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Guiding Teachers

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Combating Leadership Loneliness

Gwen Blumberg addresses the issue of loneliness in literacy leadership. She offers a variety of ways to create connections that will nurture and sustain leaders.

Professional Learning Accountability Partners

Jen Court offers a strategic way to create and support professional learning accountability partners in schools.

Five Books to End the Year Coaching Strong

Stephanie Affinito offers five picture books to end the year coaching strong. Each offers an opportunity for teachers to enjoy a book together, reflect on the year, and walk away with a book to share with their students. 

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.

 

Using Photographs for Coaching Conversations

Jen Court shares ways in which she uses photos to support conversations to help teachers achieve their instructional goals.

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.

Coaching Minute: Keep the Focus on Students

Inga Omondi suggests keeping the focus on students in order to entice apprehensive teachers into a coaching relationship.

Coaching Minute: Navigating Tough Conversations

Instructional coach Holly Wenning shares advice for navigating tough conversations.

What Happens When Teachers Receive Conflicting Advice?

Josie Stewart and Hannah Tills help navigate the tricky situation coaches can find themselves in when their advice to a new teacher may conflict with other voices. By emphasizing the value of different voices, we can empower educators to do the work that best aligns with their beliefs and suits their learners.

Coaching Minute: The Power of a Stopwatch

Ruth Ayres shares how timing parts of an observation gives unique and meaningful data for reflective conversations.

And I Quote: Coaching Through Quotes and Sayings

Heather Fisher shares ways to use quotes throughout your coaching day to inspire and guide others. Download a list of useful quotes for different coaching situations.

What Does Your Feedback Say About Your Coaching Relationships?

David Pittman guides literacy leaders to consider the kinds of feedback they offer and what it reveals about their professional relationships.

Crafting Coaching Conversations 

Jen Court strategizes how to craft coaching conversations that will be meaningful and action oriented. She shares questions instructional coaches can use to mold conversations.

It’s Time to Pause: A PD Session to Reconnect with Core Values

Heather Fisher guides a reflective practice exercise to begin a professional meeting that gives space for participants to pause and consider their core values. This simple experience has the potential to powerfully energize educators.

Coaching Minute: Be Aware of How Your Presence Affects the Room

Ruth Ayres shares the importance of being aware of how your presence affects the room. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Goals Are Greater than Nice Conversations

Brian Sepe moves instructional leaders to commit to encouraging growth through focused goal-setting rather than having “nice conversations.”

Coaching Minute: Expect and Accept a Lack of Closure

Ruth Ayres shares why it is important to expect and accept a lack of closure. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Aiming for a 5 on a Scale of 1–10

Gwen Blumberg adjusts her expectations to a 5, rather than a 10, as she sets a big assessment project in motion. This small shift in mindset allows the team to expect and embrace bumps and shifts along the way.

Coaching Minute: What’s Said Here Stays Here; What’s Learned Here Leaves Here

Ruth Ayres shares the importance of having a place for instructional coaches to learn, as well as process their own situations. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Coaching Minute: Be Wholly Present

Ruth Ayres shares the the importance of setting a norm about presence. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

How the Influences of Reggio Emilia’s Teaching Approach Still Affect My Practice

Stella Villalba shares four values of Reggio Emilia that enhance literacy learning for multilingual students.

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