Hey I-Team and Happy New Year! I pray that you're thriving and surviving during this first month of 2022. You know there's so many uncertainties that lie ahead in the new year, but in all actuality, that's been the case every time a new year rolls around. Funny though, one thing that's always been a constant are the goals or those new year's resolutions that we make then turn around and break weeks afterwards (LOL)!
     I've written a couple of posts about goal setting. One was written in August 2019 and it was titled "Ready, Set, Goals!".  And the most recent was written April 23, 2021 which was titled "New Beginnings". In both, I discussed goals and how they can keep you focused as you work to achieve the desired outcome. And you know what? Just like we set goals as adults; be it personal or professional, I believe students should be encouraged to do the same. With so many daily challenges that students face, goal setting gives them a sense of normalcy in a chaotic world. Goal setting also allows them to see the bigger picture of success broken down into achievable steps. Click on the Intentional Instruction Podcast where you can listen to the episode on this topic.  Looking for goal setting activity pages to share with your students? Grab your copy by clicking here. 
Well, that's all for now. But don't forget to click on the Intentional Toolkit below to access a few articles that are timely and connected to the blog and podcast discussion. To access them just click on the toolkit at the bottom of this page. From there you'll be able to open the PDF. As always, I hope you find these resources useful.
And it's never too late to look fabulous and fit while being "Intentionally Informed". To shop I-Team gear, just go to the 3 bars on the top left-side of the screen; scroll down to "I-Team Store", click, then take time to shop around.
Finally, if you enjoy reading the Intentional Instruction Blog, consider signing up so you can be notified when a new post drops. You can do that by clicking here.
​Along those same lines, you can subscribe to the Intentional Instruction Podcast by hitting the subscribe button on any of the virtual platforms such as Google Podcast, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, and more.  I'd love to have you become part of the I-Team!
Okay so after all those shameless plugs, that's really all for now (hahaha)! Take care of yourself, be safe, and until next time...go out there and be GREAT!
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      Hey I-Team, I hope you're doing well this twelfth and final month of 2021! I don't know about you, but I'm eager for Christmas Break! And to all of my fellow educators...we finally made it to the halfway point y'all!!! Excuse me while I take a few minutes to go into a Praise Break !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think anyone would disagree with the fact that this first half of the school year has been rough. From the daily shortages of substitute teachers, bus drives, cafeteria workers, etc., to the struggle of tackling learning loss by many of our students, there has been an overwhelming number of educators across the county who have shared the same sentiments as their colleagues when discussing burn out early on in the year.
​      In a recent article published by the National Association of Educators (NEA), senior writer Tim Walker found that K-12 public school educators were the most likely to report higher levels of anxiety, stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many new obstacles brought on during this school year, I'm sure we all might know at least one educator who resigned from their position during the first half of this school year. As an Instructional Coach I have to admit, there were so many days where it was hard to watch teachers who love what they do, become discouraged because they couldn't be there for their students (especially when classes had to quarantine, and that happened quite a bit during this first half of the year). Although classes were able to meet online, teachers still felt like instruction wasn't the same online as it is when you're in person. All the challenges brought on during this one semester, but you pushed through. And now here you are halfway through the school year. I don't know about you, but I think that's cause for celebration!!!!!! In fact, if you head on over to the Intentional Instruction Podcast, you can hear my self-care tips that I encourage you to try as you celebrate the end of the first half of this school year; you can listen by clicking here.

The Intentional Toolkit
Inside the Intentional Toolkit I've also included a few articles that are timely and are connected to the blog and podcast discussion. To access them just click on the toolkit at the bottom of this page. From there you'll be able to open the PDF. As always, I hope you find these resources useful.

​   Well, that's all for now, but as you enjoy some of your favorite holiday traditions with those you love, may your days be merry and bright, and may all the work-related stress leave from your sight.
​Until next time...go out there and be GREAT! 

