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Guiding Teachers

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Connecting with the Goals of the School Community

Teacher Educators Teach | Suzy Kaback shares details to help students connect with a school community. In this article full of templates and student examples, she taps the power of listening walks and empathy interviews.

What I Learned About Having a Difficult Conversation

Hannah Tills writes an authentic reflection of a difficult coaching conversation that did not go well. In this must-read for all leaders who have wished a conversation had gone differently, Hannah shares reminders of how to approach the tough conversations so they will be effective.

Navigating Bias and Assumptions in Literacy Coaching

Matt Renwick helps literacy coaches and leaders recognize and navigate their assumptions and biases when working with teachers. He provides a helpful checklist as a practical place to begin.

The Tension of Perfect Conventions

Everyone knows that writing is a superb strategy to help students learn new information. However, what happens when the conventions are less than stellar in student writing? Ruth Ayres offers advice for how coaches and literacy leaders can navigate the tension of conventions with teachers.

Book Rationales for Building Trust and Guiding Decision-Making

Matt Renwick shares a wise and helpful response when a teacher is looking for support for using a text with mature content in her classroom. Learn about book rationales, how to find them, and how to create one of your own with ChatGPT. More importantly, consider how to engage in conversations rather than offer blanket mandates about whether a book is allowed in classrooms.

Slide Decking: Getting Writing Started

Getting writing started is often the biggest challenge for writers of all ages and experiences. Suzy Kaback offers a process called slide decking with her in-service teacher colleagues as a way to plan the content of an essay or article.

Seven Simple Steps to Happier Teachers

Joanne Emery offers seven simple ideas to help teachers feel seen, heard, and valued. Classrooms are more joyful and engaging when teachers are uplifted and refueled.

Scaffolding: The Key to Tackling Big Projects

Inspired by remodeling an old staircase, Mary Brower is reminded of the power of scaffolding. When planning professional learning, Mary guides us in ways to approach big challenges with a sense of structure and order.

Overcoming the Blame Game

Ruth Ayres and Becca Burk consider the nuances of the aftermath when dysregulation happens and how members of a school community can avoid blaming one another for the situation and instead work together.

Using Metaphors and Analogies to Help Educators Shift Their Thinking and Change Their Practices

Matt Renwick shares the power of using metaphors and analogies during coaching conversations.

Ways to Support Colleagues Part 2

Ruth Ayres and Becca Burk share ways to strengthen our teamwork and help lower the stress levels of adults in the school when students exhibit dysregulated behaviors. This is the second installment of a two-part series.

It’s All in the Delivery

Mary Brower offers ideas to set the stage for professional learning to reduce stress and anxiety for participants.

Ways to Support Colleagues, Part 1

Ruth Ayres and Becca Burk share ways to strengthen our teamwork and help lower the stress levels of adults in the school when students exhibit dysregulated behaviors. This is the first installment of a two-part series.

Small Wins

Gwen Blumberg shares the struggle that since the pandemic fewer people are showing up for professional learning meetings. She helps us flip the potential negativity by encouraging us to look for small wins. Small wins are a simple way to bring joy to your work and the work of others—and that is in fact a very BIG thing.

Teacher and Coach, Side by Side: Affirmations for Leaders in Maintaining a Supportive Presence

Heather Fisher helps her father create a pizza pie in his new outdoor pizza oven. Through trial and perseverance, they finally taste success. Heather connects this experience to the importance of encouragement and presence as instructional coaches.

Are Norms the Problem? Part 1

Ruth Ayres shares the details of developing and using norms in intentional and meaningful ways. This is the first of three installments in a series about norms.

Multiplier Mindset

Brian Sepe guides us in a reflective practice activity to help strengthen our mindsets as leaders who multiply and grow the intelligence of those around them. This article was inspired by Liz Wiseman’s book Multipliers.

It All Counts: Getting to Know Your Teacher Candidates

Teacher Educators Teach | Suzy Kaback shares ways professors can get to know teacher candidates, as well as the research behind mattering and the important connection to building relationships as educators.

A Necessary Survey for Your School Community

Ruth Ayres and Becca Burk share a necessary survey for your school community to begin engaging in conversations about managing emotional dysregulation in students. Drawing on their extensive experiences with managing emotional dysregulation as foster parents and educators, they make a case for beginning conversations among your faculty with this simple survey.

Off the Hook: How to Engage with and Reframe Our Obstacles to Reduce Anxiety and Stress

Obstacles are a part of literacy leadership. Matt Renwick offers three steps to reframe our obstacles to reduce anxiety and stress.

Lifting Teachers by Lifting a Teacher

Mary Brower shares a process to uplift teacher voices in professional learning. The effort is small, but the payoff is astronomical!

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