Coaching to Disrupt the Status Quo

Education as Liberation

We disrupt the status quo of school in order to promote the liberation and thriving of all students. Check out these ideas, questions and readings.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasJune 30, 2022liberation, well being, freedom, marginalized students, reflection questionsComment

It’s June. Here’s one key thing coaches can do to prepare for the fall.

A “dear coaches” letter with just ONE tip for how to spend the summer in order to prepare to coach in the fall.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasJune 21, 2022rest, summer, mindset, juneComment

6 Ways to Create Teacher Choice in Coaching

Directive coaches doesn’t mean that we tell teachers what to do. In fact, great coaches create space for lots of teacher choice.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasJune 9, 2022directive coaching, teacher choice, PD, welcome meetings, questioningComment

Grow Your Glow

In this guest post, Kulsum Vakharia shares 3 tips for adding depth and weight to the way we celebrate teachers’ strengths.

Time Management for Instructional Leaders: Let’s Get Practical

Build a new habit out of one of these 7 practical strategies for managing your time as an instructional leader.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasMay 5, 2022time management, habit, instructional leadershipComment

Time Management for Instructional Leaders: Where are you?

Looking to get to at the root of why it’s so hard to focus on instruction as an instructional leader? Start with these reflection questions.

Coaching Teachers for Family Engagement

Supporting teachers in shifting from communicating TO families to building partnerships WITH families so everyone thrives.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasApril 21, 2022family engagement, coaching beliefsComment

Virtual Coaching Adaptations in a Post-Pandemic World

Tricks and tools learned from virtual coaching to keep in for effective coaching in a post-pandemic world.

Lauren VargasApril 16, 2022

Normalize Learning from Mistakes

Here are 3 tips about making learning from mistakes a central part of the coaching process.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasMarch 23, 2022mistakes, coaching beliefs, learningComment

Teacher Self(ie)-Reflection

A free template and tips for teachers to self-reflect on a recorded lesson.

8 Misconceptions about Directive Coaching

Directive coaching often gets a bad rap, but I believe it’s the most powerful and effective coaching stance. Here I tackle 7 misconceptions.

Equity from the Start: Coaching Welcome Meetings

In the very first coaching meeting we have with teachers, here are 4 tips for centering equity from the start.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasMarch 2, 2022coach-teacher relationships, relationships, welcome meetings, equity, identityComment

How to Respond When Teachers Complain About Students

Sometimes teachers talk negatively about students in coaching meetings. To create equitable classrooms, we have to respond. But how?

Yes Teachers Can! Rigor Built on Relationships

Practical advice for coaches who worry that challenging a teacher to meet high expectations could hurt their feelings or the coaching relationship.

Coaching StoriesLauren VargasFebruary 15, 2022coach-teacher relationships, rigor, relationships, high expectationsComment

We Don’t Talk About “How Did That Lesson Go?”

Inspired by “We Don’t Talk about Bruno,” let’s address one ubiquitous coaching question that really should be tossed out.

Coaching ContentLauren VargasFebruary 8, 2022questioning, reflection, reflection questions, classroom observation data, focusComment

Observation Tool: Questions and Student Voice

Download this observation tool to support your work with teachers around questioning and student voice.

Coaching for Student Talk

Are your teachers doing too much of the talking? Here are 5 tips for increasing student talk time.

Equity in Every Coaching Meeting: 2 Easy Reflection Questions

Use these 2 simple questions to help teachers reflect on education equity in every coaching meeting.

Observation Tool: Student Engagement

Here I share my classroom observation tools for supporting teachers around engaging all learners.

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasJanuary 11, 2022classroom observation data, student engagementComment

Supporting Teacher Peer Observations

Looking to get teachers into each other’s classrooms? Look no further, I’ve got the template for you!

Coaching ResourcesLauren VargasJanuary 6, 2022peer observations, reflection, template Comments

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.