Article Content Type: Article
Results
How Do You Show Up?
Let’s start with a quick exercise. Think about your own coaching work with colleagues or think about a coach you’ve partnered with recently. Using the matrix below, where would you...
Using Mathematics to Connect Home and School
A frequently asked question from families when we start the school year is “Is there any homework for your classroom?” I always encourage reading outside of the school day and...
Infusing Poetic Techniques in Our Writing
“'I tuck the kitten under my jacket and run out of the woods, across the street, down the sidewalk toward my house,’” I read, then pause to look up. “I...
Purposefully Plan PD to Support Transformational Change
Life is busy, especially in the midst of a school year. Sometimes the only time an educator sits still is for a professional learning meeting. Although they may be sitting...
Listening and Learning: Using Conferring to Better Understand What Students Are Thinking
Feedback is part of the teaching and learning cycle. We receive feedback from our students as we teach, using their feedback to adjust our instruction to best fit their needs....
Conferring Notebook Details
“Can I take a picture of that?” the observing teacher asked, pointing to my reading conferring notebook. I tried to hide my hesitation with a frozen grin and a nod....
What Should I Teach in a Writing Conference?
“Mrs. Barnett, want to see the letter I’m writing from Jonas?” Tripp calls out as I’m passing his table. “Definitely!” Tripp is writing a letter from the perspective of a...
Shopping in Your Own House: Searching Our Own Teaching Practice for New Ideas
Sometimes when you’re looking for an answer, you search everywhere else before you take a look at what’s right in front of you. —Dean Hughes While I was eating in...
Feedback Is Overrated: Focus First on Building Positive, Trusting Relationships
Go to any of the major educational publishers’ websites and enter “feedback” into the search bar. You will likely get dozens or even hundreds of books and other resources about...
Still Thinking: An Opportunity to Pause and Think Deeply
Critical thinking skills are essential across all subjects and content areas. As we learn additional information, our brains find a way to create a new schema or adapt prior knowledge....
How Many? Counting Opportunities in Picture Books
I was excited to read Shh! We Have a Plan during the first month of first grade. It’s a humorous story with beautiful illustrations, a little suspense, and a sweet...
The Power of an Anchor Chart in a Digital World
I have noticed a trend lately that anchor charts seem to be disappearing in classrooms. I see commercially printed posters on the walls outlining character traits or phonetic rules. Or...
Getting to Know Digital Learners: How Playing with Technology Helps Facilitate Our Identities as Learners
Recently Josie’s four-year-old granddaughter became fascinated with slime YouTube videos. We thought the request for these videos was simply a filler during her quiet time. However, she was taking note:...
Spoiler Alert: You Can Start Big to Go Small (Macbeth in One Class Period)
As the students walked into the classroom, I greeted them by handing each student a script: a 10-minute version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The students settled into their seats, and I...
Five Classroom Design Ideas for Supporting Readers and Writers with ADHD
Kids do well if they can. —Ross W. Greene In the world of literacy instruction, we talk a lot about literacy but maybe not enough about instruction. Specifically, I see a...
Listening for Conjectures
It was my second year of teaching fourth grade, and we were in the second week of the school year. The students were sitting in our meeting area where we...
Student Voices First
We have all been learning a lot about identities, meaningful representation, and creating classrooms of inclusion. I love this work, and it has opened up a world of ideas and...
Our Words Matter: Developing Perseverance in Literacy
Our words have weight from the first moment. “I don’t know how to draw me,” Mason says after I introduce our self-portrait project on the first day of kindergarten. Given...
Feedback Through Conversations: An Asset-Based Approach
We know the value of feedback and the importance of providing students with specific feedback to guide learning. When working with students, I am intentional in not only making my...
Using a Checklist for Powerful Post-Conferences
The new school year has started! You’ve connected with your teachers, created a schedule, organized your resources. As you begin to navigate your coaching cycles, it’s helpful to have a...
Routines That Normalize Mistakes
Lawrence slunk down in his seat, staring at his notebook. The rim of his eyes welled with just the faintest pooling of tears, and his knuckles gave away the telltale...