Hey I-Team! I hope this month finds you well as you live your best life. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving Break is literally right around the corner. But with the challenges of returning back to all day in-person learning while still in the midst of a pandemic, the break can't get here fast enough. I think we need that time to just get away from the daily work routine so that we can refocus as we move forward in this school year. And speaking of moving forward, to my surprise John C. Maxwell has a book that's the exact same title of my post! I honestly had no idea of his book title until I did a google search. I guess it goes to show you that great minds really do think alike :)!!!
But in all seriousness, many times when we face challenges, we worry about the outcome. I think the first first question that comes to our mind is "what if I fail?" Although failure is inevitable, there's so much to be learned from it. In fact, it's through our failures that we're able to move forward. I talk more specifically about this topic and offer inspiration regardless of where you are in your life or your career; so head on over to the Intentional Instruction Podcast to listen to the episode. 

The Intentional Toolkit
Inside the Intentional Toolkit, I included a link to author John C. Maxwell's book "Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success". I've also included a few articles that are timely and are connected to the blog and podcast discussion. To access them just click on the toolkit at the bottom of this page. From there you'll be able to open the PDF. As always, I hope you find these resources useful.

I-TEAM STORE
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​Subscribe
Do you enjoy reading the Intentional Instruction Blog? Well sign up and be notified when a new post drops. You can do that by clicking here.
​Along those same lines, you can subscribe to the Intentional Instruction Podcast by hitting the subscribe button on any of the virtual platforms such as Google Podcast, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, and more.  I'd love to have you become part of the I-Team!

Well that's all for now. But in this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to celebrate those times that you stepped out there and took a risk. You may have failed miserably, but you kept going. Maybe that's your current situation right now and if that's the case, learn the lessons as you anticipate all the wonderful blessings that will unfold right before your eyes. Until next time, go out there and be GREAT! 

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Hey I-Team. I hope you're doing well during this beautiful month of October (okay, so I'm a little biased since this is my birthday month!) But you have to admit, October is a beautiful month. I mean,  there's beauty in the changing colors of leaves, then there's the crisp autumn evenings, and of course the gorgeous sunsets at around 5:00pm daily (now that part I could do without...but I digress). So as one season comes to an end, you literally get to see another one begin. With that in mind, I'm thinking about how the  first quarter of the school year has come and gone. By now I'm sure many school districts have already had conferences. And I'm sure they were held either in person or virtually. But whatever the setting, Parent-Teacher Conferences definitely play a key role when it comes to the home-school connection.  Now while it's important for parents to get a clear  understanding of their child's growth and development in school, it's equally important for teachers to learn more about the student through the eyes of the parent/guardian. I think it goes without saying, but we know there can be challenges when trying to schedule a parent-teacher conference. One of those challenges of course is when parents/guardians work during the time of the conferences and simply cannot make it to pick up their child's report card. This is why flexibility is key for schools. Being understanding of a family's situation beyond the parameters of the school setting can  have a major impact on the type of support  schools get from those parents/guardians moving forward. However, successful Parent-Teacher Conferences whether over the phone, in person, or virtually can establish a great working relationship with families and have a lasting impact on the student. As a matter of fact, if you want to hear more about this topic, head on over to the Intentional Instruction podcast. In this episode I share 3 tips/strategies for making your Parent-Teacher conferences a huge success. Click here to listen. Still in need of a resource so parents can sign up for conferences? No worries, click on this link and check out a form I used in my classroom.
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​ The Intentional Toolkit
Inside the Intentional Toolkit, I included a few articles that are timely and are connected to the blog and podcast discussion. To access them just click on the toolkit at the bottom of this page. From there you'll be able to open the PDF. As always, I hope you find the articles useful.

Subscribe
Do you enjoy reading the Intentional Instruction Blog? Well sign up and be notified when a new post drops. You can do that by clicking here.
​Along those same lines, you can subscribe to the Intentional Instruction Podcast by hitting the subscribe button on any of the virtual platforms such as Google Podcast, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, and more.  I'd love to have you become part of the I-Team!
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Well that's all for now.  But teachers as you're preparing for those loooooooong evenings during Parent-Teacher Conferences, remember to smile, even if it isn't visible from behind your facemask. Your positive energy will resonate with parents who-more than likely- are just as nervous during conference time as you are. And when conferences are over, take a deep breath as you celebrate the opportunity of being able to build relationships with the families of your students! Until next time...go out there and be GREAT!

