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Guiding Teachers

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The Staircase Reading Response: Planning Session

In this first video in a two-part series, Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan meet with fourth-grade teachers to assess student reading responses and plan a demonstration small group that Clare will lead.

Resource Round-Up for Text Types

Heather Rader sets out to provide engaging, resource-packed professional development by helping teachers gain a deeper understand of text types, using children's books as mentor texts.
 

My Ideal Professional Bookshelf: What Does Yours Look Like?

Ruth Shagoury works with teachers as they brainstorm which books have most influenced their professional beliefs and practice.

Teaching Is Like . . .

Kim Campbell shares a fun activity for a staff meeting or the launching of any new study group.

An Ideal Professional Bookshelf: The Important Book for Teachers

Help teachers get back to their reading and teaching roots with this classic professional development activity from Ruth Shagoury.

When Is Coaching a Waste of Time?

Brenda Power asks a crucial question for coaches: When is it time to admit positive changes aren't happening and move on?

Just Tell Me! Evaluation and the Coach’s Dilemma

Kathy Provost resists the role of evaluator as a literacy coach, but a classroom observation and the teacher's reaction makes her question this stance.

Courage to Change: A Professional Development Activity

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan share a professional development activity using the book Courage that helps teachers look at change in new ways.

Coaching Minute: Reading Habits

Heather Rader explains why professional reading needs to be a priority for literacy coaches in this quick video.

Drop the Rope

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan share a strategy for working through tense situations when coaching.

Above the Clouds

Jennifer Vincent reflects on the drudgery and angst that is a normal part of the life of literacy leaders helping others.

Coaching Conversations: Easing Your Way into Positive Relationships

Sharon Thompson shares some of the highs (growing interest in getting help, via word of mouth) and lows (tutoring in an unheated closet?!) of her first year of coaching in this brief audio interview.

Leadership 101: Knowing When to Step Back

Jennifer Schwanke prepares to lead a book study group among colleagues, and finds teachers are balking at the idea of adding one more responsibility. She asks herself an essential leadership question: Should I pull back or push?

Picture It: Mentoring Organization

How are you helping new teachers reorganize their classrooms now that the school year is well under way and issues are emerging? Sharing snapshots of how other teachers work through organization issues can help. Here is one example from Mandy Robek's kindergarten classroom.

Writing Conference Role-Plays: Learning to Listen In

Ruth Shagoury uses role-plays in professional development to help veteran and novice teachers hone their conferring skills.

Learning from Students

What makes a great teacher? Jennifer Schwanke asks students, and the provocative responses are wonderful food for thought.

Classroom Visits for Professional Development Insight

Jennifer Vincent finds that classroom visits are a good alternative to surveys when analyzing teachers' professional development needs.

Coaching Minute: Listen and Be Brave

Deb Gaby has wise advice about the coach's role with teachers in this brief video.

Reflection and Growth with New Teachers

Jennifer Vincent helps two new teachers look critically at their work with families, using research and practical tools to encourage them to grow.

Picture It: Mirroring

See what mirroring looks like in a professional development context.

Find the Common Ground

Ruth Ayres is set up to fail in a toxic environment, yet finds a surprising way to build community among a middle school teaching team.

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