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Welcome to Our Blog

A New Kind of Virtual Coaching Cycle

September 17, 2020 Stephanie Affinito, Literacy Teacher Educator, Literacy Coach, Author, Department of Literacy Teaching and Learning, University of Albany, NY

While content coaching cycles can never replace classroom coaching cycles, they offer new opportunities to partner together around shared teacher learning and can be an important first step to deeper, more intense collaboration in the classroom, either in-person or virtually.

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…

September 2, 2020 Cindy Downend & Wendy Vaulton

Getting to know every child as an individual requires intention, observation, and inquiry. The fundamentals of good assessment still apply.

Are You Ready to Listen?

August 31, 2020 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

As literacy coaches, we want to build relationships, empower teachers, and foster collaborative learning environments. So why do we often end up listening to respond instead of listening to understand?

Coaching in Challenging Times

August 26, 2020 Cathy Toll, Lead Consultant, Partnering to Learn, Menasha, WI

Savvy coaches see every interaction as a chance to build trust and “grow” a partnership.

Tags: Coaching

Keys to Assuring a Standardized Comprehension Conversation with the Benchmark Assessment System

August 5, 2020 Irene Fountas, Director

As you use the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System, consider these suggestions.

Tags: Intervention

The Softer Side of School Improvement

July 28, 2020 Wendy Vaulton, Assistant Director of Research

Soft data is a powerhouse for improvement because it gives an authentic, real-time look at what educators and students understand and can do.

Remote Learning: Communicating with Parents & Caregivers

July 22, 2020 Cindy Downend, Assistant Director, Literacy Programs

Communicating clearly and concisely about the supports parents and caregivers can provide to children is key.

Tags: Teaching

Choose Wisely! Qualities and Dispositions of a Literacy Coach & Teacher Leader

July 16, 2020 Cindy Downend, Assistant Director, Literacy Programs

Identifying an educator to train as a literacy coach is among one of the most important decisions a building principal has to make.

Text Levels – Tool or Trouble?

July 9, 2020 Irene Fountas, Director

Highly effective teaching provides a range of opportunities with different texts for different purposes.

Tags: Teaching

Fostering Identity and Community Through Storytelling

July 8, 2020 Courtney Varner, Literacy Trainer

Storytelling is a powerful instructional tool in our classrooms. Storytelling acknowledges students for who they are and provides space for students to share their experiences in the world.

Upcoming Professional Development

March 18, 2026

Engaging Writing About Reading: Building Thinking, Independence, and Test-Ready Writers

How do we help students write stronger responses to text that supports deeper comprehension? This one-day session focuses on writing about reading as a thinking practice that supports comprehension, engagement, and builds students’ confidence with on-demand writing.

$295
March 25, 2026

Joyful Writing: Fostering Young Writers in PreK and K

This workshop guides early childhood teachers in building joyful writing communities through play, storytelling, book making, and drawing. Participants learn to view children’s early writing with fresh insight and plan purposeful lessons that build confidence, develop craft, and support foundational writing conventions.

$295 (Includes professional text)
March 11, 2026

Playful Pathways to Print: Learning about Language, Letters, Sounds and Words

Discover new ways to make learning about letters, sounds, and words joy-filled and meaningful for young children!

$295

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