You've Got Mail

After the dust has settled at the beginning of the school year, you might want to consider using a few minutes during a staff meeting to start a letter-writing campaign – with all the letters addressed to you!

Your work throughout the year will be more purposeful and effective if teachers pause now to give you some insight about their own priorities.  So pass out some stationary and give a few prompts; put on some soothing writing music and be sure to have a few pens on hand (just in case!).  Here are some things it might be helpful to know:

·         What’s one thing that worked so well last year that you want to be sure to do it again?

·         What’s one thing you believe about your students?

·         What’s another thing you believe about your students?

·         What’s one thing you believe about teaching?

·         What’s another thing you believe about teaching?

·         Is there a teaching practice you are wondering about?

·         Is there something you feel you put too much emphasis on last year?

·         Is there something you want to do differently this year?

·         What do you hope your students will remember when this year is over?

Use these prompts or come up with your own.  The important thing is that you give teachers time to pause so that they can give you a glimpse of their hopes and dreams.  Don’t just ask them to email it to you or put it in your box.  Teaches have so many priorities this time of year that they’ll need the gift of think time to get these ideas worked out. 

Once you collect the letters, you’ll have a treasury to sort through that will help you know how to focus your energy as you work with teachers this year.

This week, you might want to take a look at:

Some musical inspiration about the power of letters:  J

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQaUs5J2wdI

A video reminder that getting students’ names right matters:

https://video.edweek.org/detail/videos/equity-and-diversity/video/4885722298001/getting-students-names-right-why-it-matters

Suggestions for seeking feedback as a coach:

https://blog.teachboost.com/seeking-feedback-as-a-coach

The importance of choice in writers’ workshop:

https://ccira.blog/2019/06/24/the-importance-of-choice-in-writers-workshop/

Tips for starting the year as a new (or continuing!) instructional coach:

https://www.smore.com/e54a8

That’s it for this week.  Happy Coaching!

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