I am about to start my fourth year as a literacy coach at my elementary school. This has been an exciting journey and I love my job. Like...
Every Sunday afternoon, I figure out in advance everything that I need to do for the week ahead and create a time blocked plan to work from. Instead of trying to be generally productive or working off a random task list, I thoughtfully organize my work according to what must be done this week, divide […]
If more schools took the time for collaborative planning rather than top-down PD, we'd be in a better place.
Take a look inside my office as a PreK-5 literacy coach! Get a free science of reading bulletin board to use in your own literacy coach office, too!
Impact Cycle - Instructional Coaching The Impact Cycle Document is fillable! Fill, save, and use again! This document includes: Types of Coaching Styles Video Impact Cycle Identify Questions Video Rubric - Activity PEERs Fillable Activity All relating to Jim Knight's amazing IMPACT CYCLE for Instructional Coaching.
This teacher survey gives instructional coaches insights into how they can provide support for the year. Provide this teacher survey for professional development purposes at the beginning of the year to start your coaching off on the right foot! Think of it like a pre-assessment for your teachers, to provide the best possible learning and growing environment. Check out these similar products you may also LOVE! - End of Year Coaching Feedback Survey -Instructional Coaching Menu ***************************************************************************** TERMS OF USE - © Elementary Math Coach - Beth Segner. All rights reserved by author. Purchase of this digital download is for use in ONE classroom only. If you would like to share with other teachers, you can buy multiple licenses. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view without first gaining permission from the author. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Cliparts, fonts, and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be used outside of this file without a license. This product is intended for classroom and personal use ONLY. See TERMS OF USE page in the product for clipart and font credits. ***************************************************************************** About the Elementary Math Coach: Beth is currently a K-5 Instructional Math Coach in middle Tennessee. She has her BS in Urban Elementary Education with a concentration in Math, and her Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on Math Curriculum. She is passionate about dispelling the myth that some people are not “math people” with engaging and interactive activities centered around developing strong number sense, while being research-based and aligned to the standards. Get Social: Connect with the Elementary Math Coach on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for math inspiration. https://linktr.ee/elementarymathcoach ***************************************************************************** How to get TPT credit to use on future purchases: • Go to your My Purchases page. Beside each purchase you'll see a Provide Feedback button. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. Each time you give feedback, TPT gives you feedback credits that you use to make the cost of your future purchases lower! • Click on the green star next to my store logo to become a follower. *********************************************************************************************
These positive feedback instructional coach's notes are a great way to leave a piece of feedback after a classroom visit. They are designed to help grow positive relationships between coaches and teachers. This resources include 5 pages: The first page includes all 4 notes designs The following 4 page include 4 of each specific design This way you can print out whichever notes work best for you and your staff!
I'm not embarrassed to say that one of the main reasons teaching first perked my interest was the office supplies. I remember sitti...
Moving into a coaching role as a teacher can be daunting for anyone. You spent years in the classroom perfecting your craft and all of a sudden you are in a new role and feel like a first year teacher all over again. But, you don’t have to. This post serves as a guide for…
Today I wanted to share a collection of EL Education resources, tips, and tricks for coaches and administrators that will help you best support your teachers.
I have been perusing Pinterest these past few weeks in search of not only some quality instructional coaching tools, but also som...
