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Getting Organized

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Coaching Minute: Set-Up Coaching Plans

Tara Barnett and Kate Mills share an important first step for instructional coaches to help teachers feel invited into the coaching relationship: Make shared coaching plans.

Coaching Minute: Welcoming Students as an Instructional Coach

David Pittman reflects on ways instructional coaches can help create an atmosphere of belonging for students.

How to Respond When Books and Curriculum Resources Are Challenged

Jen Schwanke addresses the fact that educators, books, and curriculum resources are under increased scrutiny. She offers practical and wise steps to take when resources are questioned by concerned stakeholders.

Changing Positions? How to Rethink Your Community (Download)

Cathy Mere offers practical steps to finding a new community when you switch positions. Download a copy of a guided reflection to intentionally seek a new community.

Reshaping Personal Narratives with Awareness, Reflection, and Support

Matt Renwick shares a candid personal story of his own diagnosis of ADHD, and then encourages us to consider the way the narratives we create about who we are and who we might become are based on how we perceive our pasts. Matt challenges us to resist these narratives and reshape them with awareness, reflection, and support.

Five Books to Launch Discussion About the Coaching Role

Stephanie Affinito recommends five picture books to launch discussions about an instructional coach’s role. This helps ensure success by giving all stakeholders an opportunity to define and understand the role of a coach.

 Ridiculously Amazing Schools

Jen Court shares how the staff book study of Ridiculously Amazing Schools by Tracey Smith and Jeff Waller transformed their ability as a staff to engage and build meaningful relationships.

Transcripts as a Coaching Tool

Suzy Kaback shares a process to use transcripts as a coaching tool. Tips from her own experiences and several resource links will have you using this tool, too.

Leading Literacy: What to Expect the First 5+ Years

Matt Renwick has compiled a guide for new principals to follow to intentionally become effective literacy leaders.

Research and Learn

Brian Sepe offers a protocol and downloadable tool for teachers and coaches to research student writers. It is good for the soul to bear witness to the good that students bring to the classroom.

Mini (But Mighty) Ways to Connect with Teachers

Gigi McAllister gives tips to help maintain consistent communication and connections with teachers in a way that respects their time when sharing information.

 

Coaching Connections: Morning Rounds

In this second installment of a three-part series, Gigi McAllister explores ways morning rounds will help instructional coaches stay accessible and connected to teachers.

Coaching Connections: Drop-In Visits

In this first installment of a three-part series, Gigi McAllister explores ways instructional coaches can make strong connections through drop-in visits. Download the Drop-In Visit note sheet and add drop-in visits to your schedule today.

Slicing Up the Pie

Matt Renwick masterfully outlines a complexity of public education: We are constantly making decisions on behalf of our students, and they rarely fully meet every kid’s needs. Knowing these limits and keeping students at the center of decision making (as opposed to the loudest calls to action from parents) ensures a more equitable educational experience for all.

Growing Professional Learning Communities

Cathy Mere encourages instructional coaches to take the best parts of workshop practice and apply it to coaching.

Building a Schoolwide Coaching Culture

Matt Renwick offers three contexts in which a coaching culture is deliberately built and supported in school.

Using a Filtering Process to Make Data-Driven Intervention Decisions

Gwen Blumberg describes a five-step filtering process of student assessment data designed to help make true data-driven decisions in an efficient amount of time. Download a visual guide of the data-filtering process.

Coaching Minute: The Gift of Time

Instructional coach Mary Brower shares an idea to give the gift of time to teachers.

Words of Reflection for New Coaches

Stella Villalba reflects on her journey as an instructional coach and offers advice to new coaches in a question-and-answer format.

Coaching Minute: The Importance of Patience

Instructional coach Mary Brower reminds us of the importance of patience, especially with ourselves.

Coaching Minute: Invitations for Secondary Teachers

Instructional coach Holly Wenning shares ways to invite secondary teachers to work alongside a coach.

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