My learning and my work as a literacy coach is significantly enhanced by the people of the web. Here are some of my favorite tools that allow me to connect with them. Where did I learn about them? Online, of course! My blog is a vehicle for communicating with those that I coach. Posts are often developed in response to their needs. For instance, this year we’ve begun building internal capacity for coaching in several…
Did you know it’s Banned Books week? I did, and I’ve spent some time reflecting on the whole notion of banning books….and blogs….and wikis…and Ning….and a whole slew of other things in schools this week….in the name of protecting children. It’s interesting what we ban and what it is we allow, isn’t it? Our notions of what it means to protect others….our understanding of what is truly threatening in this world…it’s all very muddy, isn’t…
Establishing a vibrant Personal Learning Network can serve literacy coaches well in so many ways. When coaches connect to others with intention, the quality of their learning may be enriched, their access to helpful resources often increases, and they may even find themselves pursuing increasingly complex questions relevant to their work. This is hardly surprising when you consider the collective experience and expertise of those they chose to engage with. I know that my PLN…
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This year, I’m excited to be sharing a monthly newsletter with those that I coach. I thought I’d share here as well–feel free to take a peek and pass along. Thanks for inspiring me to use Scribd, Nancy! You may also download the “clickable” document here: octobercoachingnewsletter October Coaching Newsletter 5bpkxmg2cn
Before I spent most of my days literacy coaching, I spent most of them facilitating workshops. Sometimes, I’m asked my opinions about which sorts of learning experiences make the most difference for teachers, and I always stumble over my response. It depends on the purpose of the learning, I guess. It also depends on the learner, the facilitator, and the coach. I know that there are moments that call for a great keynote and a…
Speaking of the need for protocols….a few weeks ago, I was chatting with a friend who decided to put a group of students in charge of selecting pieces for their annual student anthology last year. He imagined that these kids–true student leaders in every sense of the word–would be eager to share what they knew about the craft and the process of writing, serve as encouraging role models to their peers, and work collaboratively to…
Just as teachers rely upon a gradual release of responsibility model to ensure effective instruction, many coaches begin moving toward similar models once they’ve established agreed-upon learning targets for their efforts with teachers. I was first introduced to this model through my study of Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey’s work and then again when I was exposed to Jeff Wilhelm’s kid-friendly version in one of my favorite texts, Reading is Seeing. As a coach, I…
Why do skilled facilitators of adult learning experiences encourage the use of structured protocols? In my experience, protocols enable participants to better understand the purpose of the work that they are engaging in. They also ensure equity, provoke deeper study of identified texts and practices, and provide a safer framework for rigorous and even uncomfortable dialogue. As a literacy coach, I’ve spent the last year researching, selecting, and modifying a variety of new protocols that…
Coaches travel around a lot during any given day. I know I’ve spent the last two days chatting up the importance of assessment, but gearing up to do this sort of work also includes simple things….like ensuring that you don’t have to borrow materials from the teachers you are working with. This is how you might end up writing on a brand-spankin’-new white board with permanent marker or pulling off some other equally horrifying feat…