By Liz Fox, DHS Collaborative Teacher and ELA Teacher When I heard about the 1619 Project this summer, I knew it would be worth looking into because on so many levels it met goals I had for my students. When Zach Fromm agreed to be my coach as I navigated these uncharted waters, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of unexpected benefits that arose from our partnership. Here they are, in no particular order:
10. Zach provided important social studies content to help my students understand the context of race in ways far better than I ever could. 9. I learned how to make my Canvas more user-friendly by watching Zach help me set up my modules. 8. I gained street cred with my students because they LOVED having Mr. Fromm in my classroom. My current juniors are the first group of 7th graders that he worked with in Decorah, and the mutual respect was palpable. 7. I could focus on my teaching while Zach completed tasks such as scheduling a tour of the Race Exhibit at Luther and securing transportation. 6. The energy and enthusiasm Zach brought to my classroom buoyed me during times I felt overwhelmed and tired. 5. While watching Zach process the information he collected from a Google survey he created, I swear I felt like I was watching a magic show. His technology skills are on point! 4. Zach was able to teach a lesson to my students at a time I had to be away from my classroom - zero time lost in the structure of the project. 3. Zach combed through the hundred page 1619 Project document and created categories for our 11th grade students to study. Then he continued to find more material for them to process as they discussed and prepared their presentations. 2. Zach filmed each presentation and assisted in the debrief, helping to deepen the students’ understanding of the material and its significance in today’s world. 1. Collaboration: Zach encouraged an English/Social Study collaboration with Mark Rhodes which has spread to a collaboration with all US History teachers at DHS. In addition, Zach was instrumental in coordinating a collaboration with our juniors and the 3rd graders, resulting in Mrs. Sheppard writing a grant for us to continue our work second semester! For years I have benefited greatly from the assistance of our awesome coaching staff; we are so fortunate to have such helpful professionals guiding us to become better together.
4 Comments
Jackie Panos
1/7/2020 08:16:00 am
What an awesome synopsis of the ways that working with a coach was advantageous to you and your students, Liz! We are fortunate to benefit from this collaboration between you and Zach (and Jenn) in third grade as well :)
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Sarah Zbornik
1/12/2020 01:39:54 pm
It's great to see that you got more out of it than what you expected. It seems like it has now taken on a life of its own!
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Linda Kirkeberg
3/28/2020 01:49:36 pm
I have not had the opportunity to be in a classroom where Zach came in to teach. I hope someday I get that opportunity, because I’ve heard he is awesome at what he does.
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Greg Murphy
4/21/2020 04:37:42 pm
A talented teacher like Fromm just adds to the learnability of a subject -- especially like the 1619 project. A teacher who loves what they are teaching adds so much to a subject.
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