Personalized Coaching
From the creators of PhD Science®.
Coaches from the PhD Science team expertly guide educators to apply what they learn in Professional Development sessions to their own classrooms and schools. Through modeling, observation, and recommendations for customizing the curriculum, Great Minds® coaches help teachers improve implementation and help leaders develop effective ways to support, understand, and evaluate classroom practices.
Interested in Coaching Sessions?
Coaching Sessions
All sessions are available in virtual and in-person formats unless otherwise noted. Prerequisites to purchasing coaching sessions include Launch PhD Science.
Guided Observations for Leaders
(IN PERSON ONLY)
Selected leaders participate in classroom observations with a PhD Science coach to identify trends of implementation including celebrating successes and identifying areas of growth. Participating in this session improves instructional leaders’ ability to support effective classroom practice.
DOWNLOAD GUIDED OBSERVATIONS FOR LEADERS AGENDA (PDF, 216kb)
WATCH GUIDED OBSERVATIONS FOR LEADERS SESSION PREVIEW
Nurturing a Student-Driven Classroom
Participants discover how to nurture and empower students to drive their own learning by establishing and maintaining a positive classroom culture and classroom norms.
DOWNLOAD NURTURING A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM AGENDA (PDF, 159kb)
WATCH NURTURING A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Managing a Student-Driven Classroom
Educators identify the keys to successful classroom management and the role they play in a hands-on, student-driven environment.
DOWNLOAD MANAGING A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM AGENDA (PDF, 126kb)
WATCH MANAGING A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Pacing for a Student-Driven Classroom
Teachers identify pacing challenges, explore curricular resources, and hear from experienced implementers to support pacing decisions when planning and preparing for instruction.
DOWNLOAD PACING FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM (PDF, 123kb)
WATCH PACING FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Discourse for a Student-Driven Classroom
Participants identify how discourse supports a student-driven classroom and explore a process for discourse that includes support in laying a solid foundation, planning, facilitating, and reflecting on student-led discourse.
DOWNLOAD DISCOURSE FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM (PDF, 115kb)
WATCH DISCOURSE FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Prepare a Lesson Collaboratively
(IN PERSON ONLY)
With the guidance of implementation support specialists, educators practice planning, preparing, and delivering a lesson to improve student outcomes and establish best practices for instruction.
DOWNLOAD PREPARE A LESSON COLLABORATIVELY AGENDA (PDF, 187kb)
WATCH PREPARE A LESSON COLLABORATIVELY SESSION PREVIEW
Planning and Preparing by Using Checks for Understanding K–5
Teachers see how the formative Checks for Understanding assessment tool can help them monitor learning as well as guide planning and instructional decisions.
DOWNLOAD PLANNING AND PREPARING BY USING CHECKS FOR UNDERSTANDING AGENDA (PDF, 153kb)
WATCH PLANNING AND PREPARING BY USING CHECKS FOR UNDERSTANDING SESSION PREVIEW
Differentiation for a Student-Driven Classroom K–5
Teachers build upon their understanding of differentiation and explore resources to support them in planning and preparing for instruction.
DOWNLOAD DIFFERENTIATION FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM AGENDA (PDF, 157kb)
WATCH DIFFERENTIATION FOR A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Leveraging Related Phenomena in a Student-Driven Classroom K–5
Teachers discover how to leverage related phenomena to support students in transferring and applying science content knowledge.
DOWNLOAD LEVERAGING RELATED PHENOMENA IN A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM AGENDA (PDF, 158kb)
WATCH LEVERAGING RELATED PHENOMENA IN A STUDENT-DRIVEN CLASSROOM SESSION PREVIEW
Implementation Support
Implementation support sessions, designed for teachers and leaders, last 60 minutes and accommodate up to 30 participants. These sessions are only delivered virtually.
Professional Learning Community: Learning Lab K–5
During this Learning Lab, participants focus on a district-selected topic chosen from the following list:
Foundational:
- Curriculum and Resource Overview
- Inclusive Classroom Cultures
- Pacing Strategies
- Classroom Management
Sustaining:
- Phenomenon-Driven Learning
- Curriculum Assessments
- PhD Science Content Learning Cycle
- Social-Emotional Learning in Science
Implementing PhD Science with Fidelity
To set educators up for success with PhD Science, our team of teacher–writers created the three-year plan below, which integrates both PD and personalized coaching so all teachers can feel confident with the curriculum. Because we know that when teachers feel prepared and well-versed in the curriculum, students thrive.
Year 1:
Professional Development
SUMMER
(before implementation)
Foundational Professional Development Session
- Launch PhD Science Levels K–5
FALL/WINTER/SPRING
Foundational Professional Development Session
- Module-Level Study
Professional Coaching
SUMMER
(before implementation)
- Lead PhD Science
FALL
- Guided Observations for Leaders
WINTER
- Nurturing a Student-Driven Classroom*
SPRING
- Guided Observations for Leaders
*An alternative, more relevant session based on needs may be identified.
Year 2:
Professional Development
SUMMER/FALL
Foundational Professional Development Session
- Focus on Instructional Techniques I
WINTER/SPRING
Sustaining Professional Development Session
- Focus on Instructional Techniques II
Professional Coaching
SUMMER
-
Managing a Student-Driven Classroom*
-
Pacing for a Student-Driven Classroom*
FALL
- Guided Observations for Leaders
WINTER
- Prepare a Lesson Collaboratively
- Discourse for a Student-Driven Classroom*
SPRING
- Guided Observations for Leaders
*An alternative, more relevant session based on needs may be identified.
Year 3:
Professional Development
SUMMER/FALL
Sustaining Professional Development Session
- Focus on Instructional Techniques III (coming soon)
WINTER/SPRING
Sustaining Professional Development Session
- Focus on Instructional Techniques IV (coming soon)
Professional Coaching
SUMMER
-
Planning and Preparing by Using Checks for Understanding
FALL
- Guided Observations for Leaders
- Differentiation for a Student-Driven Classroom*
WINTER
- Prepare a Lesson Collaboratively
SPRING
- Guided Observations for Leaders
- Leveraging Related Phenomena in a Student-Driven Classroom*
*An alternative, more relevant session based on needs may be identified.