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Getting Organized

Getting Organized

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Poetry for Notetaking

Ruth Shagoury finds poetry is a wonderful tool for breakthroughs in classroom observation notes.

Hiring for Literacy: The Big Picture

Jennifer Schwanke explains why leaders need to have a thoughtful hiring process in place when seeking excellent literacy teachers.

Hiring for Literacy: The Interview

These interview questions from Jennifer Schwanke are accompanied by a guide for what to look for in the answers from candidates, as well as potential red flags.

Wild Reading: A Coach’s Perspective

Kathy Provost suggests a fun way for coaches to help students and teachers find joy again during independent reading.

Coaching Minute: Dividing Responsibilities Among Coaches

Kathy Provost and Heather Fisher explain how they worked to divide responsibilities fairly and efficiently over time.

Coaching Minute: Getting Started with Evernote

Ruth Ayres and Deb Gaby talk about how they are beginning to use Evernote and different ways of organizing the tool.

Coaching Minute: Building a Coaching Rapport

Literacy coaches Ruth Ayres and Deb Gaby chat with second-grade teacher Cathy Laker about building trust in coaching and teaching relationships.

I Have Time

Ruth Ayres explains why these are the three most important words for literacy coaches to say throughout the day.

Tips for Conducting Demonstration Lessons, or How to Avoid the “Am I Doing This Right?” Question

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan have advice for literacy coaches leading demonstration lessons.

Coaching Letter to Jo

Julie Wright guides a harried fifth-grade teacher in this sample coaching letter.

Coaching Letters

Julie Wright finds coaching letters are an essential element in her mentoring toolkit. In this first installment of a series, she explains the key components of letters that build rapport and instruction skills.

Accountable Talk: Beginning Steps

Kathy Provost and her colleagues are disappointed with test scores and realize that the quality of student conversations in their classrooms needs a lift.

Coaching Minute: Read to Every Class

Principal Jennifer Schwanke has a simple strategy for building connections to every reader in her school: she regularly reads to every class.

Secrets of Coaching Revisited

Jennifer Allen revisits the three principles that form her core beliefs about coaching, and decides to add a fourth.

Writer-ish

Julie Johnson fails in an attempt to assess two kindergartners, and over time learns a lot about trust and the children's abilities from observing them and listening to their teacher.

Coaching Minute: Punctuality

Heather Rader explains why starting meetings on time is crucial for the learning climate in this quick video tip.

Literacy Day

Jennifer Schwanke tackles the challenge of developing an inviting curriculum for an "extra day" added to the school calendar because of weather disruptions.

Failure to Thrive: Rethinking Assessment Binders

Kathy Provost and her coaching colleague are delighted with the assessment binders they've created . . . until they realize teachers aren't actually using them.

Celebration Charts

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan find that celebrating small triumphs from the week is a great way to launch any professional development session.

Coaching Minute: Ending the Day

Heather Rader shares a quick video tip about the importance of closing rituals at the end of the coaching day.

Coaching Minute: Birthday Tip

Heather Rader has a quick video tip for organizing low-stress birthday celebrations for colleagues.

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