Hey I-Team! I hope this month of April finds you well. So this month I thought I'd take time to remind everyone about the importance of "checking in". I remember a few months ago when I called our handyman who has done work around the house over the years. I hadn't heard from him in a while and I just thought I' give him a call to see how he was doing. When he answered the phone, he was sure I was calling to set up a day that he could come to the house to do another fabulous room renovation. But to his surprise, I told him that I was just checking in to see how he was doing. He thanked me for calling, then he went on to tell me that he had been down for a couple of weeks but that he was back on the mends. Before our called ended, he thanked me again for calling to check in to see how he was doing.     
     That short conversation with our family handyman made me reflect on how I've been able to build productive relationships with the teachers I coach. By intentionally making it my business to check in with them regularly, I've found that it's made it easier to learn more about how they like to be coached and what works best for them in terms of the autonomy of their instructional goals/practices.
In the latest episode of the Intentional Instruction Podcast, I talk about specific things that I do as an Instructional Coach to make my weekly check in with classroom teachers meaningful for everyone. Interested in listening to the episode? Head on over to the podcast or better yet, just click here to check it out.

​  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. I also created an infographic that shows you some of the topics I include in my weekly check in with teachers. You can grab that infographic by clicking here. As always, I hope you find these resources useful.

     Well that's all for now. But if you don't take anything else away from this post or the podcast episode, please remember to take good care of yourself and others. You'll be surprised what a difference a phone call, text, or brief face-to-face conversation makes! Until next time, go out there and be GREAT!

     Hey I-Team and Happy Black History Month! I hope the month of February finds you well. 
Recently, I observed one of the PE Teachers at my school interacting with a student. I noticed that since the start of this school year, before that student begins the day, he makes sure he talks to the PE teacher. When the child walks away,  he walks away smiling and in a hurry to get back to class. So me, being the inquisitive person that I am, asked the PE teacher what does he say to that student that makes him so eager to start his day. The teacher told me that he checks in with that student twice a day (once in the morning and again in the afternoon). He said that he starts their conversations by connecting to things that are meaningful to the student outside of school (i.e. favorite video game, sport, upcoming weekend activities, etc.).
      He went on to say that next he reminds the student of school expectations and how to manage his behavior when he becomes upset throughout the day. Once they establish those things, he motivates the student by reminding him that he can do it. That's when he leaves the student with encouraging words so that he can have a great day. When school is over at the end of the day, he and the student meet to discuss how his day went. If things go well, the child receives a small trinket or incentive. If his day isn't good, the PE teacher said that they review the expectations and he reminds the child that he isn't looking for him to be perfect, but that he is looking for him to make choices that allow him to turn his day around. Just watching their interaction at school makes me smile. Now you might be reading this post and wondering what that has to do with the title, well it's simple, the teacher is a Black Male and the student is a young Black Male. So in saying all of that, there is not doubt, the role that Black Educators play in schools at every level is important... simply put...Black Educators Matter!
     In celebration of this extraordinary group of individuals, this month's episode of the Intentional Instruction Podcast is dedicated to the important role they play in schools. And if you listen until the end, you'll hear my special announcement.  Just click here for this month's episode.

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 rise to educate, uplift, and inspire students from PreK-college, know that you are the true agent of change. Although your impact and your name might not ever be known to the rest of the world, I'm reminded of a quote that I found on social media that really touched me. It read "Don't strive to be well known, strive to be worth knowing". And that, I-Team, makes all the difference. Until next time...go out there and be GREAT!
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     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
Want to look fabulous and fit all while being "Intentionally Informed?" Well, you can do that by accessing 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.

​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!