Getting Organized

Supporting Successful First-Year Coaches

Heather Rader gets the inside word from novice literacy coaches about the support they need to thrive.

Reflecting on Student Work in Staff Meetings (Download a Template)

Jennifer Allen describes a protocol for analyzing student work in teacher study groups and staff meetings, and includes a template for discussing classroom artifacts.

What Coaches Carry (Part 2)

When coaches consider what to carry, they think about what they value and how to stay student-centered in their approaches. Read on for more tips.

Troubleshooting Coaching Cycles

Shari Frost finds "coaching cycles" are a valuable way for literacy coaches to work with teachers over time, but the first year of implementation was bumpy for her coaches. She shares some of the struggles her colleagues encountered in implementing cycles, as well as advice for overcoming these hurdles.

Sales Clerks and Literacy Leaders

Franki Sibberson reflects on what makes a perfect salesperson . . . and literacy coach.

How Study Groups Are Like Self-Cleaning Ovens

With a few key elements in place, Brenda Power and Jennifer Allen explain how study groups can almost run themselves and get everyone involved.

Coaching Monkey

Heather Rader has advice for literacy coaches looking for honest appraisals of their work from colleagues.

Quick Take: Protocols for Teacher Study Groups

In this three-minute Quick Take video, Clare Landrigan describes the teacher study group protocol she uses to foster shared understanding and allow for differentiated learning among teachers.

Engaging Teachers with Coaching

Heather Rader has some thoughtful advice on broaching the subjects of clarity, purpose, and confidentiality when engaging with teachers early in the coaching relationship.

The Gift of Time

Mary Brower offers a practical and thoughtful way to honor busy teachers—she gives them the gift of time. If you’re an instructional coach, you may want to snag this idea to strengthen your relationship with teachers.

The Digital Declutter: Developing a Life Beyond Distractions

Matt Renwick offers a no-nonsense approach to a digital declutter in an effort to manage his time. Inspired by the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, Matt shares practical ways for educators to consider a digital declutter.

Why Don’t School Leaders Give More Feedback? 

Matt Renwick insists that school leaders don’t have to forfeit their identities as supervisors to engage in coaching conversations with faculty members.  He offers five tips to build relational trust today.

The Importance of Visibility

Dana Murphy shares the importance of high visibility for reading interventionists and other instructional influencers in non-classroom positions.

Coaching Minute: Get Out of Your Office

David Pittman encourages instructional coaches to get out of the office in the early days of the school year. H offers several practical suggestions for how to set the tone for healthy relationships.

Coaching Minute: Supporting New Teachers

Principal Lee Snider talks about the challenges new teachers face and how principals can support them.

Coaching Minute: Assisting Struggling Teachers by Being Focused

Principal Lee Snider talks about how principals can support struggling teachers by keeping the focus on instruction.

Building on Success and Maintaining Momentum

Coaching Minute: Wearing (Too) Many Hats

Inga Omondi encourages instructional coaches to consider the many hats they wear and to remove the ones that are not serving the greater good.

Coaching Through a New Program

Josie Stewart and Hannah Tills compare embarking on a new curriculum program to a journey to a new country. Their “travel tips” and encouragement will position instructional coaches to navigate the new program.

Coaching Minute: Establishing Expertise

Principal Lee Snider talks about how principals can support struggling teachers by establishing their expertise and visiting classrooms often.

Coaching in Community: Co-Creating Learning Spaces (Part II)

Stella Villalba suggests that we consider how to continue creating spaces where learning is co-created with a community. In this second installment, she offers questions for reflective practice and practical ways to amplify teachers’ brilliance.