Welcome to "Ask the Tech Coach," a podcast for Instructional Coaches and Technology Integration Specialists.

In this episode of “Ask the Tech Coach,” Jeff welcomes Instructional Specialist and author Miriam Plotinsky on the podcast to discuss …

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Question of the Week
Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week’s question is:

Question Topic: How can Caoches support high quality teaching in the classroom?
Weekly Topic

Why are teachers micromanaging their classrooms?

Whose fault is it?


I might be a micromanager if …
Is “non-hover” teaching the same as Flipping your Classroom?

Students can learn and take responsibility for their learning
Choice-based instruction


How do you shift the mindset in the classroom?
The importance of relationship building
Engagement vs Investment
What is Choice-Based Instruction?
Should teaching and learning be “hands-off”?

About our Guest: Miriam Plotinsky
Miriam Plotinsky is an author and instructional specialist who addresses challenges in both teaching and leading across schools with a wide range of differentiated needs. A strong advocate for student-centered learning, she provides coaching and professional development for teachers and administrators.

Her first book, Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom (W.W. Norton & Company, 2022), is a practical guide to a student-centered instructional approach that removes the necessity of teacher micromanagement.

Miriam is widely published in Education Week, Edutopia, ASCD Express, The Teaching Channel, EdSurge, K-12 Talk and Education World. She is also a National Board-Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision.
Links of Interest

Website: http://www.miriamplotinsky.com
Twitter: @MirPloMCPS

About the Book: Teach More, Hover Less
A hover-free classroom starts with a dynamic class community.

Our image of a classroom community in secondary education is rapidly evolving. The experience of remote learning during a pandemic has altered our mental picture of students occupying rows of desks with a teacher nearby, closely monitoring their activities. But even when teachers are able to be in physical proximity to their students, the research is clear that students need to be empowered to take ownership of their learning in order to be fully engaged. The question this book explores is: How can teachers step back, stop micromanaging, and allow students more agency?

In this engaging guide, instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky breaks hover-free teaching down into four sequential stages: mindset, deeper relationships, planning for engagement, and choice-based instruction. Her book shows how teachers can free themselves from helicopter habits and allow students greater control of their own learning, while still managing and maximizing classroom time effectively.

https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324019879
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