Content Category: Lead Literacy
Results
Coaching Minute: Creating Conversations to Anchor Professional Relationships
Instructional coach Jen Court takes advantage of the early days of a school year to be present with classroom teachers and create conversations that begin to anchor meaningful professional relationships.
Remaining Connected as a Coach
It happens every time I walk into a primary classroom in January until the end of the year. No matter what my purpose for being there is—co-teaching, observing, micro-modeling or...
Coaching Minute: Set-Up Coaching Plans
Tara Barnett and Kate Mills share an important first step for instructional coaches to help teachers feel invited into the coaching relationship: Make shared coaching plans.
Coaching Toward Independence: Using an Instructional Framework to Guide a Principal-Teacher Conversation
One mistake leaders can make when coaching teachers is to give advice. For instance, we see an opportunity to make a suggestion during an observation. Yet this “opportunity” also takes...
Coaching Minute: Welcoming Students as an Instructional Coach
David Pittman reflects on ways instructional coaches can help create an atmosphere of belonging for students.
How to Respond When Books and Curriculum Resources Are Challenged
In the past few months, many literacy leaders have been facing challenges from parents or community members related to classroom library books, school library books, and supplemental materials that support...
Changing Positions? How to Rethink Your Community (Download)
“How are you?” I asked the teacher as I walked into the hallway where she was looking at art on the wall. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’m switching to...
Reshaping Personal Narratives with Awareness, Reflection, and Support
People do not reconsider what they mindlessly accepted as true. — Ellen Langer At the age of 45, I was given a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was a...
Five Books to Launch Discussion About the Coaching Role
The role of an instructional coach is complex, varied, and responsive to the teachers and students within a single building. Each position can look drastically different from the next, and...
Ridiculously Amazing Schools
How does your school improvement team focus their work for the coming school year? In the past few years the school improvement team at my school has used a book...
Transcripts as a Coaching Tool
The Background Mindy is a first-year, third-grade teacher. I am her literacy instructional coach. This article is the story of a time when Mindy experienced a common problem of practice...
Leading Literacy: What to Expect the First 5+ Years
One of the most popular books for soon-to-be parents is What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It is a week-by-week guide for tracking your pregnancy and other helpful information. I...
Books for Literacy Leaders
Not long ago, I attended a training that started with a familiar icebreaker. “Go around the room,” the presenter told us, “and say your name, your job title, and something...
Professional Books that Make an Impact
Without taking the time to fine-tune your skills, your efforts will be built on a foundation that is bound to crumble once it is put to the test. —Quincy Jones...
A PLC Idea: Planning Scaffolds for Upcoming Units of Study
As classroom teachers, we loved being thoughtful about the charts we authored with our students. Rather than relying on premade charts, we built the unit as it progressed, relying on...
Combating Leadership Loneliness
Several years ago when the literacy coordinator position opened up in my district, I decided to apply. I had been an interventionist/coach for seven years, and although I loved the...
Professional Learning Accountability Partners
I have a friend Julie. We have known each other for nearly 15 years. We have worked together in two different buildings, collaborating easily together, finding a groove quickly, and...
Five Books to End the Year Coaching Strong
Instructional coaches have many tools in their coaching toolboxes to support teacher learning and reflection: sticky notes, chart paper, anchor charts, conversational protocols, templates, and more. But my favorite coaching...
Research and Learn
Matt reached out to me regarding his third-grade writers as they were about to launch into their informational writing unit. After we administered an on-demand assessment and reviewed the data,...
Mini (But Mighty) Ways to Connect with Teachers
Communication, the human connection, is the key to personal and career success. —Paul J. Meyer Maintaining consistent contact and connection with teachers is essential for a strong relationship between teachers...
Coaching Connections: Morning Rounds
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.” This phrase strikes fear into my coaching heart. It means that I need to make more of an effort to...
