Improve Your Practice with a Self-Reflection Checklist

Jennifer Ivory, instructional coach in the Middle East, reflects on how she developed a questioning and listening checklist to support her coaching conversations after realizing she wasn't consistently hitting the mark.

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Topics: Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Questioning Techniques, Goal Setting, Listening Skills, Video Coaching, Self-reflection, Reflection, Checklists

Just Show Up: Building Confidence as a New Instructional Coach

Trusting yourself is critical in a coaching role filled with victories, roadblocks, and everything in-between. Monica Carpenter, Curriculum Support Teacher in Atlanta, GA, reflects on nine lessons she learned to build confidence during her first year on the job.

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Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Building Relationships, PLCs, Principal and Coach, Trust, Mentors, First Year Coaching Tips, Vulnerability, PLN

3 Ways to Build Your PLN as a New IC

Being a new instructional coach can feel like you're on an island with few resources, which is why it's crucial to build a learning network on your own. 🏝️ Violet Christensen and Courtney Groskin eagerly share three tactics for making connections—both in-person and online—and even suggestions of whom to follow online.

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Topics: Guest Blogger, twitter, First Year as a Coach, Practical Advice, Building Relationships, PLCs, Collaboration, Principal and Coach, Mentors, First Year Coaching Tips, Social Media, Online Tools, Twitter Chats, PLN

Coaching During a Pandemic: Virtual & In-Person Coaching Tips for First Years

Being a first year IC can be daunting, especially when starting your journey remotely. Sarah Bahn, Teaching and Learning Coach in Bolingbrook, IL, reflects on how she built relationships with teachers from a distance and how they laid the groundwork for supporting them face-to-face.

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Topics: Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Building Relationships, First Year Coaching Tips, Coaching Surveys, Virtual Coaching, Crisis Skills, Remote Coaching, Online Tools

2 Quick Tips for New Instructional Coaches

Ready. Set. Coach! 📣 Maria Papiez, instructional coach from Illinois, reflects on her first year as an IC and passes along her two most valuable tips for others starting their coaching journey.

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Topics: Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Goal Setting, First Year Coaching Tips, Coaching Support, Loneliness

Fun(ny) Ways to Support Your Coaching Work

Kelli Schiltz, instructional coach in Wisconsin, gives her staff fun (and funny) treats throughout the school year to remind them of all the different ways she can support them in their work.

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Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, First Year as a Coach, Instructional Coaching, Coaching Relationships, Building Relationships, First Year Coaching Tips, Making Coaching Fun

From Coached to Coach: Where Do We Begin?

Maggie Colicchio, instructional coach from Alliance City Schools in Ohio, reflects on her experiences transitioning from being coached as a teacher to becoming an instructional coach herself.

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Topics: Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Teacher Leadership, Principal and Coach, Culture of Coaching, New School Year Preparation

Starting the School Year Strong: 5 Tips for New Instructional Coaches

Tonya Moody, instructional coach in Westfield Washington School District in central Indiana, shares her practiced techniques for new or transitioning instructional coaches to start their journey on the right foot.

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Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, Coaching, First Year as a Coach, Instructional Coaching, Coaching Cycles

How to Make Coaching a Team Sport

Kara McFarlin, an instructional technology coach in Illinois, shares five ways she made coaching a team effort during her first year as a coach. For more insights like hers from other new coaches check out our First Year as a Coach series!

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Topics: Guest Blogger, Coaching, First Year as a Coach, Coaching Relationships, Collaboration

Reflecting on My First Year Coaching

Allison Kieffner, instructional coach outside Boston, Massachusetts, reflects on the tools, learnings, and support she needed to make her first year coaching a successful one. Afterwards, read more perspectives like hers in our First Year as a Coach series!

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Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, First Year as a Coach, Relationships, Collaboration, Networking

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