Leaders Lounge   /   Category

Getting Organized

Getting Organized

Latest Content
Coaching Minute: Personalizing Assessment Binders

Kathy Provost and Heather Fisher chat about the challenges of getting teachers to use assessment binders, and the importance of helping teachers tailor the binders to their needs.

Changing Two Words

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan explain how two simple word changes have made all the difference in building rapport with teachers.

Empowering the Reading Team

Kathy Provost explains how and why she transferred more responsibility for professional development to reading specialists. In her district, elementary reading specialists now lead literacy professional sessions for paraprofessionals.

Grade Three Writing Checklist

Tammy Mulligan uses a checklist with third-grade writers in this demonstration lesson. The lesson includes a planning session and debrief with the teacher.

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.

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...