STEP-BY-STEP: the Granular Approach TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING

     Hey I-Team! Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas holiday and I hope you're looking forward to all  the blessings that 2023 brings your way! In my experience, I've come to realize that although life certainly has its moments of ups, downs, turns and twists, it's through life's challenges that we gain wisdom. Overcoming a challenge or accomplishing a difficult task becomes the testimony that allows us to speak life altering words of encouragement to others when they face similar circumstances. The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu was once quoted saying "there is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time". I also remember a conversation that I had once with my oldest brother. We were discussing his health and the challenges that he faced. I remember his words so clearly; he said "I just take it one day at a time". My takeaway from both of those wise men is that we need to simply do a little at a time without becoming overwhelmed focusing on the big picture. 
     Too much information better known as TMI has become synonymous with the internet. For one thing, we've become so inundated with information that it sends our brains into overdrive. I think about my role as an instructional coach; there's so much information and so many resources out there around this role that you really have to narrow it down before deciding which information will best support the work you're doing with classroom teachers. Now I do understand that there are some things that are time sensitive and require immediate attention, but how might we as coaches best support our teachers in a way that allows them to accomplish a classroom goal that shows immediate results? 
     In the latest episode of the Intentional Instruction Podcast, I discuss the step-by-step approach to granular coaching. This approach allows both the coach and the classroom teacher to focus in on small bite-sized steps in a specific area. By giving the teacher an opportunity to master the targeted area, immediate feedback is also crucial. In all, strong improvement on the part of the classroom teacher ultimately leads to student achievement. To find out more about this approach to instructional coaching, just click here to listen. 
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The Intentional Toolkit
Inside the Intentional Toolkit I've also included a few articles that are timely and connected to this blog post and podcast episode. 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 I do hope you enjoy the remaining weeks of January as this weather in my part of the U.S. has felt more like Spring instead of Winter...but hey, who's complaining? After all I'm just going do as my oldest brother once said and take it "one day at a time". Until next time, go out there and be GREAT!