How Can a Skills Specialist Support Tabor Rotation?

Posted by & filed under Balanced Mathematics, Fundamentals of Differentiated Instruction, Leadership Capacity, Math, Planning Effectively, Planning for Small Groups, Small Group Instruction, Small Groups, Small-Group Instruction in Mathematics, Tabor Rotation, The Tabor Rotation Framework.

For specialist blog

Part of the INCREDIBLE Tabor Team of Carter Academy

 

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.”     -Pete Carroll, Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks

Since she has done an absolutely AMAZING job of supporting the teachers at Carter Academy in Aldine ISD, AND they have had amazing results, I posed this question to skills specialist Amanda Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriguez began her journey in Tabor Rotation in September, 2014.

“How can a skills specialist or resource teacher support Tabor Rotation?”

Here is her response. (Data to support the reasons why you should believe her are found on the NEWS & RESULTS page of this website.)

Top 5 Things a Specialist Can do to Support Tabor Rotation

1.    Provide teachers with resources and ideas to create activities for the stations. Teachers are more successful and whiling to implement a new teaching model if they have support and believe that the framework will work.  This year 92% of the math teachers in 1st-4th grade have successfully implemented the Tabor Rotation Framework. The top scores in our school are from those who implement all Three Phases of Tabor Rotation.

2.    Observe teachers implementing each phase and give them feedback. The math skills specialists on our campus have observed 100% of the teachers who implement Tabor Rotation and have given the teachers feedback.  If the teacher needs clarification on implementing an element the specialists are here to clarify or model the implementation of that element.

3.    Help teachers plan collaboratively as a grade level. When a specialist is the facilitator it ensures that 100% of the teachers are sharing and helping in the collaboration process.

4.    Model how to implement Tabor Rotation Phases if needed. 33% of our teachers who are implementing the Tabor Rotation Framework have had specialist in their rooms modeling how to implement the framework with their own students. This has been a huge aid in ensuring that teachers do not get frustrated if they do not understand where to begin.

5.    Give the teachers opportunities to observe other teachers that are successfully implementing Tabor Rotation. 100% of the teachers who are implementing the Tabor Rotation Framework have observed other teachers who are successfully implementing the framework. This allows the teachers to see how other teachers put their own flair into implementing the framework but still keeping true to the 14 Essential Elements [of the Tabor Rotation Framework]. Skills Specialists have had to cover classrooms to allow teachers the opportunities to observe the implementation of Tabor Rotation in other classrooms.

Thank you you for your suggestions, Ms. Rodriguez! You and the entire Tabor Team of Carter Academy are changing students’ lives by supporting and changing teachers. Way to go!!!

“I’d like to say to all my fans out there, thanks for the support. And to all my doubters, thank you very much because you guys have also pushed me.”     -Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter and widely regarded as the fastest person on earth