TC NEWS
WINTER 2014, Issue 2
Diverse Voices, Thoughtful Choices
www.thinkingcollaborative.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Global Conference
in Kuala
Lumpur,
Malaysia p.1
p.1
TC GlobalTC
Conference
in Kuala
Lumpur,
Malaysia
What’s New with Thinking Collaborative p.2
What’s
with Thinking
Collaborative
p.2
NewNew
Adaptive
Schools
Trainers p.2
Paraphrasing
Changes p.3
New Cognitive
CoachingSM
SM Trainers p.3
New Cognitive Coaching Trainers p.3
Dear Thinking
Collaborative
Dear Thinking
Collaborative p.4
p.4
Summer Institute for Thinking Collaborative Calendar p.5
Summer Institute for Thinking Collaborative Calendar p.5
Paraphrasing Changes p.3
Global Conference in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Thinking Collaborative offered a Global
stalls set up around the school swimming
Thought.” Breakout sessions continued the
Conference
pool.
previous day’s topics, and also included a
in
Kuala
Lumpur,
Malaysia, hosted by the beautiful
International School of Kuala Lumpur
(ISKL) on April 11 - 13, 2014.
Organizers Ochan and Bill Powell
welcomed
123
participants
from
Malaysia, Thailand, China, Denmark,
Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore,
Day 2 began with a plenary session by Bill
and Ochan on Organizational IQ, followed
by a morning breakout session introducing
Cognitive CoachingSM. Michael and Jane
offered an intro to Adaptive Schools, while
Bruce Wellman took participants deep into
trainers meeting for Adaptive Schools Agency
Trainers led by Michael. Jane presented
“Balancing Inquiry and Advocacy,” and Gavin
was joined by Lucy Fisher in a session entitled
“Their Success is My Success: Three Set
Asides for Transformational Conversations.”
paraphrasing in his breakout session. Bob
Michael and Jane facilitated a Group
offered a session on “Improving Teacher
Reflection
Collaboration,” while Gavin Grift lead a
Conversation Map in a Mix-Freeze-Pair
Executive Co-Directors Jane Ellison
group on “Teachers as Architects of
format to organize and integrate learnings
and Michael Dolcemascolo welcomed
Learning.” Michael lead a breakout group
from the conference.
participants on behalf of Thinking
through
Collaborative,
conducted
Qatar, India, Indonesia and Cambodia
to the event.
inclusion
and
activity
facilitated
called
an
“Focusing
a
Four,”
meeting
with
and
Jane
Cognitive
“Sweet
CoachingSM Agency Trainers. The day ended
Stories.” Bob Garmston offered the first
with a Reflective Plenary facilitated by Bill
plenary session on “Fostering Student
and Ochan.
Resilience,” followed by a social hour
in which local delicacies were served at
Day 3 started with a plenary session by
Bruce entitled “Creating Communities of
using
the
CC
Reflecting
Participant response was overwhelmingly
positive and appreciative, as was that of the
trainers. The TC Global Conference was
celebrated as one of the most successful
professional learning opportunities in ISKL’s
history.
2
TC News
New Adaptive
School Trainers
Training Associates
Jenny Cuneen
John Kovach
Ron Lott
What’s New with Thinking Collaborative?
Transformative Talk, a new
Cognitive Coaching resource
edited by Gavin Grift is now
available in the Australian
version and will soon be
published in an American
version by Rowman-Littlefield.
This is a wonderful resource
offering specific applications of
Cognitive Coaching in multiple
settings. Some of the offerings
include:
John Matich
Steve Seward
Carrie Usui
Agency Trainers
April Cage
Working in urban settings;
supporting
new
teachers;
connecting to the Canadian
leadership framework; using the
tools of pause, paraphrase, pose
questions;
and
systems
implementation.
Two new other books are in
process and will be available
in 2015.
A new Cognitive Coaching
book, the Third Edition, is in
process
and
will
be
published by Rowman and
Litttlefield in 2015.
New
topics include:
Calibrating Conversations
Updates on brain research and
Cognitive Coaching
What is an agile organization?
Expansion of thinking on
identity as a mediator
Enhanced thinking on the
States of Mind
Updates on trust research
What is an agile organization?
Tracy Daniels
Kristin Drury
Juanita Henry
Tracy Hensel
Shannon King
In addition to the Third Edition
of Cognitive Coaching, the
Adaptive Schools book will be
updated in the coming year.
New topics include:
Professional communities and
social capital
Navigating conflict in schools
Kristie Krier
Tina Lane
Pat Mullikin
Christie Taylor
Candy Thomas
Facilitating groups when the
facilitator is a member
Refining models and tools for
change
Distinguishing and working with
technical and adaptive
changes
TC News
3
New Cognitive
CoachingSM Trainers
Paraphrasing Changes
For those of you who have been coaching and using the norms of
collaboration for some time, you might be interested in some changes
