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Books of 2020

Matthew Krohne

Here are the books I read this year, listed in order of completion: Take Heart: Christian Courage in the Age of Unbelief (Matt Chandler with David Roark) A Complicated Pregnancy: Whether Mary was a Virgin and Why It Matters (Kyle Roberts) Food As Medicine Everyday: Reclaim Your Health With Whole Goods (Julie Briley, ND & Courtney Jackson, ND) Minimalism for Families: Practical Minimalist Living Strategies to Simplify Your Home and Life (Zoe Kim) Coronavirus and Christ (John Piper) I am not a social activist: Making Jesus the agenda (Ronald J. Sider) The New City Catechism Devotional: God’s Truth for Our … Continue reading Books of 2020

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Leadership Matters

Matthew Krohne

Two weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were down 24-0 to the Houston Texans in their first playoff game (the AFC Divisional Round). Down by 24, they came back (taking the lead before half-time), scored 41 unanswered (seven straight touchdown drives), and became the first team in NFL postseason history to win a game by 20 points after being down by 20. Last week, the Chiefs again found themselves trailing. Down 17-7 to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game, they scored 28 straight to win the AFC Championship Game. The victory earned the team the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named … Continue reading Leadership Matters

Professional DevelopmentLeave a comment

Books of 2019

Matthew Krohne

I completed 19 books in 2019. One more book than the 18 in 2018. Here they are, listed in order of completion: The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World? (Ronald J. Sider) Dog Songs: Thirty-five Dog Songs and One Essay (Mary Oliver) Small Animals: Parenthood in the age of fear (Kim Brooks) Where I End: A story of tragedy, truth, and rebellious hope (Katherine Elizabeth Clark) Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms (Hannah Fry) Packing Light: Thoughts on living life with less baggage (Allison Vesterfelt) My Father’s … Continue reading Books of 2019

Innovation and Learning, LeadershipLeave a comment

Coaching Series: The Impact of Student-Centered Coaching

Matthew Krohne

The last two months I have partnered with our Innovation and Learning Coach in a Student-Centered Coaching Cycle. Through a series of blog posts, I have documented my goal to build efficacy, why I am working with a coach, and roadblocks to coaching. I’ve really enjoyed the work of the coaching cycle (a student-focused goal, connected conversations, partnership in the classroom, and student evidence) as well as the support of our coach, Dawn Shannon. The focus, research, and reflection has driven me to deeper thinking. During the process, however, I found myself unsure of the impact I’ve had on learner efficacy. … Continue reading Coaching Series: The Impact of Student-Centered Coaching

Innovation and Learning, LeadershipLeave a comment

Coaching Series: Roadblocks to Coaching

Matthew Krohne

I have identified four roadblocks to a coaching cycle: 1. Knowledge Many may choose to not work with a coach if they are unsure of what the partnership will look like. It’s a fear of the unknown. Even though knowledge can work against a coaching cycle, it can work for a coaching cycle. As a former instructional coach, I know what to expect out of a coaching cycle. And I know of the power in the partnership. Regardless of your knowledge level, the best way to learn about (or from) coaching is by working with a coach. A good coach … Continue reading Coaching Series: Roadblocks to Coaching

Innovation and Learning, LeadershipLeave a comment

Coaching Series: 5 Reasons to work with a Coach

Matthew Krohne

There are five reasons I’ve chosen to partner with our Innovation and Learning Coach to be in a formal student-centered coaching cycle: 1. For Improvement Coaching is for everyone. Even the best athletes in the world are coached. An effective coach challenges, supports, pushes, and encourages. I am looking to improve my impact as an administrator. 2. To have a Thought Partner Others can help us focus, define, and evaluate our work. Collaboration improves the quality of our work because we are better together. I will benefit greatly from having a thought partner in my effort to impact learner efficacy. … Continue reading Coaching Series: 5 Reasons to work with a Coach

Innovation and Learning, LeadershipLeave a comment

Coaching Series: Administrator Coaching Cycle

Matthew Krohne

I am partnering with our Innovation and Learning Coach to help me understand how to build collective teacher efficacy. John Hattie has found teacher efficacy to have an effect size of 1.57 on learning. My goal in this work is that through building collective teacher efficacy, we will increase learner-efficacy with our students. 60% of our school’s third, fourth, and fifth graders responded favorably to the Self-Efficacy questions on the Panorama Social-Emotional Learning: Student Competency Measures survey in Spring 2019. I look forward to seeing the impact this work will have on how much students believe they can succeed in … Continue reading Coaching Series: Administrator Coaching Cycle

Innovation and Learning, Professional Development1 Comment

Books of 2018

Matthew Krohne

My goal for this year was to read 12 books. Fittingly, I’m ending 2018 having completely read 18. *Not included in this list are the children’s books I’ve read (over and over and over and over…) to our children. Here are the 18 books I read in ’18, listed in order of completion: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (J.D. Vance) The Rooster Bar (John Grisham) Justice Calling: Live, Love, Show Copmassion, Be Changed (Palmer Chinchen) Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen (Donald Miller) Class Mom: A Novel (Laurie Gelman) Potty … Continue reading Books of 2018

Climate and Culture, Innovation and Learning, TechnologyLeave a comment

Classroom Highlights: Hatching the BEST Chicks

Matthew Krohne

Our BEST (Building Essential Skills Together) Special Education classroom at Liberty Oaks hatched chicks. Beyond bringing cute little chicks into our school, this was a such positive experience for a variety of reasons. Learning was real-world and hands-on. Students experienced how chicks hatch from eggs, what conditions are necessary for maintaining baby chicks, and how to care for them. The eggs/chicks were streamed online (using USTREAM‘s free Pro Broadcasting 30-day Trial) so that families could participate at home. Students were encouraged to share about the hatching/learning with their families and provided a connection between school and home. Classrooms were invited and many … Continue reading Classroom Highlights: Hatching the BEST Chicks