Lead Lit Article Type: Read It
Results
More Than Skills and Scripts: Systems That Lift Literacy Up
“In one ear and out the other” would aptly summarize a lot of my school experience. As a student, I did my best to pay attention during literacy instruction. But...
Swarm: Embracing the Unexpected
I left the Zoom session of the virtual writing retreat, took a sip from my mug of tea, and reflected on the thoughtful feedback I'd just received. As I considered...
Be Hard on the Systems and Gentle with the People: How a Systems Approach Can Reduce Teacher Burnout and Lead to Better Outcomes
I could predict the hour when I would receive the call. Cameron consistently demonstrated destructive behaviors during writing time—nudging a pencil off his desk, tearing down anchor charts. His teacher...
Take It on the Road… I Dare You!
Some of my favorite moments come from the time I spend with family and friends at our seasonal campground—a place where adventure is always just around the bend. It’s my...
Acts of Service: AI and Student Feedback
When your values are in alignment with your actions, you will experience greater satisfaction and authenticity. —Irina Cozma, "Values, Passion, or Purpose—Which Should Guide Your Career?" Harvard Business Review Lately,...
Sometimes You Have to Grow a New Skin
The school year always seems to start off with a bang! However, it isn’t long before the days are flowing smoothly, one after another, settling into a rhythm that feels...
Teachers as Leaders: Five Ways to Create the Conditions for Change (Part 2)
In Part 1, we introduced the five Vs and shared a process of using models to navigate the unpredictable terrain of school-wide change. The five Vs offer a pathway that...
Teachers as Leaders: Five Ways to Create the Conditions for Change (Part 1)
As I waited in an office lobby on a Friday afternoon to meet with a principal as an external coach, I remembered how demanding the work of positional leaders can...
Don’t Be in Such a Hurry to Put Out the Fire (and Completely Miss the Flame)
I settled into a coaching conversation, ready to roll up my sleeves and find the next solution. The teacher began to share what was on her mind when the first...
What I Learned About Having a Difficult Conversation
I had wondered about and lost sleep over it for long enough. I was ready to have the difficult conversation. I grabbed my coffee, looked at the clock (still 45...
The Difference Between Change and Transition
I stopped at our local pharmacy's new location to pick up a prescription. The owners had moved into a brand-new medical clinic, which includes a wellness space, physical therapy, and...
The Tension of Perfect Conventions
“My key takeaway is that we are going to continue to celebrate mediocrity in student writing.” This was declared as a bold proclamation during a workshop I led about using...
Overcoming the Blame Game
Imagine a hard winter in the far north where the temperatures have dropped so low that recess is indoors. Now imagine an entire grade level of kindergartners playing in the...
Ways to Support Colleagues Part 2
Statistics show that teachers are one of the most stressed groups of people. According to a 2022 study by the American Educational Research Association, teachers in the U.S. experienced significantly...
Help! I’m a New Coach
As the school year came to a close, the air buzzed with talk of change. The middle school was set to undergo departmentalization, a major shift that meant a significant...
Humanizing Data
Data days are a responsibility that often falls to instructional coaches. We spend time analyzing data, soliciting teacher feedback, crafting an agenda, and planning a launching activity. It’s hard to...
Teacher and Coach, Side by Side: Affirmations for Leaders in Maintaining a Supportive Presence
The pizza oven stood on the pavement at my parents’ house, awaiting the maiden voyage for that first pizza pie to enter the oven. It had been weeks since my...
Examining (and Changing) Our Literacy Beliefs over Time
Our beliefs construct what we notice, which constructs what we believe. So noticing on purpose and questioning those beliefs is pure genius. —Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin, Unleash Your...
Misreading Body Language
While facilitating a conversation with school administrators about next steps with their district’s professional learning plan, I kept catching one of the school leaders smiling as we talked. This smile...
Ways to Make Positive Momentum Happen in Sticky Situations
A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. —Lao Tzu A newly formed...
How to Manage Our Frustrations in Difficult Times
A staff member stopped into my office with a worried look on her face. "I'm not sure you're going to want to hear this, and you don't need to do...