     Hey I-Team...and Happy September! I hope you've been doing well since the last post. So as you know by now, schools across the country have returned to in-person learning. And although it's definitely been a joy seeing all the students back in the building after being away for about a year and a half, we know that we must continue to follow CDC guidelines while doing what we can to keep students healthy and safe. Speaking of being back, I'm especially happy to welcome back College and Professional Football! For me, when football season starts, that's one of the reminders that the weather outside will soon be changing from extreme heat, to cooler temperatures. Of course beyond the game, I love watching the halftime show...particularly the awesomeness of HBCU marching bands. In my opinion, Historically Black College and University bands bring out this wonderful spirit of excellence, showmanship, pride, and tradition. These qualities are what those long standing institutions of higher learning hold in high esteem.
     And even though seeing the marching bands in all their glorious excellence makes my heart happy, it also interest me to look over at the sidelines to see how the head coach interacts with the team while they're out on the field. I'm sure you've seen it...you have some coaches who call out plays while remaining calm and composed under pressure (i.e. retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy). And on the flip side, you've seen others pace frantically up and down the sidelines as though it won't take much for someone to call out their old jersey number and they get suited up so they can get out there on the field to show 'em how it's done...(i.e. College Football Coach Deion Sanders)...lol. But no matter the personality or passion of the coach, it's always interesting to watch the dynamics between a coach and his/her players.
    There are certainly similarities between coaching a sport and instructional coaching in the field of education. As I said earlier, the dynamics between the coach/player vs. the instructional coach/teacher play a major role in the success of the partnership. Along those same lines, establishing a goal and working towards it consistently gives all parties a chance to reflect, refine, and plan next steps in order to accomplish the goal. Now while it may appear that the instructional coach is working behind the scenes, our job is to work along side the teacher in a partnership that includes coaching strategies such as co-teaching, co-planning, and real-time coaching. In fact, that's what's happening right now between me and a few of the teachers at my school. As they work with me work in  a coaching cycle, we are working together to accomplish a high leverage academic goal that's attainable for their students. Grab a copy of the Coaching Kick-Off planning sheet that I use in my initial meeting with teachers by clicking here. Want to learn more?, then head on over to the Intentional Instruction Podcast to hear   how I use that time during a coaching kick-off to plan my work with classroom teachers.      

Do you enjoy reading the Intentional Instruction Blog? Well sign up and be notified when a new post drops. You can do that by clicking here.
​Along those same lines, you can subscribe to the Intentional Instruction Podcast by hitting the subscribe button on any of the virtual platforms such as Google Podcast, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, and more.  I'd love to have you become part of the I-Team!

Well that's all for now, but as the month of September winds down, I'll be on the lookout for some great football and of course I'll be enjoying the sights and sounds of those amazing HBCU bands.  In fact, if you click on the video below the toolkit, you'll see just what I'm talking about when you watch the incomparable band known as the "Sonic Boom of the South"; the Jackson State University Marching Band. One of many outstanding HBCU bands!!! Enjoy, and until next time...go out there and Be GREAT!!!!!!!

     Hey there I-Team! I hope this post finds you in an air-conditioned space (is it hot or is it not?) Any who, I wanted to come back with the continuation of last month's post which focused on First Year Teachers. I still remember when my principal at the time handed me the keys to my very own classroom. As I walked down the hall to MY room, I remember being eager and nervous at the same time. When I turned the key to unlock the door, I walked in, turned on the lights, and looked around at the  four empty walls painted in a soft yellow  (and wouldn't you know, that was my blank canvas!)
     The small student desks were all in rows and you could literally see your reflection when you looked down at the freshly waxed floors. I looked around, then looked down at this GINORMOUS binder that had been given to me during New Teacher Orientation the previous day. I just remember standing there thinking "where do I start?" If any of that sounds familiar, maybe you had that same look on your face during your New Teacher Orientation. Or perhaps you sat at your desk in your classroom trying to figure out an escape plan before the first day of school. And if that's the case, I encourage you to head over to the Intentional Instruction Podcast where I discuss my top two things that I believe will set you on track to having a great first year! 

