FOR EDUCATORS
Think-Coaches
Advantages of Think and Learn Professional Development
1. We provide a research-based professional development model to comprehensively support bilingual, ESL and mainstream teachers who interface with English Language Learners in their classroom.
It cannot be stated enough that the importance of incorporating ever-emerging research in thinking, learning strategies and mediated (Feurestein) learning is the heart of the TLC model. “Neuroscience research during the last ten years has helped to develop a better understanding of how the brain learns, and has confirmed that (ELL) children learn most effectively in learning environments that address specific methodology and strategies that help the brain to access and process information (more efficiently).
2. We conduct professional development academies for mainstream and ELL teachers and the parents of their classroom of ELL learners in districts with the highest needs around a specific cognitive systematic project based learning approach.
Strategies vital for teachers who work with ELL students and their parents are “… specific actions, behaviors, steps, or techniques that students (often intentionally) use to improve their progress in developing L2 (Learning a second language) skills. These strategies can facilitate the internalization, storage, retrieval, or use of the new language.” The TLC model was used over a 15-year period in four major urban centers and showed that ELL and at-risk minority children improved their thinking, learning of language and content and improved their comprehension 18-25 percent.
3. We select and develop Think and Learn Coaches that will form a curriculum team. The team will help develop a comprehensive curriculum with standards for ELLs around the TLC project-based learning approach. The teams are coached and supported with continuous follow up visits and team meetings thought the year.
Project-based learning is a strong best practice and a valuable approach for ELLs because it promotes the simultaneous acquisition of language, content and skills provided that their teachers can see the value of learning through projects. Goals of project-based instruction include subject matter learning and acquisition of skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, cooperative learning (Cuthbert, 1995; Peterson & Myer, 1995); ESL context, which narrows the focus on language; and practice of listening/speaking English.
ThinkCoach Leadership Academy
The Think-coach® Leadership Academy is built on solid research about changes in business and its deep impact on today’s schools. Applying organizational change to thinking principles will challenge participants to re-form fundamental beliefs and views for effective results-driven thinking and learning in today’s classroom!
Our Think-coach® Leadership Academy is designed to model and build a new paradigm for schools with increased student achievement. It offers up-to-date staff development training with emphasis on the how-to’s of:
Training in leadership as a Think-coach®. Learning the capacities of a Think-coach® and adding quality team-building and collaborative skills to a repertoire of skills:
- Brain-b.i.t.s.® training in brain connections and the how-to’s needed for peak thinking and learning. Learning the how-to’s by using the best integrated thinking and thematic instruction.
- Orchestrating a thinking and learning environment for the best brain-based connections with kids.
- Becoming a Think-coach® for ALL students. Learning the teacher behaviors and strategies needed for the best thinking outcomes.
Think-coach leadership professional development consists of three goals:
- Personal leadership development as well as collaborative leadership development for school-level teacher teams.
- Consistent use and application of brain based research, strategies for learning and developing learning environments that are better aligned for collaborative thinking and learnin.
- In depth training in mediated learning, thinking skills problems for today’s kids and how kids think and learn.
Teachers will learn how to:
- Assess personal growth.
- Demonstrate how to use brain-based strategies.
- Evaluate current practices and develop a step by step plan to implement appropriate cognitive strategies for students.
Teachers will be engaged in a:
- High impact, highly interactive training that incorporates all research based best practices that can be transferred to the classroom immediately.
- Training built on brain research and cognitive principles of thinking and learning.
- Active learning to understand complex curriculum levels to better prepare them to transfer what they have learned to new problems and setting with our children today.
Project-based Learning is the Best for Kids, Teachers and Parents Because It:
- Engages students and parents in the investigation of real-life problems and develops their creativity, problem solving, and lifelong learning (Barron, 1998; Breault & Breault, 2005; Blumenfeld et al., 1991).
- Addresses the learning of language, skills, and content simultaneously – an important goal identified by Dewey for project-based instruction (Dewey, 1926; Dewey & Dewy, 1915).
- Enhances the motivation of kids and parents by improving performance in writing/communication, initiating active roles in learning so that more student autonomy produces greater student interaction in content academic courses.
YOUR DISTRICT
Can be trained to develop this model as one of the solutions to thinking and learning!
In Dr. Tierno’s first book: Andamio! Engaging Hispanic Families for ELL Success, she notes that:
“The rapidly changing world of teaching and learning catapulted teachers and parents into unprecedented social and learning change. Communities faced challenges that forced teachers and parents to interface during one of the most historic pandemics. This inter-connection to the era of the “Swipe Generation” caused both teachers and parents of all socio-economic levels to learn on Google Classroom, Zoom and many other platforms to reach our children at home.
The Swipe Generation is all those children who were born after Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone and iPad. This new era created digital natives and changed the landscape of how to use gadgets. Parents of all socio-economic levels flocked to the new devices allowing their children to immerse in the new technology. The current generation of parents have allowed their children to become totally occupied, absorbed, consumed and in a growing number of cases obsessed with any and all gadgets.
Our Think-parents are powerful™ training includes working with parents in how to use technology to help their children learn at home. So too, our Think-campreneur™ offers a complete fun seminar in creating innovative websites, social media and Google sites!” (Chapter 1: Andamio!)
Let Us Help You
Let Us Help You
Interested in discussing how we can help your school or school district meet its goals for ELL learners? Just submit your information in the adjacent contact box and one of our team members will contact you shortly.