Instructional Coaching with Ms. B

How instructional coaches talk to teachers and provide feedback matters A LOT!!! In this episode, Hillary McCaskey from Enneagram and Coaching joins me to discuss providing feedback to Enneagram personality types. This episode is part of our new series, Relationships, Resistance, and Rookies! During the conversation, we discuss how to customize feedback for each of the 9 Enneagram personality type...

Sometimes urgent things like covering classes or lunch duty take over the important stuff. When this happens, you might not have time to work on the instructional coaching goals you set, but there are some things you can do to make sure you reach your goals. In this episode, we’re talking about checking your progress on your 30/60/90 day action plan for instructional coaching. It’s the final episo...

Struggling to set and achieve your coaching goals? Help is here! Today we’re continuing our series about creating your 90-day action plan. In this episode, we’re discussing goal setting for your 30/60/90 day action plan for instructional coaching. You’ll hear about looking at data to identify patterns and possible focus areas. We explore how to use that information to set actionable goals for the...

If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels and not spending your time on campus in the right places, you need an action plan! In this episode, we’re discussing how to collect data for a 30/60/90 day coaching plan! I share my four-step process for conducting a needs assessment that will inform your coaching action plan. We talk about the three tiers of teacher support, types of data to consider,...

Today we’re talking about how your coaching job description will set you up for success...or not! Without a clear coaching job description, a lot of non-coaching work can get dumped on us! Having a strong coaching role helps you figure out where to focus your time and if you’ve been successful or not! In this episode, I share the reasons you need a coaching job description. We go over what should...

Today we’re celebrating 200 episodes!!! For this special occasion, I decided to do something super fun! I’m going to tell you my top 10 episodes from the last 5 years. These are not necessarily the most popular ones but they’re my favorite. You’ll also learn how to play BINGO with me and earn some great prizes. But act fast because the game ends August 11, 2024! Listen now to learn about my top 10...

Why do instructional coaches need to create a proactive PD calendar? Listen to find out! In this episode, we discuss how coaches can anticipate potential challenges and ensure they have the resources to support teachers' success. You'll learn how to proactively plan a PD calendar for the school year. Plus, get suggestions for different types of professional development you can try with teachers. C...

This week we’re discussing why instructional coaches should invest in content and curricular knowledge. I share 3 things you can do to make sure you have a handle on what students are expected to learn in your grades, your subject areas, and at your school. During the podcast, you’ll learn the steps instructional coaches can take to gain a deeper understanding of content and curriculum. Some other...

How can instructional coaches build strong relationships with teachers during the first 20 days of school? In this episode, we’re discussing why instructional coaches need to intentionally build relationships with the 3Cs. You’ll hear about what to focus on at the beginning of the year to set up a solid coaching foundation. Learn about the important role of consistency, clarity, and connection in...

In this episode, I'm talking about why it's important for instructional coaches to situate themselves in the school system with intentionality. We explore things you can do during the first week of coaching to set up a strong coaching foundation, including having a clarity conversation, creating a coaching menu, and meeting teachers with a positive interaction. Doing these things helps ensure you,...

The first 20 days of coaching are so important! They set the foundation for the rest of the year! In this episode, David White joins me to discuss the steps he took at the beginning of the year to establish himself as an instructional coach. We talk about what went well, how his role evolved over the school year, and some of the adjustments he plans on making next year. David also tells us about h...

Today, Elena Aguilar, founder of Bright Morning Consulting, joins me to discuss her new book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. During the episode, we look at the differences between transformational and instructional coaching. Elena tells us about the 3 Bs of transformational coaching and explains why we need to coach emotions and beliefs too. We talk about listening expansively, coach...

What is the principal's role in instructional coaching? In this episode, I’m chatting with Nicole S. Turner of Simply Instructional Coaching about how administration impacts coaching on campus. We discuss creating a culture of coaching by working closely with your principal and developing a shared vision for supporting teachers!  Nicole emphasizes the importance of developing a relationship with y...

School leaders set the tone in the building! In this episode, Jon Saphier, founder of Research for Better Teaching, joins me to discuss how leaders can create a culture of growth and learning. He shares his experiences working with schools to create a culture where everyone is open to improving. During the episode, we explore the characteristics of leaders who build positive school cultures and th...

What are the qualities strong school leaders possess? You know the type of leader who inspires teachers to try new things and grow. In this episode, we look at what makes that kind of leader with author and award-winning education leader, Dwight Carter. During the episode, we talk about his book, Be Great: Five Principles to Improve School Culture from the Inside Out. He shares the five qualities...

Math is everywhere in our world, and we want to make sure students are prepared! So how can instructional coaches support teachers with highly effective math strategies? In this episode, math educator and author, Kristen Acosta joins me to give her insights on improving math instruction in our schools. She shares what a great math classroom looks like and explains how coaches can help make it happ...

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...