Lead Lit Article Type: Try It
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Intentional Agendas: Planning for Teacher Learning
When I stepped out of the classroom seven years ago and into a professional development role, I felt like a first-year teacher all over again. The only difference: my “students”...
Puppies and Babies and Kittens, Oh My! Support for Maternity Leaves
Spring is in the air, and at my school, teachers are having babies and taking leave. If you’re the coach, that means you have teachers to support before they leave...
Welcome Visits
Finding the right entry in professional development can be tricky. We never want to waste teachers’ time by not gauging the focus or pace of our sessions. We want our...
Hear It, Clear It Up, and Steer It
A couple of years ago I was in charge of sending out emails two weeks before our scoring workshops in writing. The first time, I was caught off guard by...
Meaningful Transitions During Professional Development Sessions
No matter the age or composition of a group, transitioning a large number of people from one activity to the next can be difficult. During large-group professional development sessions, it...
Benefits and Barriers: Helping Teachers Change
My husband and I had the privilege of flying to San Antonio to see our son Jeff’s graduation from Air Force Basic Training. Our family was proud and excited, which...
Helping Teachers Learn to Love the Common Core Standards
Loving something or someone involves knowing that thing or person very well . . . Chris Lehman and Kate Roberts (Falling in Love with Close Reading) I have been...
Reaching Boy Writers
"What would you do if the second you got into an airplane bathroom, and you REALLY had to go, the pilot turned on the 'fasten your seatbelt' sign?" This was...
Inviting Teachers into the Digital World
When I became a writing teacher who wrote, I believe I became a better writing teacher. I better understood what my students felt when I asked them to share their...
Infusing Technology into Writing Celebrations (Grades K–2)
I understand that I am fortunate to work in a building that has a 1:1 iPad environment in grades 3–8. However, this hasn’t stopped some of our younger students and...
Aligning Coaching and Teaching Teams
The most empowering condition of all is when the entire organization is aligned with its mission, and people’s passions and purpose are in synch with each other. Bill George...
Coaching Excellent Teachers
“I have no idea what to do with her,” whined Judy. “She’s freaking AWESOME!” Judy, a middle school literacy coach, was struggling with a problem that would be wonderful to...
Quick! Hide the Chocolate: Challenging Coaching Relationships
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou As an instructional coach, I collaborate with colleagues as they try new...
Coaching Minute: Kinesthetic Transitions
Heather Rader has fun transition suggestions for use during demonstration lessons in this quick video tip. A transcript is available below the player. When doing a demo...
How to Start a Writing Group
Thinking about starting a writing group? Follow these steps. 1. Consider Who You Should Invite Consider people you know who want to write. When I put together my writing group,...
Slow Down: The Power of Two-Word Goals
For the past few years, I’ve made a simple two-word goal for myself. Last year, it was “Talk Less.” I established the goal because I had become irritated with my...
Making Time for Classroom Visits
“Walk the walk and talk the talk” is a phrase that I have heard again and again as an elementary school principal. At first it may sound kind of cliché,...
Reluctant Teachers and Nonfiction
At a recent workshop, Franki Sibberson asked us to recall our experiences with nonfiction texts as children. I shuddered. My memories of childhood nonfiction are not good ones. I remember...
Strength in Assessment: A Professional Development Protocol
Recently I worked with a group of literacy leaders representing a number of different schools and experiences from all across the Portland, Oregon metro area. I knew they held a...
Writing Conferences: The Power of Listening
Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. When we listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so we never get tired of...
From Bootcamp to School: Building Enthusiasm for New Initiatives
Leadership is ultimately about the ability to influence others. Richard Dufour and Robert Marzano I joined a new gym. Part of my new exercise regimen is to attend a...
