In part 1 of this 2-part series, Cailin Minor, literacy coach at Shanghai American School in China, explains why a culture of collaboration is important for achieving school-wide goals and how it's necessary to first establish the knowledge and skills of collaboration.
Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Collaboration, Coaching PD, Co-Planning, School-Wide Goals
What's the best way to seek feedback? Ask for it! Fiona Hurtado, teaching and learning coach in South Africa, shares the benefits of simply asking teachers for their honest feedback and how she's used these suggestions and insights to shape her coaching strategies moving forward.
Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, Feedback, Your Coaching Toolbox, First Year Coaching Tips, Coach-Teacher Transitions, Feedback Forms
Just because the school year is winding down doesn't mean learning has to as well. Tonya Moody, instructional coach in Westfield Washington School District in central Indiana, believes end-of-year coaching cycles are the perfect time to encourage risk-taking and promote a culture of learning.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Student-Centered Coaching, Collaboration, Coaching Cycles, Risk-Taking, End of Year
As a coach, do you ever feel like sometimes you're extremely busy and other times you're twiddling your thumbs? Shannon Hamm reflects on the yearly rollercoaster that coaches face and how each hurdle plays a vital role in the coach's journey.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Building Relationships, First Year Coaching Tips, Coaching Cycles, Time Management, In-the-Moment Coaching
Lindsay Deacon, instructional coach in Portland, Oregon, shares how playing Bingo encourages intrinsic motivation for coaches and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, PLCs, Partnership, Growth Mindset, Coaching Methodologies, Risk-Taking
Are you looking to build a coaching program or implement video into your current mix? Steven Montemarano, coordinator of learning at Livonia Central School District, reflects on what it took to build a program from the ground up and how his district now uses video to complement ongoing efforts.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Personalized Professional Development, PD, Your Coaching Toolbox, Culture of Coaching, Mission and Vision, Video Coaching, Professional Growth
How do you encourage data-driven conversations with your teachers? Data walls! Crystal Ceresani explains the benefits of these powerful organizational tools for increasing teacher engagement and tips for successfully implementing your own.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Coaching Conversations, Transparency, Data Walls, Literacy, Data
Jason MacDonald, elementary school teacher and former instructional coach, reflects on how his experience as an IC paved his transition back into the classroom as not just a teacher, but a teacher specialist.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Relationships, Collaboration, Culture of Coaching, Teacher Tricks, Professional Growth, Coaching Invitations
What does it take to support both students and educators in response-to-intervention programs? Learn some techniques from Kristen Craig, K–8 reading specialist and ELA curriculum coordinator in Pennsylvania, on how to stay vulnerable, present, and engaged with everyone she works with.
Topics: Tips and Tricks, Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Listening Skills, Mission and Vision, Modeling, Networking, Time Management
Dr. Christina Podraza, assistant principal and former instructional coach in Illinois, explains the benefits of innovation on new teaching practices and how to hit the ground running with your coaches and teacher leaders.
Topics: Guest Blogger, Your Coaching Toolbox, Collaboration, Teacher Leadership, Video Coaching, Modeling, Reflection, Social Media, Vulnerability, Innovation, Risk-Taking, Co-Presenting, Edcamps
