staff meeting; rather, it is a learning opportunity focused on a specific topic with measurable outcomes or objectives. PD should target the specific needs of the staff and school at the point of time it will be delivered.

Below are several PD sessions that support a strong blended learning program. School leaders should use, adapt and deliver these in the way that best meets their staff’s needs. Although school leaders should select the best PD sessions for their staff, a few common pairings are:

Fall: Back to School

    • What and Why of Blended
    • Setting up a BL Classroom
    • Building a culture of feedback

Fall: New Teacher Training

    • What and Why of Blended
    • Setting up a BL Classroom
    • BL Scheduling
    • Explicit Expectations
    • Positive Narration

Fall and Winter (kick starter and “restart”)

    • MAP PD
    • Tracking and Goal Setting

Culture Reset

    • Building a Culture of Feedback
    • Explicit Expectations
    • Positive Narration

Resources for Educators

What, Why, and How of Blended Learning PD

A professional development session introducing blended learning.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Building a Culture of Feedback PD

A professional development session on the skills of giving and receiving feedback.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Setting up a BL Classroom PD

A professional development session on how to arrange a classroom for blended learning.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Rotations PD

A professional development session introducing best practices for blended learning rotations.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Scheduling PD

A professional development session on modifying schedules to best support blended learning.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Explicit Expectations PD

A professional development session on setting clear expectations in the classroom.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Positive Narration PD

A professional development session on narrating positive behaviors to support classroom management.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Tracking and Goal Setting PD

Professional development on goal setting with students and how to track progress towards goals.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, guided practice, and participant handout.

MAP—Features, Usage, and Investment PD

A professional development session highlighting features of the NWEA MAP test and ideas to invest students.

Includes: PowerPoint, facilitator guide, and participant handout.

Rotations Video Examples

Kindergarten

Rotation Example

1st Grade

Rotation Example

2nd Grade

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3rd Grade

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4th Grade

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5th Grade

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6th Grade

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7th Grade

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8th Grade

Rotation Example

Systems that Support Blended Learning Video Examples

Kindergarten

Rotation Example

1st Grade

Rotation Example

2nd Grade

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3rd Grade

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4th Grade

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5th Grade

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6th Grade

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7th Grade

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8th Grade

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Classroom Set-Up Video Examples

Kindergarten

Rotation Example

1st Grade

Rotation Example

2nd Grade

Rotation Example

3rd Grade

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4th Grade

Rotation Example

5th Grade

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6th Grade

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7th Grade

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8th Grade

Rotation Example