Read by Example

👋Hi, it’s Matt. This week, I spoke with Jen Schwanke, former principal, current deputy superintendent, and author of Trusted . (Full subscribers can watch the video of our conversation below.) Enjoy! Also, my feedback survey closes soon. If you have a few minutes to spare, I’d love to know more about your experience here. Take care, -Matt Jen Schwanke has spent her career inside schools as a teac...

The science of reading has made real progress in how schools think about decoding and language comprehension. But for a significant number of struggling readers, those two buckets don’t explain what’s getting in the way. Dr. Kelly Cartwright, Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Child Literacy at UNC Charlotte , has spent her career mapping the territory other reading models leave out — speci...

In this 45-minute presentation, I walk through five beliefs about the science of reading. The intent is to spark curiosity and encourage conversation. Watch this presentation in tandem with my free eBook What School Leaders Need to Know About the Science of Reading . Use these resources as a starting point for holding much-needed discussions in your school around effective literacy instruction. If...

Listen to my conversation with Penny Kittle, author of Micro Mentor Texts: Using Short Passages From Great Books to Teach Writer’s Craft (Scholastic, 2022). This will be our book club selection for January - March 2026. Join the chat below. Full subscribers can also access the video recording of our conversation here . See a preview below. Brief Bio * Penny is a long time teacher at every level of...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit readbyexample.substack.com This video recording is an exclusive benefit for paid subscribers to Read by Example. Thank you for your support! You can use this content in a variety of ways: * Watch it by yourself or with colleagues, and use this conversation guide to engage in your own conversation, reflection, and learning around the ide...

In this episode of “Read by Example,” I sat down with educators and authors Joe Schmidt and Nichelle Pinkney to discuss their influential book, Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities (Corwin, 2022). They explore the urgent need for structured, empathetic dialogue in K-12 classrooms, especially in today’s politically charged environment. Drawing from their extensive backg...

In this video demonstration, I share key journaling tools - simple tracking tools and intentions for success - to start my month. The ultimate goal is improving outcomes for teachers and students. That includes a sense of well-being, not just achievement. When others feel supported and successful, so do I as a coach and a leader. A written explanation is also available below if you prefer to read...

Matt speaks with Regie Routman, longtime educator and author of many books, including The Heart-Centered Teacher , for the inaugural episode of Literacy Unscripted . This podcast series challenges traditional approaches to literacy teaching and leadership. In this professional conversation, Regie and Matt explore the meaning of belonging in schools, the impact of a single teacher, and the crucial...

In this launch episode, host Matt explores the tension between literacy mandates and the messy reality of school leadership and teaching. Drawing from his experience as a principal and systems coach, Matt introduces the concept of "scripts" in education—from literacy curriculum programs to unwritten cultural rules—and examines how they can both support and constrain professional judgment. Matt sha...

Happy Monday! This week’s focus is on being a noticer vs. a judger during classroom visits. 📚 PROFESSIONAL STRATEGY When informally observing classroom instruction, shift from judging to noticing. Start by acknowledging what you see and hear without evaluation: "I'm noticing..." rather than "This is good/bad..." Naming our observations keeps them at an objective level; noticing activates the brai...

Happy Monday! This week’s focus is on promoting reflection through questions. 📚 PROFESSIONAL STRATEGY Spring is hectic. It is also a time for reflection and renewal. We can encourage teachers to explore the proverbial question "Why am I doing what I'm doing?" with thoughtful questions. During classroom visits, ask "How did you come to make this change in your practice?" or "What do you see as a p...

In this video tutorial, I share how I use a notebook to keep myself grounded when things feel chaotic and unpredictable. It’s Election Day - this feels needed! I address the following aspects of my notebook system: * Keeping a weekly intentions list to come back to when considering next actions * Dating the daily log and setting up your productivity dashboard * Starting your daily log with critica...