I-TEAM STORE
A reminder about how to access the Intentional Instruction store. Just go to the 3 bars on the top left-side of the screen, scroll down to "I-Team Store", click, then take a look at the items inside. Fall items will be added soon, so remember to check back regularly. 

The Intentional Toolkit
Inside the Intentional Toolkit, I included a few resources that are timely and are connected to the podcast discussion. To access them just click on the toolkit below. From there you'll be able to open the PDF.
Video
     I remember having a chance to meet the late Dr. Rita Pierson when she came to my former district to present at a professional development  workshop.  Not only was Dr. Pierson down-to-earth, she was also passionate about her work; and of course she had a great sense of humor. Many educators have watched her video titled "Every Kid Needs a Champion Teacher" on more than one occasion. For me, it never gets old as it inspires me each time I hear her talk about the impact her late mother had on the countless number of students she encountered throughout her teaching career. As always, I hope that you find the video below as well as the resources in the Intentional Toolkit useful.

Well, that's all for now. But I do hope you find a cool place to sit back and recline as this summer heat continues to make us long for cooler days in the coming months. As I end this post it's my hope that you have a wonderful first year! Remember to take care of yourself,  be safe, and until next time...go out there and be GREAT! 
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      Hey there I-Team! It's so good to be back from summer break. I hope that you've been enjoying these warm sunny days as much as I have! I 've especially enjoyed spending free time with family and friends. As a matter of fact, it was a conversation that I overheard this summer that inspired this post. One day when my family and I went out to eat, we were waiting to be seated when I overheard a conversation between a group of people sitting beside us. Initially, there were only two people siting next to me and my family. But as more people joined the party of two, I could overhear them saying to one of the original two "Congratulations on your retirement!" (and to be clear... I wasn't eavesdropping or as the younger generation says I wasn't "ear hustling" LOL). It was just that their voices carried and you could tell they were truly happy for the guest of honor. That's when I realized this group wasn't just out for an ordinary lunch like me and my family; this large group was out to lunch for a retirement celebration.
     As they laughed and talked while waiting to be seated, I thought about the fact that this person had finally reached a day where they could celebrate the end of their career. In that brief moment, I  wondered what the beginning of that person's work journey was like. I wondered if that person was excited and nervous when they got the news that they'd been hired for their first job.
And that made me think back to my first year as a classroom teacher. Although I appreciated the support I received from both of my cooperating teachers during the previous semester when I was a student teacher, being handed keys to my own classroom was definitely uncharted territory! Weeks before school started, I remember racing thoughts going through my mind. Thoughts such as: What will my students be like? What will my grade level team be like? What if I teach the lesson wrong? What if a student gets sick in the middle of my lesson...what will I do? I had so many questions. I even remember telling my mother how I hated being considered the "brand new" or "first year" teacher. But her response to me was simple: "Everybody had a first year and if they could do it, so can you".
     Now 25 years later I write this post hoping to encourage first year teachers who will begin their journey in a matter of weeks. If you're as nervous as I was, I have a couple of suggestions that not only  impacted my  first year, but my entire career in education. So head on over to the Intentional Instruction Podcast to listen to the episode! For easier access click the three dashes on the top left side of this page, then scroll down to "podcast" and click. You'll see several platforms where you can listen to the show.
  Next month, I'll do part 2 of this blog and I'll share more tips that'll support you on your new journey.  Of course I've included additional resources to go along with this post. Just click on the Intentional Instruction Toolkit below to get to the articles. As always, I hope you find these resources useful.
While we continue to bask in the sunshine during these dog-days of summer, remember to stay safe and practice social distancing when out and about. I also encourage you to prepare your mind for the new opportunities that you'll encounter during the upcoming school year. Do your best to remain positive, and don't forget to practice self care. You'll see how those small things will go a long way. Until next time...go out there and be GREAT!

