Leaders Lounge

Lead Literacy Articles & Videos (formerly leadliteracy.com)

Our lounge is your home for exploring hundreds of articles and videos for literacy coaches and school leaders. Our contributors share their best advice for working one-on-one with teachers in coaching cycles, hosting professional development sessions, and designing demonstration lessons and study groups.

Search Leaders Lounge...
Latest Content
From a Coaching Vision to a Coaching Menu

Stephanie Affinito guides us in transforming a coaching vision into a practical coaching menu so teachers can choose their ideal way to work with an instructional coach. Download a copy of a coaching menu.

Hidden Gems: Five Ways to Keep Your Positive Vibes

Heather Fisher shares five “hidden gems” she uses to keep her positive vibes strong.

Measure for Measure

David Pittman thinks through what really matters and nourishes him as well as the teachers he serves when it comes to assessing his impact as a literacy coach.

Leaders Need Coaches Too

Matt Renwick explains why literacy leaders need coaches and how they are helpful.

Coaching Minute: Language of Reading

In this brief video, Cathy Mere talks with Andrea, a literacy coach and reading specialist, about the importance of common language during debrief sessions when talking about reading.

Saying No

When David Pittman says no to a task outside his coaching role, he shows a commitment to his priorities. David describes the tension and nuances of saying no, and the effect it can have on coaching relationships.

Maintenance as Leadership

Matt Renwick encourages a continuous effort of ensuring the systems of a school are operating as they should by maintaining relationships, literacy and learning, and presence.

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 in a Time of Crisis

Cathy Mere explores some of the new routines literacy coaches have put in place as they move between live and remote guidance of teachers.

They Don’t Know High-Frequency Words

Cathy Mere shares strategies for coaching teachers with a common complaint—their students don’t know high-frequency words. Download a reference guide for questions and next steps to guide coaching conversations.

Flipping Negative Stressors

Jen Schwanke shares tools and tips for dealing with professional stress, from flipping negative emotions to finding ways to move forward with energy.

Word Study Half-Day Professional Development

Julie Wright designs a half-day professional development session to help teachers analyze assessment data and design a schedule to address word learning needs.

Vocabulary Development in Writing

Literacy coaches Tara Barnett and Kate Mills create a “labsite” for exploring vocabulary development—a classroom-based inquiry plan for a group of teachers to observe instruction with young learners.

Creating Savory Professional Development

Jennifer Allen explains how she builds in play, choice, and creativity in a study group for veteran teachers.

Have Coach, Will Travel

Stephanie Affinito is a traveling coach, with no office to call her own. She shares tips and tools for organizing and streamlining materials when you are constantly on the go between classrooms and schools.

Supporting Teachers in Planning an Interactive Read Aloud

Tara Barnett and Kate Mills work with intermediate teachers through a series of professional development sessions to help them develop interactive read alouds.

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.

Listen to Lead

Matt Renwick is disappointed by something he sees when he visits a teacher’s classroom. This leads him to ponder what his role is in supporting teachers as they make changes.

Followership

An essential role for leaders is raising up more literacy leaders among the talented teachers on staff. Matt Renwick considers how anyone without a title or an obvious source of power can lead, and what that means for nurturing leadership skills.

Kindergarten Small Group: Details in Writing

Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration small group on including details in writing. The demonstration includes a prebrief and debrief with the teacher.

Coaching in PLCs

David Pittman takes teachers in a PLC through a student-centered experience to help them understand a specific standard.

Choice Literacy Membership

Become a member for full access to Articles & Videos plus member-only Product Discounts

Membership

Explore More
Getting Organized
Guiding Teachers
Working in Classrooms

Choice Literacy Membership

Articles

Get full access to all Choice Literacy article content

Videos

Get full access to all Choice Literacy video content

Courses

Access Choice Literacy course curriculum and training

Membership Options

About

Choice Literacy is a community of passionate educators who lead. Come join us!

Learn more

Contact
Subscribe

Get free articles and insights delivered to your inbox every week with the Choice Literacy "Big Fresh" Newsletter!

Learn more

© 2025 The Lead Learners. All rights reserved.   Privacy Policy   |   Terms and Conditions

Website built by MemberDev

Loading...