Ah, SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. It’s a classic for a reason, but let's be honest, it's not always the most inspiring tool. What if we told you there’s something a little more tailored to the unique and complex world of instructional coaching?

This is wh...

by Katie Maciulewicz 

The shift from being a classroom teacher to a new instructional coach can feel a little  isolating. You're stepping into a new role and navigating uncharted territory – and in my case, sitting alone in an all-glass office in a random hallway in the school that no one knows ...

by Katie Maciulewicz

Instructional coaches have the opportunity to impact everyone in a school building. We work with teachers, we work with students, and, if we want to truly create change, we work with administrators.

Building a collegial and collaborative relationship with administrators is cru...

by Katie Maciulewicz

It’s a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the last professional development session: you walk away feeling inspired, ready to implement all the new strategies, and then… life happens. The demands of the classroom kick in, and those brilliant new ideas slowly fade into t...

by Katie Maciulewicz

Welcome back!

This year on the blog, we’re doing a deep dive into the ways in which the Core of Coaching Framework can support our coaching work across the board, starting with Domain 1: Building Relationships. According to the framework, “Relationships are the foundation u...

Written by Torie Mollett 

We've had our first Summer Reading meetup, and it was so much fun welcoming everyone to dive into Priya Parker's The Art of Gathering with me! We're going to dig into how we can make our gatherings more intentional and how that applies to everything we do as coaches.

B...

Written by Torie Mollett & Jordan Petri

So, you've received the news that your coaching contract isn't being renewed.  Now what?

We’ve been through this, and it can certainly stir some emotions, ranging from excitement for a new chapter to anxiety and sadness about closing the old chapter. Either ...

Written By Katie Maciulewicz

Coaching teams of teachers can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It requires a different skill set than coaching individual teachers. Together, we’re going to think through some strategies and skills needed to work with teacher teams. 

Here’s your scenario: Yo...

Written by Katie Maciulewicz

Data can sometimes feel a bit intimidating, but what if we think of it more as a helpful guide? When we use data thoughtfully in our coaching, it really opens up some great possibilities for visualizing where teachers need more support, the progress being made, and our ...

Written by Katie Maciulewicz

Instructional coaches play a crucial role in the professional growth of teachers. To maximize that impact, it's essential that coaches have expertise in not just instructional strategies but also how adults learn. 

This is where andragogy, the principles of adult learn...

Written by Katie Maciulewicz

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.”

We’ve all heard that before, right? As an instructional coach, you’re probably thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I got it. I’m a great communicator.” But are you really?

Think about a time you were trying to explain something to som...

Written by Katie Maciulewicz and Danae Acker

Testing season. It's that unique time of year where the school buzz shifts, students are heads-down in preparation, and teachers are laser-focused on reviews. For coaches, this can feel like an unexpected lull. But instead of letting this "quiet time" go...