     Hey, Hey "I-Team".  I'm so glad to welcome the month of June and my summer break. I hope you're doing well.  In thinking back to where we were this time last June, our country was deep in the middle of two global pandemics: one of those was COVID-19  and the other was the reminder of racial injustice that continues to keep us divided. The world watched in horror and disbelief (well...disbelief to some but not all of us) as we witnessed the senseless murder of George Floyd under the knee of a now convicted "police officer".  Due to the manner in which Mr. Floyd died and in the mist of protest from people around the world, words such as equity, inclusion, diversity, and CRT (Critical Race Theory) began to gain traction. This was particularly noticeable with school districts across the country as the pandemic-coupled with police brutality-highlighted the well known disparities in Black and Brown communities. 
Now one year later, while we may be seeing a decrease in the number of COVID cases as more and more people continue to receive vaccinations, the plight to abolish racism world-wide is one pandemic that will take centuries to undo.
     On May 31, 2021 the country recognized the 100th year anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre which was  ignited by an angry mob of White supremacists. The massacre killed hundreds of  residents and destroyed Black-owned businesses.  Set off by a false narrative or better yet an outright lie (I'm reminded of Emmitt Till and the countless number of other innocent Black men whose stories will never be heard). The Tulsa race massacre was enraged with jealously, hate, and of course fear. The town of Greenwood was burned to the ground within 24 hours. It's safe to say that Black Wall Street, Black economic empowerment and progress in the Black community has not risen to that level of prominence since those days. Another important date that is worthy of recognizing is June 19th, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day. This American holiday commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved Africans and Black Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States.
     In spite of the barriers that are consistently placed in our way, we as a people prove time and time again that we are fully equipped to achieve excellence. The question however becomes: Why are policies and practices set in place to make our ability to achieve our God-given greatness so difficult? And as I'm thinking of the younger generation coming up,  I'll even go a step further and ask: Why are history lessons that would allow Black students to see their heritage prior to and beyond slavery missing from text books? And finally this rhetorical question began to spark discussion during the time NFL quarterback Colin Kapernick decided it was time to bring awareness to racial injustice by kneeling during the singing of the National Anthem. That question was: When public school students are required to learn the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, or learn the words to the National Anthem, at what age do they begin the recognize that those words don't apply to every person in this country? Those are the kinds of questions that have gained more traction since the age of social media, but more importantly they've gained traction since bystander video footage show key evidence that would go missing if it were not filmed.
     To emphasize the importance of why equity is invaluable to the world that we live in, and to dissect key components that are necessary for achieving educational equity in schools, for this month's podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Howard Fields, III; author of the latest book titled How to Achieve Educational Equity; so head on over to the podcast to hear his insights on how equity in schools is possible. Under the Intentional Toolkit I share the link to Dr. Fields' book as well as the video book trailer. I also share some additional resources relevant to equity, diversity, and inclusion in schools. As always, I hope you find these resources useful. 
So as those tough conversations around racial equity, inclusion, and diversity challenge us to speak up and take appropriate action, let us be reminded that the work we do-while not easy- will have a positive impact on those who will follow behind us. When we take necessary steps towards changing policies and practices which have been designed to exclude specific groups of people, that's when we will all be in agreement when we say "liberty, justice, and equity for all!" Until next time...go out there and be GREAT!

This article focuses on why equity matters in schools.

A closer look at what it will take to achieve equity can be found in ​this article.

This article discusses 8 powerful ways to promote equity in the classroom.

Eye See Me Books--Check out this Black-Owned Book Store to order Dr. Fields' book. You can also take a look at other amazing books written by Black Authors.

