School-Two+Rivers+College-A+Koorie+Pathways+School

Our setting... Two Rivers College is a unique setting. We were first known as the KODE School (Koorie Open Door Education) for 10 years and then VCoKE (Victorian College of Koorie Education) for two years, with students enrolled from prep to year 10. At the beginning of term 2 2009 we were re-opened as one of only four Koorie Pathways schools in Victoria, a model, developed by Wannik, that focus' on the re-engagement of students.

We were required to transition all primary students to other mainstream schools (and being an early years teacher....my heart just about broke in two!!!!!) in Sunraysia but retained our original secondary students. Students, aged 12 - 16 years, who enroll at Two Rivers are referred to our school for a number of reasons including disengagement. We currently have 18 students enrolled.

Our Strategic Plan priorities are 1 Student Learning, 2 Student Engagement and Wellbeing and 3 Transition and Pathways. Although we plan, using VELS to inform our teaching and assess and report using mainstream standard assessment, we provide an Enterprise Program one full day each week where students choose between Horticulture/Gardening and Hospitality. Through this program students complete modules of certificates specific to their chosen field, develop and maintain 'virtual' budgets and are able to use their 'virtual income' to purchase school items and pay for excursions and camps. Our Enterprise Program, in which literacy and language is a priority and focus, provides authentic pathways for students and is fully supported by School Council and the LEACG (Local Education Aborginal Consultative Group).

Decisions, decisions, decisions... Our Leadership group has decided to establish a coaching relationship with a team of collegues which will focus on 'reading comprehension'. We have prioritised the timetable to ensure that the team has pre planning time, obs time, reflection time and post planning time.

Challenges... I'm sure there will be plenty along the way, but so far...
 * building the trust in colleagues to be open and honest
 * developing effective coaching skills to meet the needs of each individual
 * meeting the needs of our unique settings and transient population of students
 * how does classroom literacy effectively transfer to our Enterprise Program and how is it measured

Looking forward to... I loved the first day of Establishing Literacy Coaching and really look forward to...
 * professional conversations with others in this course
 * visits from coach mentors and receiving constructive feedback & advice
 * //visiting Melbourne for the "Melbournite Culture"!!!! (being from the country I think I can add that one, don't you?)//
 * building my own capacity and the capacity of teaching staff
 * stengthening the knowledge of 'Teaching & Learning'

Please feel free to comment and ask questions through the **discussion tab.**

Cheers Katrina

From Jenni Kyval, Kooweerup. Thanks for sharing your journey with me on Friday. I was impressed by your Prezi and now feel more like developing something like that too. We have to give feedback for the NSP program and that would be a great way to do it.

1 Determine Evidence of Impact

A 'prezi' highlighting my journey - as teacher, coach, leader. Quotes from my principal, colleagues and students relative to my focus on 'feedback' and my capacity to ensure that the skills of feedback and reflection, of students and colleagues, is value adding, explicit and transferrable.

media type="custom" key="7236543"

2 Making Thinking & Learning Visible 

3 A Digital Learning Resource

A powerpoint presentation to 'tune in' Two Rivers teachers about the 'how', 'who', 'why' and 'when' of coaching within schools. A 'Reading Comprehension Strategies' audit tool. Teachers identify their frequency and proficiency of use of each strategy.

4 Who am I as a Literacy Teacher, Coach & Leader



5 Establishing Conditions for Effective Coaching

I believe the condition and climate for effective coaching continually evolves though school changes ie staff, students, priorities.