I met someone at a conference who recently reached out to me because she got hired as a Math Coach for her district. She asked for some advice on how to get started in her first year. I thought others might be interested as well ... 1. Develop a Shared Vision with your Administrator Get administrators on board with the understanding that research does not support deficit-model coaching and that working with you should be mostly voluntary for teachers. Principals should not expect that you will go in and "fix" teachers. That is not an effective plan and will keep teachers from wanting to work with you. Along this same vein, I would recommend that the coach and the principal develop a Contract of Understanding to address Communication (set meeting dates/times), Expectations, Time & Resources, Confidentiality, and Feedback (between principal, coach, and teachers). 2. Build Relationships with Teachers Every teacher has a story, and it's your job to learn it. It takes time to know them on a personal level and a professional level, but I'm learning that both are essential in moving teachers. When I began my work, I thought it would be "all business," but one thing I've learned is that coaching is deeply relational. I was new to my building, so I started by asking groups of teachers if I could crash their lunch and eat with them since I didn't have a group of my own. I found teachers were incredibly gracious and it allowed me to get to know them personally. I also started both semesters with drop-in visits (5 minutes each) and leaving positive notes to give teachers a positive first experience with my role. 3. Be Visible to Teachers Since I support 150 teachers, many of them will never seek me out so I try and initiate contact with them regularly. I do things like create 2-Minute EdTech Tip videos every few weeks, and my counterpart and I send a monthly newsletter just to try and get resources into their hands. At this point in the tech-age, I believe that people do not expect to have to go looking for resources as much as they prefer to have them arrive at their doorsteps (or inboxes). Another tip worth noting is that it's definitely easier and more efficient to work on projects or answer emails in my office, but (after reading The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros) I've been swayed to the belief that it's more important for me to sacrifice a little bit of efficiency so I can be in classrooms. I asked for teacher volunteers who wouldn't mind me sitting in the back of their rooms working on administrative tasks so I could still be part of the school, and several volunteered. I do this as often as I can. 4. Follow-Up is Powerful Last year I learned the value of following up with teachers. I didn't do it enough at the beginning of the year because I just felt like they asked for help with a problem, we solved the problem, and I would sit back and wait until they had another problem. I have since changed my strategy because I've learned that the majority of the work I do with teachers should fall in line with the Coaching Cycle, so rarely should I have a "one and done" encounter with a teacher. Now, after I work with a teacher, I make a note in my planner for a week or two later to casually check in and see how things are going. That often leads to more work with that teacher, and they appreciate the gesture of me reaching out to follow up. Subscribe for INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING Resources * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Choose all that describe your role(s). Teacher Instructional Coach K-2nd 3rd-5th 6th-12th
Tips to help you prepare for instructional coach interview questions and answers, and some quick tips to make sure you stand out in your interview.
Earlier this week, I broke out the cool new pens I got for Christmas and got to work on putting together my coaching cycle schedule for this next quarter. Creating new schedules throughout the year is a cool opportunity for us coaches. It’s kind of like having a mini beginning-of-school-year kick off more than just […]
The authors of The Coach Approach provide insight into their favorite technology tools for instructional coaches and best practices for school coaching.
As a new coach, I found it difficult to keep all of my coaching documents organized and in one place. These templates help you organize the following information in 1 convenient location! Coaching Cycle Template: -Meeting minutes -Next Steps -Pre/Post data -Coaching Cycle Focus -Teacher Behavior Focus -Teaching Standards Alignment -Current Step in Coaching Cycle -Place to record the date for meeting minutes/steps Snapshot Templates Include: -Beginning of year literacy snapshot for grade levels with 2/3/4/5 teachers -Teacher literacy snapshot template -Small group snapshot template
If you are an instructional coach or teacher that has ever been asked to lead a PLC this file is for you! WOW your Admin and make a positive impact on your team! You will find simple directions on how to "FLIP" your PLC and add hands on activities for your teachers centered around RL.1 & RI.1-asking & answering questions. *Your teachers will work through a variety flips that they will be able to recreate in their classrooms. Set the stage with engagement and follow it up with easy to use interactive activities that bring the standard to life. Included in this file you will find the following: 6 sheets introducing what a PLC is and the components that should be consistently happening in your PLC such as 4 leading questions, engagement & a focus on standards. 6 different flips for RL.1 & RI.2 Asking and Answering Questions Flip #1 Engagement: Adding a simple plastic table cloth covered in questions marks and some boxes with question marks is just enough to get them talking when they enter the PLC room. Flip #2 What's in the Bag? Create a bag for each teacher with question words on it. Place items inside and invite them to work in pairs to ask thought provoking questions about what is inside. Print of a template and add question words to brown paper bags for students to take home and practice with their families. Flip #3 Thought Bubble-Print out the question thought bubbles and laminate. Hot glue to sticks and pass out to teachers. Give them a grade level text and allow them time to ask questions about the text. Flip #4 The ? Flip-Choose a grade level text and write the answers to questions on sentence strips. Teachers must work to find the questions. Flip #5 Stop and Jot-Provide teachers with the template to print post its for stopping and jotting questions. Provide a grade level text on EPIC BOOKS or grade level text for them to stop and jot. Flip #6 Question Cube-Print of cubes on cardstock. Pass out a grade level text and have teachers roll the cube. If it lands on a ? they answer the question from the text. If it lands on a blank space they must generate their own. Teachers then take these activities off to the classroom. Make sure to make lots of visits to see these in action with the students. Drop off the FLIP note an a sweet treat to invite teachers to flip their ideas and experiences with asking and answering questions in their next PLC!
Structured Literacy is an approach to reading instruction that is explicit and systematic, with a focus on the structure of the English language.