     Hey "i-Team" and happy May! 'Tis the season for grilling, chilling, and sunny days. I hope this month finds you well. So far it's going pretty good for me. Although the 2020-2021 school year will come to a close in a matter of days, it feels like this year has been the longest one on record. Mind you that although it was certainly the most challenging year of historic proportions, it has been filled with highs and lows. As we know, students in schools across the country have been in a virtual classroom setting (some districts in certain states have remained that way even at the time of writing this post). 
     To emphasize learning loss and summer break, in my June 2018 post, I discussed research based strategies for avoiding summer slide. When you have a chance, go check it out. Although "brushing up" on skills taught during the school year can have a positive impact on student academic growth, students need the opportunity to take a break by doing things they enjoy. Activities are typically self-initiated and create choice. Coincidently because of the change in school as we were all use to in years past, schools are now looking for ways to make up for the learning loss of many students due to the pandemic. So what should it be... summer school or summer break? An article in the Washington Post written by Fordham University professor Nicholas Tampio says that children in the pandemic era need a chance to play before they resume their formal education in the fall. On the other hand an article from Bloomberg columnist Andreas Kluth points out studies from the U.S. show that on average students started the current academic year having learned only 67% of the math and 87% of the reading skills that are typically expected. In schools with mostly non-white students, the percentages were 59% in math and 77% in reading. And those are last fall’s numbers, after only half a year of “online learning.”
     As an educator for over 20 years, I have to admit I'm on the fence with this issue. On one hand, I see the need for students to catch up on learning loss. But on the other hand, I see the need for students to be able to take a break from school-be it hybrid, in-person, or virtual. Just like adults, children need balance; too much of anything can become problematic. Learning loss due to the pandemic has especially impacted students of color as well as students from rural communities. With so much still unknown about the upcoming school year, we're hopeful that we'll get back to doing school the way we did Pre-COVID. And this debate about summer school vs. summer break will be a long discussed topic as research studies are taking shape around this issue. 
   Under this week's Intentional Tool Kit, I've included a few articles mentioned in this post. I also included a great Summer Activity Guide that I found on the Georgia Afterschool Statewide Network. And if you head over to my podcast, you'll hear more about my thoughts around Summer Break Post Pandemic. As always, I hope you find these resources useful. So as we continue moving towards some type of normalcy as many across the country have received at least one vaccine, let's take some time to get out and enjoy the sunshine; because as the saying goes, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". But on the other hand remember that "all play and no work makes Jack a mere toy". And on that note, until next time...go out there and be GREAT!

Hey "I-Team", I hope the month of April finds you well in all your ways. This month and the end of last month, about 20% of the students at my school returned to in-person learning. I have to admit, the welcoming of students back to school in late March, early April was definitely different. Typically April is the month where everything begins to "wind down" as everyone looks forward to summer vacation. 
In all honesty, coming back into the building and visiting classrooms, while still conducting virtual walkthroughs has allowed me to see a shift in how much school has changed. A couple of weeks ago, some fourth grade students shared with me that they missed the old school that they were use to. I asked them what they meant by that, and they said that they miss not being able to go to the cafeteria for lunch, or go to the gym for PE due to COVID guidelines. They also said they missed going to the gym in the mornings for our school wide morning meetings. I chuckled when one of the students let out a long sigh and said "yeah, those were the good old days". 
So much of this "new normal" has caused us to press the reset button on our daily routines. And honestly, I believe new beginnings give us the chance to do things differently. Now it's not the same as the New Year's resolutions that we make at the beginning of the year that we don't keep past the first week of January (i.e. eating healthy, exercising more, etc.). No, new beginnings challenge us to truly reflect on how we can improve in certain areas of our life; whether it's in our career, relationships, or our social/emotional well being. Hitting the reset button in life allows you to start over while being open to new opportunities. So if you're reading this post, remember that you can start over and meet the wonderful possibilities that your path in life has for you...no matter your age, gender, or race. Under this week's Intentional Tool Kit, I share a great article about hitting the reset button on your life. The article also includes a wellness wheel exercise that you can try.  And I also have created a FREE pdf workbook that you can download. You can jot down ideas that support your plan for goal-setting as you restart key areas of your life. I hope you find those resources useful. You can also access a free digital copy of the New Beginnings Journal by visiting my store at Teachers Pay Teachers.com (TpT). Search for me under Intentional Instruction by Dr SP Brown.
​And since we're talking about new beginnings, head on over to the podcast to hear about how I have been inspired to hit the reset button on rebranding Intentional Instruction just for you...my amazing "I-Team". Until next time, go out there and be GREAT!

A great post from the Blissful Mind can be found here.

​Click here to download your free copy of Dr. S.P. Brown's New Beginnings journal. 
To access the digital journal, visit my store at Teachers Pay Teachers.com (TpT)
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