Coaching to Disrupt the Status Quo

Good Instruction is Good Instruction: Using Evidence to Support Instructional Coaches

In this guest post by Kulsum Vahkaria, discover 3 types of evidence to focus on to support effective coach coaching.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasDecember 8, 2023coach coaching, practice, data, evidence, instructional leadership, student talk, focusComment

Differentiating Coaching for Novice and Experienced Teachers When Time is Scarce

In this guest post, school leader Donyel Griffin breaks down 3 different ways to focus coaching depending on the experience level of your teachers.

“Anyone else?” Let’s stop calling on volunteers

Time to put the hands down and come up with some new ways to engage students in classroom discussion.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasJune 28, 2023volunteers, classroom observation, student engagement, disengagementComment

Recording Coaching Meeting to Reflect

Looking for ways to grow as a coach? Take the step of recording your coaching meetings to reflect and invite feedback!

Coaching ContentLauren VargasMay 4, 2023reflection, self-reflection, recording, coaching meeting agendaComment

Disrupting the Status Quo of Boring PD, Part 2

In Part 2 of this series, I share 6 ideas to reimagine PD with a virtual coaching mindset.

Disrupting the Status Quo of Boring PD

Taking a cue from virtual instructional coaches, let’s consider how to disrupt the status quo of boring PD to move towards meaningful, engaging and effective development for all teachers.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasApril 12, 2023PD, virtual coachingComment

Coaching with an Anti-Ableism Lens

With guiding questions and a school-based example, consider ways to grow in your anti-ableism work as a coach.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasMarch 29, 2023disability, inclusion, anti-ableismComment

Disability Visibility Called Out My Ableism

This hugely powerful book of first-person stories of disability changed how I think.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasMarch 23, 2023disability, ableismComment

Is This Teacher Still with Me?

When a teacher is disengaged or frustrated during a coaching meeting, try one of these 5 strategies to get the partnership back on track.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasMarch 16, 2023resistance, disengagementComment

Precise Feedback during Practice

Providing specific, actionable and clear feedback during the practice section of the coaching meeting is crucial for helping teachers grow.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasMarch 8, 2023feedback, positive feedback, practice, habitComment

Scaffolded Teacher Practice

When facilitating teacher practice in coaching meetings, consider how to plan for layers that build from simple to complex to support building new habits.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasFebruary 22, 2023practice, modeling, success criteria, Scaffolding, automaticity, planning, coaching meeting agendaComment

Practice in Coaching Meetings: Role-play vs. Co-planning

Practice builds habits quickly, but how do I decide what practice should look like in coaching meetings?

Coaching ContentLauren VargasFebruary 16, 2023coaching meeting agenda, practice, role-play, co-planning, planningComment

“We Talkin’ ‘bout Practice?!”

Help teachers build their new skills and strategies quickly by effectively using practice in your coaching meetings.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasFebruary 9, 2023practice, habit, teacher-centered, modeling, success criteria, feedback, automaticityComment

Mid-Year Coaching Data Analysis & Reflection

Need a mid-year energy recharge? Taking time to reflect and analyze coaching data to see growth may be just the thing to help!

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasFebruary 2, 2023reflection questions, reflection, self-reflection, data analysisComment

Moving Coaching into Action with Deliverables

Using a clear next step is a powerful way to support implementation of teacher’s new learning.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasJanuary 25, 2023deliverables, accountability, coaching meeting agenda, best practicesComment

A Student Called Me a “White B****”: Reflections from an Anti-Racist Coaching Lens

Lauren reflects on an interaction with a student from her time as a teacher, both from her previous thinking and from an anti-racist coaching lens.

Coaching StoriesLauren VargasJanuary 19, 2023anti-racism, student brilliance, anti-racist lens, visionComment

5 Ways to Listen to Students to Improve Instruction

When considering how to improve instruction, we often leave out the voices of those our instruction is meant to center - students!

For TeachersLauren VargasJanuary 12, 2023listening, family engagement, cogens, liberation, student brillianceComment

Addressing Teacher “Resistance”: Practical Strategies (Part 2)

In Part 2 on promoting teacher buy-in, explore 5 practical strategies for addressing “resistant” teachers in coaching partnerships

Addressing Teacher “Resistance”: The Coach Mindset (Part 1)

In Part 1 of 2, we consider our mindset behind the question, “But what about teacher resistance?”

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasDecember 20, 2022resistance, reflection, self-reflection, mindset Comment

The True Fight in Education is the Fight for Liberation

In this guest post by Rashaida Melvin, she frames our work in education as a shift from fighting against students to fighting along side students for liberation for all.

Coaching to Disrupt the Status Quo

Instructional coaching resources, ideas, and stories to inspire coaches to disrupt the status quo of schooling and work to create the kind of learning where all kids can thrive. Written by Lauren Vargas.

Instructional coaching resources, ideas, and stories to inspire coaches to disrupt the status quo of schooling and work to create the kind of learning where all kids can thrive.
Written by Lauren Vargas.