Leaders Lounge   /   Category

Guiding Teachers

Here is where you'll find information on guiding teachers.

Latest Content
What Coaches Carry (Part 1)

Some teacher leaders work outside of a classroom and still need to keep their tools at hand. This round-up of advice focuses on what goes along with coaches.

Ways to Avoid Coaching Traps

There are many traps for new literacy coaches that are rarely discussed. Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan share the most common four they try to avoid.

Word Choice for Coaches

Jan Miller-Burkins explores the "how" of shifting language so that it is less judgmental in discussions with colleagues.

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.

Parallels Between Student Learning and Staff Development

Terry Thompson considers the concept of "scaffolding" for both student learning and professional development.

Three Little Phrases No Literacy Coach Can Live Without

Brenda Power shares trade secret phrases for communicating with colleagues.

What is the Evidence?

Heather Rader shares her experiences working with a teacher team led by an outspoken leader. With listening and support, the team examines evidence in a new way.

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.

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.

Not That Into Me

If you’re a literacy coach, those teachers who don’t want to work with you can make you feel like the wallflower at the prom or the last kid picked for the basketball team.  Heather Rader has positive, proactive suggestions for making the best of an awkward situation.

The Power of Linking Words and Perceptions

Melanie Quinn relays a powerful practice for staff members to reframe language and perceptions while putting common labels for students in a whole new light.

Coaching High Fives

Stephanie Affinito finds that simple, quick, and modest celebrations can be just what teachers need to get through a long day. She shares the value of these coaching high fives.

Navigating Conversations

We all know when we need to have a conversation that will help but feels tricky to enter. Instructional Coach Mary Brower offers sage advice for navigating conversations with principals.

Getting Started with a Writing Habit: Six Kinds of Notebooking

So, how do we help teachers develop a notebooking habit that will fuel their own writing life and positively impact their students? Stephanie Affinito offers practical steps that begins with starting small, starting with intention and starting with what feels good. Stephanie outline six types of notebooking—pick the one that feels right to you!

Prepping a Fieldwork Site: Strategies for Launching Quality Partnerships

Teacher Educators Teach | Suzy Kaback reminds us that launching a fieldwork site is a critical first step in building respectful, relevant partnerships that invite complex learning. “What does this space encourage?” is a helpful question to guide the launch. 

On Being a Wise Consumer: Three Questions to Filter Ideas

The world of education continually bombards us with seemingly endless ideas and activities, which most often means doing them in addition to the curriculum we are teaching. In this era of constant consumption, how do we sort through everything to choose the ideas that are worth pursuing? Tara Barnett and Kate Mills offer three questions to help teachers determine which ideas to try in their classrooms.

Same Candy Bar, Different Wrapper: Professional Books That Change Instruction

Leigh Anne Eck writes about the way professional texts sustain her core beliefs and help her keep growing as a teacher.

The Coach’s Notebook: How to Capture, Organize, and Analyze Your Data and Responsibilities

Matt Renwick opens up his coach’s notebook and guides us in establishing a tool that supports teaching and learning.

Teaching from the Heart

Teacher Educators Teach is a neighborhood in our Leaders Lounge just for teacher educators. Julie Johnson shares how she tackled the problem of engagement and discovers practical ways to make connections.

Bridging the Gap (Session 2): Finding Your Footing

Mary Brower provides a second professional learning session to help ease the tension between teachers who have opposing views about literacy instruction. Mary provides a protocol for creating a school-wide document of foundational literacy beliefs.

When Coaching Fails: How to Help Educators Who Resist Help

Matt Renwick dives into the reasons why coaching sometimes fails and what we can do when we encounter colleagues who are “help resistant.”

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...