Instructional Coaching with Ms. B

No matter your coaching focus, reading and writing are a part of it! In this episode, Douglas Fisher joins me to talk about reading & writing in the content areas and why all coaches need literacy knowledge. We discuss the consequences of compartmentalizing subjects, what schools can look like with literacy built throughout the day, and the importance of practice for making learning permanent. Dou...

Looking to improve literacy instruction at your school? In this episode, we explore three shifts schools can make to support reading and writing in all grades. I discuss reviewing data when planning to figure out what to teach and how to teach it. You’ll also hear about working on how we teach words, building background knowledge, and the Science of Reading. Listen now to the episode to find out a...

If your school is moving to embrace what we know about reading based on science and how growing brains work, don’t miss this episode! On the show, we explore the Science of Reading and take a look at it in terms of Scarborough's Reading Rope. I break down the components of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, including word recognition and language comprehension. Plus, Elise Lovejoy from Express Readers jo...

In this episode, I’m talking to author and consultant Zaretta Hammond about culturally responsive teaching. We unpack what culturally responsive teaching is (and is not), the importance of building trusting relationships with students, and how culture affects the way we learn. Zaretta shares insights on how teachers can support students by leveraging what they already know and extending it. We dis...

As instructional coaches, we often wonder if our schools are moving in the right direction and how we can get students more engaged in their learning. In this episode, I’m talking to Bryan Goodwin about his book, The New Classroom Instruction that Works. He shares strategies and ideas that coaches can use to support instruction in the classroom. Bryan explains his six-phase model of learning and g...

Get ready for an incredible interview with the fantastic Dr. Karin Hess! She joins me to talk about her book, Rigor by Design, Not Chance. You’ll hear directly from her about cognitive rigor and how coaches can help teachers plan for instruction. During the episode, we discuss some common misconceptions around rigor and Depth of Knowledge (DOK), how to use the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix, the acti...

How can instructional coaches help create inclusive spaces to support teacher resiliency? In this episode, I’m chatting with Nita Creekmore of Love Teach Bless about fostering inclusive environments where teachers feel like they belong and flourish. We talk about what resiliency means and how inclusive spaces support teacher resilience. Nita shares what an inclusive space looks like on campus, how...

Changes in education over the last few years have affected teacher morale. The good news is there are ways instructional coaches can help! In this episode, Suzanne Dailey from Teach Happier joins me to discuss building teacher morale when systemic changes are needed. We talk about teacher morale issues, positive psychology, and how small shifts can lead to big changes. You’ll learn about building...

If we want students engaged in the classroom, instruction needs to have purpose and meaning. In this episode, Gretchen Bridgers from Always A Lesson joins me to chat about instructional coaching for engagement. We talk about how instructional coaches can support teachers around student engagement. Gretchen gives us ideas for how to help teachers plan intentionally for engagement and explores what...

We can get students more engaged in the classroom if we customize their learning experiences. In this episode, Dr. Shaime Cortes joins me to discuss using differentiation as a support for engagement. We talk about the connection between differentiation and engagement. Dr. Cortes describes the benefits of differentiating instruction and provides examples of what differentiation can look like in the...

In this episode, I share 5 high-impact engagement strategies your teachers will love! These fun and easy strategies promote cognitive engagement and get students involved in their learning. I explain each one and give some examples too. Cognitive engagement is so important for our students' long-term success. Listen now to hear all about the 5 high-impact engagement strategies your students and te...

So, you made it through the door. Now what? In this episode, we’re talking about coaching observations and what to look for while you’re in classrooms! You’ll hear why it’s helpful to focus on one specific student-centered goal during classroom visits. I break down the three main categories to look for during teacher observations: classroom management, student engagement, and instruction. I also e...

Providing clear and concise feedback to teachers during coaching cycles is so important! But a big challenge for many instructional coaches is actually getting to the conversation. On this episode, Alissa Crabtree from Crabtree Coaching Collaborative joins me to discuss providing teacher feedback. We talk about how to schedule these reflective conversations, what they can look like on campus, and...

