The planning conversation is when the teacher and principal (or instructional coach or teaching peer) collaborate and focus on the student-learning priorities. These priorities in early childhood may be established through the individual learner needs, core curriculum, and school improvement goals.
In this planning conversation, Kelly Crenshaw, the teacher, and Michelle Pogliano, the Director of Early Childhood Programs/Principal, focus on Student Learning Priorities/Lesson Plan @ a Glance that the principal will be observing/supporting (see Kelly’s Classroom In Action videos) and the unique goals that Kelly has for supporting the cognitive learning and social/emotional needs of her students. Kelly’s IEP-aligned activities are preparing the students to successfully transition to the general education preschool classrooms. For the upcoming observation, Kelly asks Michelle to specifically “look-n-listen” for student learning/actions that could be signaling that a student would be almost or ready to transition.
A specific emphasis in the planning conversation is Kelly sharing her approach for collecting daily student learning data AND using weekly reviews to improve her approach to individualizing instruction and modification of activities with her teaching team. Michelle asks Kelly to “think aloud” about how she has been able to develop a shared teaching/learning ownership process with her two teaching associates. Kelly shares how she has purposefully frames clear learning targets, focuses on the “why” of each activity, and models reflection of what is working and what needs to be changed.
