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Getting Organized

Getting Organized

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Forming a Partnership with a New Coach

Kathy Provost shares practical advice for establishing a truly collaborative relationship with a new coaching colleague.

Creating a Healthy Classroom Culture the First Week of School

Ruth Shagoury observes how a classroom community is built in one sixth-grade classroom, and ponders how she can use what she has observed with the young teachers she mentors.

Leading a Multi-Day Curriculum Meeting

Jennifer Vincent adds ways for committee members to share notes and insights in writing outside meetings, as a way to ensure that all voices (especially those of introverts) can be heard.

Finding Purpose in Coaching with Organized Notes

After two years of coaching, Kathy Provost worried that her classroom sessions with teachers lacked purpose. She shares a notetaking form she developed to focus and extend the learning from these interactions.

Literacy Learning and Parent Teacher Organizations

Jennifer Schwanke changes her collaboration with her school's Parent Teacher Organization when she realizes that many in the group don't have the background knowledge to understand current practices.

Coaching Conversations: Building a Foundation of Trust

In this audio interview, Brenda Power chats with Gwen Blumberg about her lessons from her first years of coaching: trust takes time, and baby steps toward change need to be celebrated.

Coaching Minute: A Conduit for Resources

Heather Rader explains how coaches can best share resources with colleagues.

ABCs of Coaching

Heather Rader has compiled the perfect summer read for literacy coaches: an alphabet primer to help you be your best coaching self next fall.

Digital Clutter and Being Present with Teachers

Jennifer Vincent changes her approach to one-on-one appraisal conferences with teachers by eliminating "digital clutter" and finding other small ways to give those she is meeting with her full attention.

Getting Instructional Practices Up and Running

How long does it take to help a teacher get a new instructional practice up and running? If you’re thinking through your calendar and how you spend your days, you’ll find Shari Frost’s advice helpful.

Coaching Owls, Larks, and Hummingbirds

Heather Rader finds that understanding whether teachers work best in the morning or afternoon can be crucial in timing professional development.

Teacher Evaluation: A New Role for Coaches

Jennifer Allen discovers she can play a key role as a literacy coach in helping colleagues understand a new teacher evaluation model.

Guess Who’s Coming? Planning an Author Visit

Deb Gaby has many practical tips for planning an author visit as a schoolwide celebration of literacy.

Picture It: Celebrate!

Jason DiCarlo shares a 15-minute monthly activity for celebrating literacy breakthroughs with teachers.

Rubrics and Muggles: Common Frameworks and Instructional Coaching

Jennifer Brotherton finds it is essential to develop a common language for teachers and coaches when teacher evaluation standards are being discussed.

Developing a Collaborative Vision for Leading Literacy Coaches

Heather Sisson finds that summer is the best time for developing a shared vision of guiding literacy coaches with a colleague.

Climbing Gordon’s Ladder with New Teachers

Jennifer Vincent finds that Gordon's Ladder is a powerful tool for mentoring new teachers.

Operation Classroom Library

Shari Frost has wise advice for helping new teachers build a classroom library from scratch without breaking the bank.

Planning for a Year of Study Groups

Jennifer Allen plans for next year’s study groups and other ongoing professional development offerings each spring, to give teachers lots of time to choose which groups might meet their needs.

Coaching Minute: Professional Development Matters for Us

In this brief video, Ruth Ayres explains why professional development is important for all of us, no matter your leadership role.

Interviewing a Coach

Heather Rader shares tips on interviewing candidates for literacy coaching positions.

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