Instructional Framework Lesson Plan Template New Madame from instructional framework lesson plan template, image source: pinterest.com
Positive feedback notes are used to report back to the teacher what they are doing well. These can be used during formal or informal observations, or as simple morale boosters for teachers. Included are 5 different cards, each blank in the center for you to add your notes. Check out my other resources for Instructional Coaches/Administrators: Instructional Coaching Binder/Coaching Forms Pear Learning Observation Forms Back to School New Teacher Flip-Charts Discussion Cards for Instructional Coaches
Simple and effective "Coaching Monthly Newsletter" template to use with your teachers! Share....Professional learning opportunitiesLinks to resources Articles to read And customize to make it your own!Monthly newsletters are a great way for coaches to enhance the professional learning they are alre...
Introducing the "Coaching Log Tracker" – Your Ultimate Companion for Streamlined School Leadership and Instructional Support! Key Features: Walkthrough Tracker: Effortlessly manage and monitor informal walkthroughs with our intuitive Walkthrough Tracker. Instantly calculate and record total visits for each teacher, empowering you to gain deep insights into their classroom engagement. The drop-down menu system enables you to grasp coaching focuses for each educator in a single glance, paving the way for trend identification and targeted support. Coaching Log: Our comprehensive Coaching Log elevates your instructional support to unprecedented heights. Seamlessly document coaching interactions, categorizing each entry by coaching type – whether it's a coaching meeting, observation, resource provision, or more. The ability to write concise summaries keeps your records organized and easy to review. Plus, track progress towards goals with color-coded check boxes, ensuring every educator's development journey is effectively managed and celebrated. Benefits You Can Count On: Time Savings: Bid farewell to tedious paperwork and data entry. With the Positive Principal Coaching Log Tracker, you'll spend less time managing records and more time making a real impact in the lives of your educators. Enhanced Organization: Keep all your coaching and walkthrough data in one centralized hub. Say goodbye to scattered notes and hello to a streamlined system that promotes efficiency and accountability. Actionable Insights: The power to understand coaching trends and their impact is at your fingertips. Identify growth areas, celebrate successes, and tailor your support strategies for optimal results. Goal-Driven Approach: Watching progress unfold has never been this satisfying. Our color-coded checkboxes help you visualize progress, keeping both you and your educators motivated as you work together towards their professional goals. Effective Communication: Easily share insights and progress reports with teachers, facilitating open dialogue and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
This instructional coaching cycle form has every component you need to document your coaching cycle as you meet with your teachers. Print it and use keep your documentation your coaching binder, or use the form digitally and store your documentation in Google Drive. Editable text allows you to tailor the document to meet your specific coaching needs. The sections on this form include: Pre-Conference Goal Setting Planning Observation Post-Conference Next Meeting Notes ⭐️Check out my Instructional Coaching Getting Started Bundle for more resources like this!
An instructional coaching menu is a perfect way to communicate with staff the roles and support that an instructional coach can provide throughout the school year. This resource includes pre-made and editable templates for you to design the coaching menu perfect for YOU. This resource includes: 6 pre-made coaching menus 4 editable templates In order to edit this resource you will need to have access to PowerPoint. If you like this resource check out these... Instructional Coach Resources MEGA Bundle Instructional Coaching Forms Don't forget that leaving feedback earns you points toward FREE TPT purchases. I really appreciate your feedback!! Please feel free to contact me with any questions: [email protected] -Kylie
This is a Literacy Coaching Schedule, so I can document my tasks each day. This is helpful when you are completing your coaching log, reflecting on progress for the week, and when conferencing with administration.
“>The incorporation of Instructional Rounds, also known as Learning Walks by some, has been a huge hit at our school. I highly recommend these be something you try with your teachers. We, as educators, are so confined to our own classrooms that we do not get to see the great things happening right next door or...Read More
Hello! I hope everyone is surviving the final days before the holiday break! As many of you know I’m no longer a classroom teacher, I am a Literacy Coach. So I often get the question or look, “What do you do all day?” So today I am here to give you an answer of […]
Join me in a revolution where struggling is replaced with thriving, where every instructional coach and educator becomes part of something greater by driving sustainable change in every classroom. For every coach and leader seeking clarity, for every school aiming for genuine success—this is your moment in instructional coaching.
As an instructional coach, there are certain items that can make supporting teachers easier. Each of the items shared here are highly recommended by myself as a teacher leader working in multiple buildings across a large district. Grab a binder and fill it with essentials like your standards, pacing guide, and teacher performance rubrics. Below…
Simple and Straight-forward Tools for Teachers, Coaches, and Leaders.