Lead Lit Topic: Getting Organized
Getting Organized
Results
A Little Bit of Clarity
I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better. Maya Angelou I was seated at an appointment desk to be fitted...
Smile File
Smiling makes people feel good and positive, conveying a sense of goodwill, rapport and trust. Dr. T. P. Chia "Everyone needs a smile file!" I heard the radio deejay...
Creating Coaching Visions
I have always been a should have kind of person. You know, the kind of person who overthinks everything and spends far too much time thinking about what I should...
Beyond a Checklist for Teaching and Leading
If I had a dime for every time I’ve felt like a fraud in the literacy world, I’d be rich. I’d still feel like a fraud, but at least I’d...
Brain Dumps for Clarity in Coaching
I stepped into the room and was immediately reluctant to interrupt the controlled chaos before me. Diane was buzzing about the room. She cleaned up student work at one table,...
Student Files
“I don’t look at student cumulative files,” the teacher said to me. “I want every student to walk into my room with a fresh start.” I stared at her dumbly....
The Toll of Constant Interruptions
Not long ago, a teacher marched into my office, closed the door, and sat down. She covered her face with her hands. I was taken aback. She was one of...
Portfolios for the Coachee
I haven't always liked my note-taking system. It’s always changing, and I'm always moving from one notebook to another. I am continuously searching for different ways to capture my thoughts,...
Read Alouds for Big Kids
My parents had four children in a relatively short period of time. They valued reading and did some reading aloud to us, but by the time we were in elementary...
Environmental Walks: A Snapshot of a Literacy Culture
In spring, I facilitate a number of parent tours of the school. These building tours are for incoming students who are either new to the district because of open enrollment...
Unleveling Classroom Libraries
Over the last two school years, we’ve followed the buzz around the dangers of a leveled classroom library. We’ve read articles and tweets, listened to podcasts, and talked to our...
Integrating PD into the School Calendar
I made my way around the room, watching staff members slowly and quietly go out the door, noticing a few others hastily catching up on parent emails or commenting on...
Heavy Edits
In college, one of my work-study jobs was in the public communications office. It was my responsibility to write news releases about the goings-on around campus. Various departments would submit...
I Still Am
When my oldest son was young, he would spend hours rooting through the dirt, inspecting what lived underneath the rocks in our yard and carefully examining every crawling insect he...
Best Intentions with No Assumptions
I arrived at the high school to pick up my son from maker club. As I was walking toward the front doors, a woman standing in the parking lot asked...
Reframing Data Discussions
“Will you lead a meeting going over ELA benchmark data with second through sixth grade on one of the institute days?” “Sure.” (Please no.) “Which day?” (Please say the second...
Coaching Minute: Fostering Team Collaboration
Jen Schwanke talks through the tricky work of making sure literacy specialists, coaches, and classroom teachers have the time and structure they need to collaborate well around students and data.
Defining the Principal’s Role
Jennifer Schwanke talks about the importance of school leaders building a sense among teachers and families of how literacy is the foundation for all learning in classrooms.
Literacy Morning Announcements
As a young student, I loved the morning announcements. There was something exciting about listening to the voices come through the loudspeaker to welcome me to the day. I remember...
Analyzing Student Work: Beginning with Strengths
“I don’t even know where to start,” she mutters under her breath as her eyes widen at the sight and her shoulders slump. They lie there, a stack of notes...
An All-School Writing Project: Six-Word Memoirs
I’ve long heard inspiring stories about schools who adopted a “One Book, One School” experience, exposing all students to a text and then using it to launch conversations and connections....
