Instructional Coach Entry Plan: First 30 Days on the Job

If you don’t have an entry plan going into your role as an instructional coach then the first thirty days on the job can be taxing. This post will provide a roadmap for those who have recently been hired as an instructional coach, are switching campuses or are looking for a stronger way to begin…

214: Bonus Edition- Making Progress with Kyle King

Kyle Scott King, is an educator, mentor, four time best-selling author, public speaker, founder and the Chief Executive Officer of The SHINE Institute. Kyle King also is the founder of Blueprint Conferences, a platform for educators to trade the life they have for the one they never knew they wanted. King also serves as the…

212: Bonus Edition- Classroom Tips with Lisa Johnson

Lisa Johnson has 19+ years of edu experience ranging from teaching HS English & MS Math to international curriculum development, creating and presenting workshops, and even running technology integration camps across the state. She holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction, & Tech and currently serves as an Educational Technologist for a 1:1 iPad H.S.…

What is a “Teacher Leader” Anyway?

For a while, I have been using the term “teacher leader” to mean anyone who supports teachers in their development. Because that is a broad term, I thought it would be important to dig deeper into what a teacher leader is, does and the impact they have in the educational field. What is a “Teacher…

PLC: Making A Professional Learning Community Productive & Effective

The acronym PLC refers to Professional Learning Communities, which are organized collaborative structures among educators. Many schools have PLC’s, but how they are set up and run vary greatly. A discussion recently came up in the Instructional Coaching Connection Facebook group where a coach was looking for advice from other coaches on how PLC’s are…

Tips for Making the Most out of Teacher Mentorship

Mentorship is the key to success. Every person that has achieved big dreams has been mentored by someone who came before them. The partnership between one person who is ahead with the person who is coming up behind is powerful. Mentorship allows for guidance, insight and warning for someone facing those very same obstacles for…

Coach Focus: How to Help Teachers Engage Students

Teacher leaders can help classroom teachers engage students in authentic, meaningful ways. As a matter of fact, student interaction is not the same as student engagement. A compliant class that interacts with each other and the content of the lesson translates to limited engagement and a low rate of learning. But, when teacher leaders provide…

What is a Mastermind?

There’s a very popular practice in the business world where movers and shakers get together to brainstorm new ideas and support each other in reaching new levels in their business. When many brilliant minds come together they create one MASTER mind. This think tank allows everyone to learn from each other’s experiences while gaining ideas,…

Coach Focus: How to Help Teachers Manage A Classroom

Teacher leaders can help teachers manage a classroom effectively and efficiently. As they partner together, they can pull back the curtain on an old myth- to be a good teacher, you must control your class. Control is not the same as manage. To take it a step further, to manage a CLASSROOM is more effective…

3 Tips to Maximize Student Engagement

Student interaction is just the beginning of student engagement. If we want students to truly be successful in the classroom, we cannot let it end there. What’s the Difference? Interaction means students are responding in a limited form to each other and yourself as the instructional leader of the classroom. Engagement means students are authentically…