In this recorded webinar, we dove into how coaches and instructional leaders can use a notebook as a powerful tool to stay organized and focused in their practice. Drawing from personal experience and popular methodologies like Bullet Journaling and Getting Things Done, this episode explores the benefits of “notebooking” to boost productivity, reduce stress, and enhance our abilities. We discussed...

In this professional conversation, I speak with educational consultant Vivian Chen. Vivian is a former classroom teacher and coach, and now supports literacy educators independently. She organizes her work life using a free tool called Notion (notion.so) for a variety of tasks: * Building a database to plan her days and projects. * Organizing her business information. * Capturing her coaching conv...

In this conversation, Matt Glover, former teacher and principal, now a full-time writer and consultant, and I discuss his book, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher , co-authored with Carl Anderson (Heinemann, 2024) Key Highlights from Conversation Author’s Background * Matt Glover's experience as a first-grade teacher, assistant principal, and principal of a large early childhood school. * Shif...

In this engaging conversation with educators Vivian Chen, Debra Crouch, and Jared Kubota, we discuss the second half of How to Become a Better Writing Teacher by Carl Anderson and Matt Glover. The conversation revolves around practical insights, challenges, and strategies from the book that can transform writing instruction in classrooms. Key Discussion Points Book Selection and Initial Impression...

As a literacy leader, writing is a critical skill. * We need to frequently communicate our organization’s beliefs and values. * We avoid misunderstandings when what we share and post is clear. * If we expect our students and teachers to be writers… So where does one start? Consider employing ChatGPT as your writing assistant. In this video, you will see how this large language model (LLM) can: * G...

In this podcast, we delve into the world of writing instruction with Carl Anderson, co-author with Matt Glover of How to Become a Better Writing Teacher . Carl is the author of several acclaimed books including A Teacher's Guide to Writing Conferences and A Teacher's Guide to Mentor Texts K-5 . Carl shares insights from his extensive experience working with schools and districts, discussing the im...

Where does literacy leadership intersect with the quest for educational justice? In this thought-provoking conversation, I am joined by Michele Caracappa ( Reading to Lead ) and Debra Crouch ( Made for Learning ) as we delve into this vital topic. Michele, with her extensive background in education and leadership from New York City, shares insights from her journey of supporting literacy and educa...

As the new year begins, Debra Crouch, Vivian Chen and I avoided the usual focus on resolutions in this professional conversation. Instead, we emphasized good intentions in our professional practice. Our discussion begins with a sharing of our current to-read lists, a mix of fiction and non-fiction books relevant to education, personal development, and broader societal issues. We then delved into t...

Read by Example is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this space, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. On Monday, December 19, Debra Crouch and I spoke with Isobel Stevenson. Isobel is the author of The Coaching Letter, a newsletter that is about “organizational culture and intelligent failure”. She is also the author of multiple books, including Making Coachi...

Ever since the advent of the Internet, professional development for educators has become more prominent online. Teachers and school leaders found a home in Twitter. It’s been a source of knowledge and a facilitator of long-lasting connections, even friendships. How can educators use this platform today for professional learning, especially with its current challenges? In my conversation with Dr. M...

In this conversation with Regie Routman, we explore her writing process that led to her new book The Heart-Centered Teacher: Restoring Hope, Joy, and Possibility in Uncertain Times (Routledge, 2023). I was interested in learning more about her purpose and intentions around this important book. Below are three questions I asked Regie. * The cracked plate, beautifully depicted on your book cover in...

Read by Example is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts each week in your inbox, become a free or paid subscriber. For this article club, colleagues and I explored the following questions and more as we discussed Paul Emerich France’s article ( ASCD Blog ). * How can schools balance instructional transparency with teacher empowerment? * Is there a reasonable rationale for why princ...

What book would you consider to be essential reading for new school leaders? In this episode, Mary Howard ( @DrMaryHoward ), Debra Crouch ( teachingdecisions.com ) and I share some of our favorite books for principals, literacy specialists, and any teacher leader in a position of authority. Debra’s Recommendations * Opening Minds by Peter Johnston (also Choice Words by the same author) * To Sell i...