Practice . In Relationship Management teachers investigate how effective teachers of boys continually evaluate the status of each relationship , use relational gestures to connect with students , and take responsibility to repair breakdowns when needed .
In Practitioner Research 101 , teachers explore Action Research as a tool that identifies the teacher as the best person to solve issues that arise in their own classrooms . While a great deal of more abstract research is done in the halls of academia , Action Research is about bringing the systematic inquiry process into a teacher ’ s daily , ongoing work . It can help establish clear directions for the nagging questions that keep a teacher up at night : What if I had done this instead ? Why is this happening ? I wonder if this is why X is struggling so much ? Finally , in Reflective Practice , teachers are invited into the ongoing inquiry of a small group of colleagues interested in exploring one particular point of practice related to the Saint David ’ s Framework .
Another dimension of TBI involves the introduction of Instructional or Learning Coaches . These coaches will work alongside our teachers , especially those in their first three years at the school , collaborating with them to design instruction that targets student outcomes . Taking a targeted approach like this increases the learning and efficacy of teachers , coaches , and most importantly our boys . Our student-centered coaching helps teachers get closer to student learning while also impacting instructional practice . The illustration on this page models the basic process we use .
We have also begun conversations with leading universities about creating opportunities for collaboration , coursework , and targeted graduate programming . There is inadequate grounded research that provides guidance and answers to key questions about effectively teaching elementary age boys . Collaborative Action Research conducted by Saint David ’ s teachers in partnership with university faculty will be an annual source of discoveries , both theoretical and practical , that all contribute to this field of inquiry .
This coming school year , Saint David ’ s will also launch TBI ’ s Visiting Scholar program by welcoming Dr . Michael Reichert , mentioned earlier , a leading scholar on the importance of the relational dimension in the education of boys , to provide seminars and workshops for our faculty and our parents . In fact , he began his work last January with our senior masters , capturing their wisdom and practical knowledge for future work with our early and mid-career teachers .
With all this foundational work behind us , TBI is now fully launched because of a generous gift of $ 1 million with the condition that it be spent down over the next three years . A Saint David ’ s family , so inspired by the school ’ s strategic thinking , asked if they could help jumpstart our efforts — allowing us to get the program off the ground while taking the time necessary to organize a major fund-raising initiative to endow it long-term . Our objective , by endowing TBI , is to take the pressure off tuition dollars as we look to the future .
TBI is already helping Saint David ’ s establish an even more vibrant professional community that directly benefits all of our
Stage 1 Teacher and coach establish a goal for student learning .
Stage 4 Teacher and coach determine if the students have met the learning targets . Additional instruction is planned for those who haven ’ t .
Student-Centered Coaching
boys right now . In addition to the six pilot action researchers , this summer , 26 members of our faculty enrolled in one or more of our new professional development opportunities and another 18 teachers participated in designing innovative curriculum projects , travel experiences , or professional association grants . TBI is helping Saint David ’ s bring a new level of professional focus and investment to our teachers ’ work . It stimulates collegial conversations and work about how best to teach and learn with boys in a way that is informed by our mission , best practices in the field , and celebrated by the institution … and we have only just begun .
TBI will keep Saint David ’ s at the cutting-edge in educating boys , positioning the school as a leader in boys ’ education in New York City and beyond . It will seamlessly and permanently embed best practices ( informed by research ) into our professional development framework . It will create an environment informed by and expressly designed for the way our boys think , absorb information , and behave . Our teachers , by engaging in Action Research and using the Professional Wiki , will bring results to the classroom that can be implemented immediately and shared with fellow faculty .
TBI will also help us inspire existing faculty , and attract and retain top teaching talent , with comprehensive , mission- and research-focused professional development and support provided by permanently funded instructional coaches . The Action- Research program will apply innovative pedagogy to the academic challenges uniquely facing boys ( e . g . Harvard ’ s Project Zero , Reichert and Hawley ’ s work with the International Boys ’ Schools Coalition ( IBSC ) and John Hattie ’ s “ Visible Learning ” meta analysis ). We will further engage parents , along with faculty and staff , via visiting scholars and speakers who will speak and work with us on a wide range of pertinent topics including education , parenting , teaching , social-emotional development , and overall health and well-being of our boys . Inspired by our mission , TBI is pushing Saint David ’ s forward , confidently , into the future . •
1 . Alan Beck ( 1970 ) What Is a Boy ? Buzza Cordoza , MA .
Stage 2 Teacher and coach determine where the students are in relation to the learning targets that are derived from the goal .
Stage 3 Teacher and coach implement instruction and then modify it when students aren ’ t meeting the learning targets .
Diane Sweeney
David O ’ Halloran , Ph . D ., is Headmaster of Saint David ’ s School .
14 • Saint David ’ s Magazine