Lead Lit Topic: Guiding Teachers
Here is where you'll find information on guiding teachers.
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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...
No Time for Collaboration
A literacy interventionist, Marnie, double-checked her notes. She had it right. Andy, a fifth grader, was indeed reading Poppy (Avi, 2005). Andy kept calling the main character Bobby instead of...
Coaching Minute: Use Soft Words and Hard Arguments
Heather Rader explains the importance of using gentle words when giving honest but difficult feedback in this quick video tip. A transcript is available below the player. In a small-group...
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...
Building Foundations
“Hurry up! Faster! You’re almost out of time!” These are the words heard in a recent professional development with K-8 teachers from across my school district. Teachers are building with...
Coaching Minute: Nametags and So Much More
Here's a quick video tip from Heather Rader on making the most of nametags in professional development settings. A transcript is included below the player. When...
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...
The View from a Principal’s Window
This is the view from my office at 4:00 every day -- a cluster of mothers, acquiescing to their children’s begging, lingers after school while the youngsters stomp and shout...
High Schools, Scale, and Reluctance: A Podcast with Diane Sweeney
In this 18-minute podcast, Diane Sweeney talks with Heather Rader about the challenges of coaching at the secondary level, and shares advice for working with reluctant teachers. Diane's latest book...
Going Public with Study Groups
It started with the cancellation of the "What’s New in Children’s Literature" study group. We couldn’t meet on our designated date, so instead of rescheduling the meeting I asked teachers...
Time In/Time Out Conference: Andrew
In this "time in/time out" conference, Ruth Ayres and Cathy Laker meet with second grader Andrew, who is working on a "versus" story in writing workshop.
Quick Check-ins: Touching Base Before Coaching Sessions
Coaching places teachers’ self-esteem and professional respect on the line, because it exposes how teachers teach, how they think about teaching, and how they plan for teaching to the scrutiny...
Virtually Coaching a Lesson
I'd known Chad for about two months when his first observation was scheduled. Chad had shared with me that he didn't feel like his new principal understood him. Even though...
Collecting PLC Data with Google Forms
Like so many others, my district has adopted the professional learning communities (PLCs) model as one of our main sources for professional development. In doing so, we give teachers the...
Coaching Minute: Venting and Rant Ruts
Heather Rader explains in this one-minute video the difference between healthy venting and "rant ruts," with advice for how to help colleagues move beyond unhealthy talk patterns. A transcript is...
Coaching Minute: Different Philosophies
What do you do when the teacher you are coaching has a different philosophy? Ruth Ayres advises you to find common ground in this coaching minute video.
Why I Hate Homework
I hate homework. I hate it more now than I did when I was the one lugging textbooks and binders back and forth from school. The house my children are...
Time In/Time Out Conference: Ava
The Time In/Time Out Conference is a terrific way for coaches to maximize time and reflection in classrooms. Literacy Coach Ruth Ayres and Cathy Laker confer with Ava, a second...
Exploring Themes in the Intermediate Grades
At a recent third-grade team meeting we unpacked Common Core Standard #2. We looked at the standard, asking ourselves what it means and how might we teach it: R.L....
Video and the Thoughtful Coach
Three years ago I began video-recording teachers during lessons. It seemed like a win-win. The teacher would reflect on what went well and what needed tweaking inside their lessons, and...
The Dangers of Overplanning
I am a planner and a list maker. I am the person who goes out jogging in the morning, sits down, makes my list, and writes “jogging” and crosses it...
