Latest Content
Coaching Minute: What Makes You Come Alive?

Ruth Ayres is reminded by her own coach of the importance of doing things that make us come alive. Instructional coaches have the opportunity of helping others find the things that make them come alive.

Coaching to Empower

David Pittman addresses the unintended messages coaches send when they are too eager to help. David offers practical suggestions to ensure coaching validates and encourages rather than disempowers teachers.

Coaching Minute: Tough Meetings

Curriculum director Inga Omondi understands the tension that can build in meetings. She offers advice for instructional coaches on what to do after a tough meeting.

Let Poetry Be the Leader

Joanne Emery lets poetry be her guide when writing reflective notes to teachers after spending time in their classrooms. This creative kind of feedback softens hearts and opens doors for conversations.

Coaching Minute: Coaching Groups of Teachers

Ruth Ayres offers a useful tip when planning your coaching calendar: Create groups of teachers.

Maintaining an Inquiry Stance: Seeking to Enhance the Practice of Questioning in Leadership

Heather Fisher cracks open some of her secrets to developing and maintaining an inquiry stance as an instructional coach. If you’re looking to  strengthen your listening and feedback, this is a great place to begin.

Picture It: Planning Ahead

This photo captures the evidence of a teacher well prepared for the day.

Picture It: When Material-Use Goes Awry

In this Picture-It, Ruth Ayres prioritizes nurturing relationships with students when material-use goes awry.

Play to Your Strengths

Julie Cox offers insight and encouragement to be confident in your own teaching strengths.

Redesigning Experiences for Parents/Guardians Conferences

Stella Villalba questions the traditional practices of parent/guardian-teacher conferences. She offers a reflection and a call to action for everyone to consider the possibilities for more connection and equity during conference nights.

35 Ways Leaders Can Improve School Culture

Matt Renwick shares 35 actions leaders can take to create a stronger school culture. If you are a new leader, you can use this list and implement one a week throughout the school year.

A 30-Day Coaching Challenge

Stephanie Affinito invites instructional coaches to engage in a 30-Day Coaching Challenge designed to bring renewed enthusiasm and effectiveness to our work. Grab a notebook and get started today!

Classrooms as Spaces of Identity Development

Stella Villalba works with teachers to create classrooms that nurture and develop students’ identities. With this in mind, she leads teachers in building units that celebrate and affirm students while also meeting the expectations of standards. Included is a list of resources.

Investing in Our Collective Humanity: Nurturing an Intentional Cultural Life

Learning in communities, about communities, and from communities is the driving force behind Stella Villalba’s commitment to continually expand her knowledge of many cultures. In this article, Stella curates multimodal ways to expand your own experience and understanding.

Building Consensus Through Connection

David Pittman led a divided staff in determining a list of classroom instructional agreements. Rather than becoming contentious, the committee found consensus through connection and understanding. David shares the process for establishing common ground and respect for colleagues while completing the task.

The Power of Using a Viewing Lens

Lisa Mazinas offers a variety of “viewing lenses” for coaches to use when working alongside teachers. She shares practical advice as well as a variety of possibilities to help instructional coaches tailor their feedback in specific and useful ways.

Putting Together Powerful PD

Are you looking for a way to plan meaningful professional development sessions? Julie Cox suggests a simple outline: Present a basic question, and then provide something to do, something to take, and something to inspire.

Constantly Evolving Toward a Stronger Practice

In education much attention is paid to change and transformation. Cathy Mere challenges us to consider placing our focus on evolution and understanding that we are constantly evolving toward a new version of ourselves. In this personal essay, we will all find hope as we reach toward our strengths and use them to find our next steps forward.

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

Stella Villalba suggests that we consider how to continue creating spaces where learning is co-created with a community. She encourages instructional leaders to share the ways they are learning (and unlearning) ideas for stronger literacy practices.

Read Alouds Aren’t Just for Children

Shared read aloud books are not just for children. Gwen Blumberg outlines the power of reading aloud with faculty.

Learning from Lasso: Cultivating a Coaching Mindset in New Literacy Coaches

Gwen Blumberg is inspired by Ted Lasso to consider intentional mindsets to foster success as a coach.

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

Loading...