Lead Lit Topic: School Community
Results
Know Your Teachers
Teaching is about building relationships with students. Donald Graves, in his book A Sea of Faces, reminds us that we must know 10 things about each of our students before...
Crafting a Vision of Teaching and Learning Rooted in the Strength of Multilingual Learners (Part II)
In part 1 of this article, which can be found here, I wrote about spending time as educators thinking and reflecting on the following questions regarding teaching and learning with...
Crafting a Vision of Teaching and Learning Rooted in the Strength of Multilingual Learners (Part I)
Sandra and I sat together to read the book My Two Border Towns by David Bowles. As soon as I finished reading the title of the book, she said with...
Making the Most Out of Teacher-Librarian Partnerships
“Can I help you find something?” I ask as a classroom teacher pokes around the biography section in the school library. “Our kids are going to be doing a big...
The True Test of Leadership
Please note: Tornado drill changes don't belong on the Instructional Leadership Team agenda. I left this comment on the Google Doc teacher leaders were using to discuss instruction. As principal,...
Picture It: Highlight the Strengths in Student Writing
Students select a portion of their writing they are proud of and mount it on colored paper. These are displayed on a bulletin board in a high-traffic area of the...
Making Learning Visible from Coaching Cycles
Sometimes I feel the need to reach a wider audience while working in an instructional coaching cycle since I often work with a small group of teachers for an extended...
Classroom Library Elements in School Library Design
I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library. —Jorge Luis Borges “I have a vision of a student-centered library where there is student writing on signs...
Redesigning Experiences for Parent/Guardian Conferences
October and February are usually the months for parent-teacher conferences in most schools. I admit that at the beginning of my teaching career, I never questioned any aspects of these...
35 Ways Leaders Can Improve School Culture
When the principal sneezes, the school catches a cold. —Todd Whitaker The school culture is defined as the school’s unwritten rules and traditions, customs, and expectations (Deal & Peterson, 2016). ...
Constantly Evolving Toward a Stronger Practice
When Serena Williams was interviewed by Vogue magazine about leaving the game of tennis, she commented, “Maybe the best word to describe what I'm up to is evolution. I'm here...
Coaching in Community: Co-Creating Learning Spaces (Part I)
People whose teaching lives have been positively impacted by coaching know that coaching can be transformational. However, the other side of the narrative holds just as much truth: Some teachers...
Creating a Culture Where Everyone Leads
A few years ago, I came home and announced that I’d be doing a different job at my school the next year. My youngest son looked incredulous. “Don’t be offended,”...
Remaining Connected as a Coach
It happens every time I walk into a primary classroom in January until the end of the year. No matter what my purpose for being there is—co-teaching, observing, micro-modeling or...
Coaching Minute: Welcoming Students as an Instructional Coach
David Pittman reflects on ways instructional coaches can help create an atmosphere of belonging for students.
How to Respond When Books and Curriculum Resources Are Challenged
In the past few months, many literacy leaders have been facing challenges from parents or community members related to classroom library books, school library books, and supplemental materials that support...
Reshaping Personal Narratives with Awareness, Reflection, and Support
People do not reconsider what they mindlessly accepted as true. — Ellen Langer At the age of 45, I was given a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was a...
Ridiculously Amazing Schools
How does your school improvement team focus their work for the coming school year? In the past few years the school improvement team at my school has used a book...
Leading Literacy: What to Expect the First 5+ Years
One of the most popular books for soon-to-be parents is What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It is a week-by-week guide for tracking your pregnancy and other helpful information. I...
Mini (But Mighty) Ways to Connect with Teachers
Communication, the human connection, is the key to personal and career success. —Paul J. Meyer Maintaining consistent contact and connection with teachers is essential for a strong relationship between teachers...
Coaching Connections: Morning Rounds
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.” This phrase strikes fear into my coaching heart. It means that I need to make more of an effort to...
