Student choice and ownership is an earned reward in the classroom. For teachers to provide choice and ownership to students means a shift has occurred from directing learning to facilitating learning. The teacher has routines and procedures in place as well as exposed students to high expectations with rigorous work. In response, students have shown…

Student engagement in the classroom has a powerful ripple effect. When students are engaged at deep levels it means they have more opportunities to transfer, digest, and store knowledge. Student learning outcomes increase as well as their confidence to tackle challenging academics. This post will cover 4 aspects of student engagement to consider when designing…

Classroom management  that is effective creates more time on task for student learning. This creates more rounds of practice to solidify new learning and increase learning outcomes. When teachers are consistent in their classroom management practices, students reap the benefits! This post will explore 3 ways to improve classroom management practices in the classroom. Relationships…

Lesson design is the art of preparing a lesson that takes into account the minor details required for an effective learning experience for all students. When teachers design lessons instead of just prepare them, proficiency for staff and students increase. This blog post will reveal five ways to improve the lesson design process so that…

Data collection is a way to gather and track information in order to make educated decisions. It is a great way to figure out what is working well, and what areas to focus on for improvement. Teachers often collect data on student learning to make adjustments to their instruction to better meet the needs of…

Accountable collaboration allows colleagues to work together productively in order to reach a common goal. Often, colleagues work in collaborative teams without accountability. In return, the team is limited in the results it can achieve together. By adding an accountability element to the collaboration, colleagues have clarity in how their efforts contribute to the achievement…

You might be thinking, “I am an instructional coach, now what?” Luckily, you are not alone! Many coaches feel the exact same way when they first get hired. Some schools and districts provide a clear, thorough job description and provide ample training for all the tasks required. However, most schools and districts hire knowing an…

Each school year is an opportunity to grow, especially when we improve instructional coaching practice. Being intentional in how we support the growth of teachers is dual benefit- teachers improve their craft causing students to achieve at higher rates. This post provides 10 ways to improve instructional coaching practice for the school year. Pre-Work Phase…

Professional Learning Communities also referred to as PLC’s, allow colleagues to collaborate together to enhance instruction in schools. By collaborating together, teachers can make ideas greater based on the expertise and perspective of their colleagues. The improved learning experience due to PLC’s benefits all students in the school building along with educators. 5 Ways to…

New teachers are full of passion and potential. It’s our job as leaders in our schools to cultivate the capacity of every teacher in our building. How effectively we do that depends on the system of support we create to help teachers thrive. Designing and implementing a plan that attracts, maintains the teaching talent through…