that are being made in the Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar®
TRAINING ASSOCIATES
Juanita Henry
and in the Norms of Collaboration. After a great deal of thinking,
dialoguing, and refining, we are replacing the old language of
Sonya Mackenzie
Acknowledge and Clarify, Summarize and Organize, Shift Level of
Pat Mullikin
Abstraction with new language which we believe is more active,
precise, and easier to remember. Since all paraphrases clarify, we are
eliminating that word in the “mirror” paraphrase and just using
“acknowledging.” While we use nonverbals like head-nodding to
acknowledge,
this
type
of
paraphrase
provides
a
verbal
acknowledgement that I am listening and trying to understand your
meaning. The second paraphrase, the “container paraphrase” is now
the “organizing paraphrase.” We eliminated the word, “summarize,”
since all paraphrases are summaries of what was heard. Finally, we
are changing the “escalator” paraphrase to a “ladder paraphrase”
named the “abstracting paraphrase,” suggesting we move up and
down a ladder of abstraction. So as you think about using a variety of
paraphrases in your coaching conversations, the new key words are
acknowledging, organizing, and abstracting and the symbols
are the mirror, containers, and a ladder.
Agency Trainers
Courtney Bitar
Amanda Roberts
Paula Weninger
4
TC News
Help Column
Dear Thinking Collaborative,
I have embraced some changes in my identity as a mediator and collaborator
and inquirer as a result of taking the Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools
Seminars. However, the people I work with still seem to want me to give answers
when they come to me and I am uncertain how to be helpful, given this expectation.
I feel like my credibility is on the line.
Thanks for your help,
Conflicted
Dear Conflicted,
This is a common feeling we hear from those who have attended our seminars.
We attribute it to the shift in identity. Identity is socially constructed, so
because you change does not mean others are ready or willing to change. One
suggestion is to start small with a few people with whom you feel safe and trusted.
Being explicit about your intentions and efforts will assist them in understanding
ways you are thinking differently about how you work and who you are.
As you experience success in small settings with new behaviors, begin to
consider other settings where you might apply them. Go slow to go fast. This may
mean intentionally paraphrasing in a meeting, crafting a mediative question for a
hallway conversation, or just holding back on giving a suggestion when you would
normally do so.
Identity change takes time as your current identity has been formed over many
years. You need to feel comfortable trying on new ways of being; you are taking
risks in changing identity. Incremental steps with reflection are advisable.
Another consideration is finding a person who is able to support you with
conversations and shared efforts. These new identities are destinations that
require long journeys. We hope you will embrace the road ahead.
Good wishes as you traverse new pathways,
Thinking Collaborative
TC News
5
Summer Institute for Thinking Collaborative
We have revised the way that we are delivering content for the Lake Tahoe summer experience to
include the following:

Advanced Adaptive Schools Seminar

Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar


7 Norms of Collaboration Modules
Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar®, Part 1
This revision allows your district to send a team with differentiated needs to one location where they
can learn together and separately depending on their needs. This will support systems integration
and opportunities to collaborate across teams regarding the varied resources offered by Thinking
Collaborative. Please go to www.thinkingcollaborative.com for more specific information.
Mark Your Calendars
Thinking Collaborative Leadership Network Symposium and
Trainers’ Meetings:
January 27 – 29, 2015
Symposium: Diverse Voices, Thoughtful Choices: Thinking Collaborative
 Cognitive CoachingSM Trainers’ Meeting – January 27, 2015

Social Gathering and Cash Bar (Symposium Participants) – January 27, 2015

Symposium 2015 – January 28, 2015

Adaptive Schools Trainers’ Meeting – January 29, 2015
Advanced Adaptive School Seminar, Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar, "Going Deeper"
Modules: Seven Norms: July 20-24, 2014, Lake Tahoe, CA
Advanced Cognitive CoachingSM: Locations in Italy, Texas (Moore locations will be announced). See the
website for specifics on dates for each location.
Presenters’ Forum: September 30 – October 2, 2015 Denver, Colorado
**This is required for authorization as a Training Associate