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Guiding Teachers

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Getting to Know You . . . More: A Midyear Idea for Helping Kids Tune (Back) In to Each Other

Helping students tune into each other is both an anchor for building classrooms where caring is common, and where, as a result, learning blooms. Suzy Kaback gives suggestions for creating conditions where students can get to know each other more throughout the school year.

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.

Play to Your Strengths

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

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.

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.

Coaching Minute: Change Can Be Rewarding

Instructional coach Paula Fiscus shares the notion that change is a catalyst for growth. Although change can be difficult and challenging, it is also rewarding.

Reclaiming What It Means to Flourish

Stella Villalba reclaims what it means for students to flourish by crafting a guidepost and action steps as a path to overcoming the deficit mentality that is too often part of conversations about learning.

Purposefully Plan PD to Support Transformational Change

Ruth Ayres thinks about intentionally designing professional learning experiences to support transformational change by recognizing and lifting the heavy load many educators carry.

Shopping in Your Own House: Searching Our Own Teaching Practice for New Ideas 

Heather Fisher explains how to lead colleagues to look for what they need within their own teaching practices before turning to Google or other sites for the answers.

Coaching Minute: Encouraging Teacher Leaders

Instructional coach Jonathan Winslow shares how he intentionally creates leadership opportunities for the teachers he works alongside.

Feedback Is Overrated: Focus First on Building Positive, Trusting Relationships

Matt Renwick gives three tips to build relationships that will open doors to receive feedback.

Five Classroom Design Ideas for Supporting Readers and Writers with ADHD

Matt Renwick encourages five classroom design ideas for supporting readers and writers with ADHD.

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