In this episode, we’re talking about kickstarting your coaching cycles with Allison Petersen from #NewToCoaching. During the conversation, we discuss using instructional coaching cycles to support teachers' individual needs. Using real-life examples, Allison shares ideas for initiating coaching cycles organically, building relationships with teachers, and prioritizing coaching cycles in your sched...

Are you looking for ideas to help improve your instructional coaching cycles? In this episode, Jim Knight, Founder of Instructional Coaching Group, joins me to discuss fine-tuning your instructional coaching cycles! During the show, we talk about setting goals, collaborative conversations, and prioritizing student learning. Jim also discusses honoring teachers as professionals and ways to partner...

Welcome to Season 5!!! Our theme this month is “Coaching Cycles - Make Them Happen!”. I’m excited to kick off this series with an introduction to mini instructional coaching cycles. During the show, I explain the steps in a mini coaching cycle and give you some real-life examples too! I also share tips for how to build relationships with teachers and initiate these mini coaching cycles. If you’re...

We’re wrapping up season 4 with a special episode all about creating, planning, and implementing common assessments. I share my experiences working with teacher teams on common assessments. Plus, I give you my process for creating common assessments aligned to state standards and ideas for how you can use the data to inform teaching. You’ll learn about analyzing data with teams, authentically prep...

I really love coaching call episodes! You get to hear about some of the real challenges coaches in the field are facing on campus and get some helpful tips. This episode I’m joined by Stacy Amsden, a second-year instructional coach. During the call, we problem solve some issues she’s having at her school around data and assessments. Stacy and I talk about how she can support her teachers with thes...

Formative assessments are an important part of the teaching and learning cycle. In this episode, Steve Ventura, President of Advanced Collaborative Solutions, joins me as we dig into formative assessments and data. Steve explains the difference between formative, summative, and interim assessments. He talks about the power of short-cycle formative assessments, provides tips for designing assessmen...

Are your data meetings all talk and no action? Join me as I chat with Jessica Zimmerman about how we can use the data we’re collecting to guide instruction and meet the individual needs of our students. During this episode, we explore different types of data, the benefits of analyzing multiple forms of data including student work, and the characteristics of an effective data meeting. You’ll learn...

How can instructional coaches get teachers to engage in coaching cycles? In this coaching call episode, I sit down with academic coach Erica Denkenberger to problem-solve some challenges she's facing implementing coaching cycles at her school. We talk about getting buy-in from teachers, tips for reducing resistance to new programs, and ways to get started with coaching cycles. You’ll get ideas for...

Do you have questions about coaching cycles? Well, I've got answers! In this episode, I answer 7 questions from instructional coaches about how to make coaching cycles work! Some of the key challenges I address include introducing coaching cycles, working with resistant teachers, and following up with busy teachers. I share tips for using colleague visits to shift perspectives and give you ideas f...

Coaching cycles don’t need to be complicated! Sometimes instructional coaches get caught up in this idea that coaching cycles have to be done in a certain way or follow a specific formula, but that’s not the case. What we really need to do is differentiate learning and find ways to make the coaching cycle work for all our teachers. In this episode, I talk about 3 different parts of a coaching cycl...

Wondering how to help teachers achieve their goals during coaching cycles? In this episode, Sherry St. Clair, President of Reflect to Learn, joins me to dive into this important topic. During our conversation, we talk about setting small, focused S.M.A.R.T. goals and how to keep those goals at the center of coaching cycles to maximize impact. Listen in as we discuss differentiating goals and how t...

Teachers are really busy, but that can’t stop us from coaching them! What if we could offer coaching cycles without the need for so many face-to-face meetings? In this episode, I’m sharing ideas for coaching with fewer meetings. I talk about ways instructional coaches can use technology to build relationships and collaborate with teachers. I also give you some of my favorite tips for maximizing yo...