TEACHING WITH
THE INSTRUCTIONAL
Cha-Chas
4 Steps to Make Learning Stick
Foreword by Rick Wormeli
LEANN NICKELSEN & MELISSA DICKSON
Copyright © 2019 by Solution Tree Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dickson, Melissa, author. | Nickelsen, LeAnn, author.
Title: Teaching with the instructional cha-chas : four steps to make learning stick / Melissa Dickson and LeAnn Nickelsen.
Description: Bloomington, Indiana : Solution Tree Press, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018023639 | ISBN 9781945349959 (perfect bound)
Subjects: LCSH: Teaching. | Lesson planning. | Learning, Psychology of. | Educational tests and measurements. | Academic achievement.
Classification: LCC LB1025.3 .D525 2019 | DDC 371.26/2--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018023639
Solution Tree
Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO
Edmund M. Ackerman, President
Solution Tree Press
President and Publisher: Douglas M. Rife
Editorial Director: Sarah Payne-Mills
Art Director: Rian Anderson
Managing Production Editor: Kendra Slayton
Senior Production Editor: Tonya Maddox Cupp
Senior Editor: Amy Rubenstein
Copy Editor: Ashante K. Thomas
Proofreader: Evie Madsen
Text and Cover Designer: Abigail Bowen
Editorial Assistant: Sarah Ludwig
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been written without the wonderful opportunity, encouragement, and examples from the Anne Arundel County School teachers and administrators in Maryland—Bobbi Pedrick, Martha Lehman, Pam Courson, Maureen Gerrity, Erin Belcher, Dina Miller, Marty McConnell, Sue Wilson, Beth Harpel, and Jessica Haynie, and all the amazing SERTs. We have been working with the K–12 teachers to incorporate the instructional cha-chas since 2009. The results are astounding. Thank you to all the other schools that have taken the instructional cha-chas challenge to close their gaps. Thank you for dancing with us, trying the strategies, and sharing your success stories and frustrations on this amazing journey that leads to powerful learning. We aren’t finished yet; the song is still playing.
Thank you to Douglas Rife and Claudia Wheatley for inspiring us to write this book. Thank you to our amazing editors, Amy Rubenstein and Tonya Cupp. You are absolutely gifted with the big picture, organization, word choice, idea meshing, details, and how to handle two traveling authors and presenters! Thank you also to Ashante K. Thomas and Evie Madsen, as well as the rest of the Solution Tree staff who made this book outstanding. Behind a great book are many authors and contributors!
Thank you to the following coaches, educators, and friends who have formed what we know and how we teach, coach, and live life: Eric Jensen, Rick Wormeli, Diane Heacox, Richard Cash, Katie McKnight, Ron Coniglio, Betty Hollas, Jim Grant (we miss you), Lynne Ecenberger, Kim Geddie, Linda Allen, Cheryl Dick, Bryan Harris, Shauna King, Jenny Severson, Tracie Steel, Eric Larison, Jim Ewing, Laura Smith, Sharon McClelland, Melinda Donnellan (and the Conroe Independent School District literacy coaches), Kathy Clark, Melodye Pinson, Mary Donohoe, and Pam Guthrie. Many thanks to the team of people at Staff Development for Educators (SDE), who got us started on our presenting journey. A special thank-you goes to Dr. Bryan Harris for assisting with the research. A special thank-you goes to Dr. Eric Jensen, who gave me the opportunity to write and learn with him for the past twenty years. Invaluable!
Other districts we want to thank for being on the instructional cha-chas journey long term include Lansing, Michigan, schools, Lorris Elementary (Myrtle Beach), Maryvale Public Schools (New York), Olathe Public Schools (Kansas), Pittsfield Public Schools (Massachusetts), Riverton and Green River schools (Wyoming), Westlawn Elementary School and Theron Jones Elementary School (Texarkana), Vero Beach Elementary (Florida), Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School (Los Angeles), Reo and Cavanaugh Elementary (Lansing, Michigan), Phoenix Academy (Annapolis, MD) and many more.
—LeAnn and Melissa
Thank you Joel, my BFF and twenty-six-year love of my life, for always supporting my passion to teach and train. I could not keep up with everything without your help, love, and patience! Keaton and Aubrey, my college kiddos, thank you for sharing with me what you love about your teachers and daily learning experiences. You have taught me more than you know. I’m blessed! Thank you Mom for encouraging me to become a teacher and showing me that my belief in my students will show in their achievement. Last and most, I thank my Lord, who gives me daily strength and power.
—LeAnn
Special thanks to my sons, Josh, Shane, and Drew (who I miss every day). You three formed my philosophy as to why we must differentiate. When facing life’s challenges, I hope you dance. Mom and Dad, my first and best teachers. Leading by example, you taught me everything worth knowing. Brett, the best brother in the world. You keep me dancing and laughing. Rock on!
—Melissa
Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:
Ashley Bingenheimer
Technology Integration Specialist
School District of River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin
Jeanette Brosam
Instructional Coach
Franklin STEAM Academy
Champaign, Illinois
Angie Evans
Learning Coach
Red