Article Content Type: Article
Results
A Small Group Coaching Cycle in Action
Success! That’s the word that comes to mind as I reflect on a recently wrapped up small group coaching cycle. This particular group consisted of two kindergarten teachers, both new...
Picture It: Demonstrating Observation Skills
Amanda Adrian (left) sits close by colleague Linda Karamatic during their introduction to reading workshop class for teachers. During the “show it” phase, Linda and Amanda alternate conferring with student...
Exploring Explanatory Moves Writers Use
There is a difference, subtle though it may be, between informational and explanatory writing. Let’s take a deeper look at the moves writers use to explain beyond merely explaining how...
Research Book Clubs for Struggling Readers
This past fall one of our fabulous learning support teachers and I were sitting on the carpet after school trying to think of a way to get a student we...
Why I Hate Homework
I hate homework. I hate it more now than I did when I was the one lugging textbooks and binders back and forth from school. The house my children are...
Something to Talk (and Write) About
Amy, a literacy coach, invited me to sit in on a first-grade team meeting. She had had a breakthrough with the group and wanted some input for next steps with...
Your Opinion Matters—Really
Sometimes I get sick of filling out surveys. Everyone wants feedback—the online store where I just shopped, my children’s school, the doctor’s office. The problem for me is that I...
Mentor Texts for “Versus” Stories
What is it that young writers find so appealing about versus stories? Last year my first-grade class loved versus stories. They went on a versus writing streak in writing workshop...
On the Same Team: Better Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences used to intimidate me as a young teacher. I was worried that I wouldn’t get my message across, remember to share everything I wanted, or know how to...
Time In/Time Out Conference: Ava
The Time In/Time Out Conference is a terrific way for coaches to maximize time and reflection in classrooms. Literacy Coach Ruth Ayres and Cathy Laker confer with Ava, a second...
Who’s the Audience for Demonstration Lessons?
Demonstration lessons are one of the most effective components of coaching, but the purpose of them is often unclear to participants. Many teachers share with us that initially they thought...
Exploring Themes in the Intermediate Grades
At a recent third-grade team meeting we unpacked Common Core Standard #2. We looked at the standard, asking ourselves what it means and how might we teach it: R.L....
The Art of the Book Talk
Book talks are a big part of our classroom and a critical part of our independent reading program. It is through book talks that I have created a frenzy over...
Creating Your Own Kindergarten Assessment
A dear friend’s kindergarten age son told me about his tearful bumpy bus ride to school. He confided, “I cry each day. The first day was okay, but I really...
Teaching the Genes
My twelve-year-old daughter, Lindsay, recently started using Pandora, a free Internet radio service, billed as “the Music Genome Project”, that allows listeners to customize playlists of songs by artist, song,...
Picture It: Objectives and the Coach
Setting and communicating clear objectives to students is essential. In his article “Objectives That Students Understand,” Robert J. Marzano points out that an ineffective use of objectives is “writing the...
Video and the Thoughtful Coach
Three years ago I began video-recording teachers during lessons. It seemed like a win-win. The teacher would reflect on what went well and what needed tweaking inside their lessons, and...
The Dangers of Overplanning
I am a planner and a list maker. I am the person who goes out jogging in the morning, sits down, makes my list, and writes “jogging” and crosses it...
The Worried Parent
Jackson’s parents came into my office one day in early November, right on time, and settled into the chairs across from me. From an earlier phone call, I knew they...
Clarity and Connection: The Language of Change
Effective leaders are able to articulate their most important ideas with clarity, and they use language that emotionally connects with their audience. Connection creates meaning, and change will not occur...
Creating a Master Schedule
As August approached each year, I was the teacher who began to think and plan for the coming school year. I watched the weekend ads for the latest sales and...
