Jen Court

 Partnering Phonics and Poetry

Jen Court gets creative with using materials for more than one skill to layer in additional phonics instruction and practice. Jen provides a guide to think critically about reusing resources throughout the day and across content areas. Download the Planning Tool for Phonics Lessons.

Let’s Write Together: The Importance of Class Books

Jen Court considers whether creating class books is a valuable use of time for today’s young students. As she teases out this question, she realizes class books are a relevant and essential instructional strategy.

Young Author Celebrations

Jennifer Court shares the celebrations that propel students to engage in the Young Authors Program.

Tools to Support Our Youngest Readers

Literacy Toolkits

Inspired by toolkits with math manipulatives, Jen Court created literacy toolkits with the help of her first-grade students. These toolkits grow and change across the year and according to student needs, and they help students “touch their thinking” and become more independent readers and writers.

Read Aloud Magic

Jen Court reminds us of the power of reading aloud to students and pushes us to remember the importance of planning to use books to engage students and hone teaching points.

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.

What I Am Reading the First Week of School

Jen Court plans to fill the first days of first grade with experiences around books. Selecting books carefully to create a sense of community in the classroom from the very beginning is the goal of this first-week booklist.

 Ridiculously Amazing Schools

Jen Court shares how the staff book study of Ridiculously Amazing Schools by Tracey Smith and Jeff Waller transformed their ability as a staff to engage and build meaningful relationships.

Professional Learning Accountability Partners

Jen Court offers a strategic way to create and support professional learning accountability partners in schools.

Using Photographs for Coaching Conversations

Jen Court shares ways in which she uses photos to support conversations to help teachers achieve their instructional goals.

Crafting Coaching Conversations 

Jen Court strategizes how to craft coaching conversations that will be meaningful and action oriented. She shares questions instructional coaches can use to mold conversations.

Write Like Nancy

Inspired by a stranger on a walk, Jen Court clarifies the importance of sharing our writing lives with others. She identifies three important qualities of a writing community.

Bite-Sized PD

Jen Court shares a “sweet” idea for practical and meaningful professional learning. Download a template to tailor professional learning for your school.

Ten Ways to Celebrate Writers

Jen Court gives 10 ways for students to share and celebrate their work as writers. Two downloads are included for you to use in your classroom.

Coaching Minute: Supporting New Coaches

Literacy coach Jen Court explains how she supports coaches who are just beginning their work.

Coaching Minute: Side by Side

Jen Court explains how she works side by side with teachers in this quick video.

Coaching Minute: Better Communication

Literacy coach Jen Court explains how she works to support better communication about literacy instruction in her school.

Coaching Minute: What About Reluctant Teachers?

Literacy coach Jen Court finds the best way to ease into a cycle with a reluctant teacher is to focus on the students and data. She also works to build a relationship with the teacher throughout the day.

Coaching Debrief: Interactive Read Aloud

Jen Court debriefs with a second-grade teacher about the interactive read aloud demonstration she just completed in his classroom, as well as how it fits into their instructional plans.

Interactive Read Aloud in Second Grade

Jen Court completes an interactive read aloud in a second-grade classroom.

Coaching Minute: Supporting New Teachers

Literacy coach Jen Court explains how she is supporting an influx of nine new teachers in her building this year.

Coaching Minute: Collaborating with Principals

Literacy coach Jen Court explains how she collaborates with principals.

Comparing Authors Minilesson

Jen Court uses text sets from three authors to help second graders ferret out different elements of the authors’ styles.

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.

Using Whiteboards Before Writer’s Notebooks

Jen Court shares the way whiteboards and conversation lifted pressure from student writers so they could create poetry.

Author Studies for Primary Students

Jen Court shares the benefits of an author or illustrator study and offers tips for getting started in primary grades.