Content Category: Lead Literacy
Results
Coaching Minute: Building Rapport with Teachers
Principal Lee Snider talks about how he built rapport with teachers when he was new to the role of principal in the building.
Professional Renewal: Facilitating Change Within Ourselves
One of our friends recently shared that her family wanted to go plastic-free in her household. Naturally, I had lots of questions about how they would accomplish this. “How will...
How Am I Doing? One Principal’s Experience with Feedback
In the past, I would ask only for ratings from teachers on my performance. No room for comments. To be honest, I was afraid of character assassination. So for three...
Special Education and Classroom Teacher Meeting
Special education teacher Julianne Houser and fourth-grade teacher Heidi discuss how they can work together to support specific students, assessing needs and strategies to meet them.
Literacy, Phys Ed, and Workshops Across the Curriculum
This past spring, I had the rare chance to hire a physical education teacher. As most principals know, this opportunity doesn’t come along often; most schools have one P.E. teacher,...
Field Notes: Where’s My Language?
West Noble Elementary School has a dual-language program. Some students spend equal amounts of time in Spanish-speaking classrooms and English-speaking classrooms. Half of the class is made up of native...
Forces of Nature
Image from Force of Nature the earth spinning in orbit With precision, speed, and grace Mother Nature has her grip upon it un-balancing the forces in the vast open...
Demonstration Small Group: Novels in Verse
Tammy Mulligan leads a demonstration small group with sixth graders who are reading novels in verse.
A Heart for Coaching
Friends and colleagues often ask if I miss working in the classroom. My first answer is always “Yes. I will always miss the classroom because my heart is there.” Most...
Hard Topics in Reading
Using books with dark themes or settings in the classroom can give students the language to express their emotions, models for how to discuss and engage on these topics with...
From Observations to Questions
What an honor it is to be invited into a classroom. I’m always reminded that it is a privilege. When teachers invite me to observe an English learner in their...
Coaching Minute: Collaborating with Principals
Literacy coach Jen Court explains how she collaborates with principals.
Using Supplies to Inspire
I waited anxiously at the kidney-shaped table for my mentor’s arrival. Thoughts about the upcoming school year—different grade level, new staff—had me all worked up. As she entered the room,...
Coaching Minute: Leveraging a Calendar for Leadership
Jean Russell explains how a simple trick with a coaching calendar can build in more time and expectations for leadership growth.
You Don’t Write? No Worries
“You don’t have to write to teach writers,” the literacy coach said pointedly as we planned to lead a session on using mentor texts to support writers in our classrooms....
Field Notes: When a Coach Models in a Classroom
Jennifer Court is a longtime literacy coach at Aboite Elementary, and she is a favorite host for monthly Think Tanks, meetings for instructional coaches from schools across northern Indiana. Jen...
When There’s No Time for Debriefing
A new coaching cycle focused on conferring and small groups in reading workshop was starting, and Kate had asked teachers to sign up for a debrief time slot so that...
A Little Bit of Clarity
I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better. Maya Angelou I was seated at an appointment desk to be fitted...
It’s Not You, It’s Me
My boyfriend and I both like to run. We both like the physical challenge of running, and we both love the mental headspace it gives us. We’re both runners, so...
Smile File
Smiling makes people feel good and positive, conveying a sense of goodwill, rapport and trust. Dr. T. P. Chia "Everyone needs a smile file!" I heard the radio deejay...
Coaching Debrief: Author Styles Minilesson
Jen Court debriefs with second-grade teacher Logan about the author's minilesson and how it fits into their instructional plans. The original lesson is available at this link.
