Content Category: Lead Literacy
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Coaching Minute: 3/3/3 PD
How can you be sure texts used in professional development become anchors for learning beyond the moment they are read? Jean Russell recommends the 3/3/3 method for reading and reflection...
Creating Coaching Visions
I have always been a should have kind of person. You know, the kind of person who overthinks everything and spends far too much time thinking about what I should...
Making Time for Reflection
One of the first things I noticed when I began to work with our 14 elementary literacy coaches was the harried pace they kept. They were asked to do a...
Beyond a Checklist for Teaching and Leading
If I had a dime for every time I’ve felt like a fraud in the literacy world, I’d be rich. I’d still feel like a fraud, but at least I’d...
The 70% Rule
When practicing T’ai Chi, doing too much is the same as doing too little. Master Wong Chung-yua As I have progressed solidly into my 40s, my choices of physical...
Coaching Minute: Using Quotes to Read the Room
Literacy coach Jean Russell explains how she uses quotes at the start of a professional development session to read the room and launch conversations about a topic. Here are two...
Brain Dumps for Clarity in Coaching
I stepped into the room and was immediately reluctant to interrupt the controlled chaos before me. Diane was buzzing about the room. She cleaned up student work at one table,...
Coaching Minute: Using Quotes to Explore Beliefs
Jean Russell shares how literacy coaches can use quotes in professional development sessions to explore teachers' beliefs and identities. Here are two of Jean's favorite quotes to display when exploring...
Student Files
“I don’t look at student cumulative files,” the teacher said to me. “I want every student to walk into my room with a fresh start.” I stared at her dumbly....
The Toll of Constant Interruptions
Not long ago, a teacher marched into my office, closed the door, and sat down. She covered her face with her hands. I was taken aback. She was one of...
Word Count Counts
Bob was planning a literature circle cycle for his third graders. It was the second quarter of the school year. He thought that 10 weeks of small-group lessons and interactive...
Portfolios for the Coachee
I haven't always liked my note-taking system. It’s always changing, and I'm always moving from one notebook to another. I am continuously searching for different ways to capture my thoughts,...
Read Alouds for Big Kids
My parents had four children in a relatively short period of time. They valued reading and did some reading aloud to us, but by the time we were in elementary...
Newcomers and Read Aloud Time
I knew it was going to be a great day of learning, discovery, and reflection when I was invited to do an observation in a classroom. This time, I was...
Environmental Walks: A Snapshot of a Literacy Culture
In spring, I facilitate a number of parent tours of the school. These building tours are for incoming students who are either new to the district because of open enrollment...
Starting with Consensus
The people must have ownership in the vision. They need to be enabled to accomplish it. If there is one investment you should make, it is in people. ...
Unleveling Classroom Libraries
Over the last two school years, we’ve followed the buzz around the dangers of a leveled classroom library. We’ve read articles and tweets, listened to podcasts, and talked to our...
Coaching Minute: Advice for New Coaches
In this quick video, Cathy Mere shares some advice for new coaches.
Integrating PD into the School Calendar
I made my way around the room, watching staff members slowly and quietly go out the door, noticing a few others hastily catching up on parent emails or commenting on...
Mentor Texts for Teachers: Home Is a Place to Begin
Whether it is a grade-level data team, a staff meeting, a special-interest PLC, a session in a conference or EdCamp, or even a deeper dive into writing, I look for...
5 Reasons to Read Grown-Up Books
I got an email containing an update from Rita’s Goodreads account. She had just finished reading Shouting at the Rain. She loved it and gave it a five-star rating. Rita...
